Histoire du Tango: II. Cafe 1930, III. Nightclub 1960

Histoire du Tango:
~ II. Cafe 1930 - 8 mins
~ III. Nightclub 1960 - 6 mins
Astor Piazzolla (1921 - 1992)

Michael Hung, Flute
Asa Bryce, Guitar
Recognition Recital in Music Performance
February 23rd, 2023
Bates Recital Hall, The University of Texas at Austin, Butler School of Music

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. He revolutionized the traditional tango into a new style termed nuevo tango, incorporating elements from jazz and classical music. Born in Argentina to immigrant Italian parents, Piazzolla grew up in New York, starting the bandoneón at a young age. He returned to Argentina in 1937, where strictly traditional tango still reigned, playing in night clubs with a series of groups. He later studied under composer Alberto Ginastera, where he gave up tango temporarily and worked as a modernist classical composer. After winning a grant from the French government to study in Paris with the French composer Nadia Boulanger, he returned to Argentina in 1955, and formed the Octeto Buenos Aires to play tangos. Upon introducing his new approach to the tango, he became a controversial figure among Argentines both musically and politically. The Argentine saying “in Argentina everything may change – except the tango” suggests some of the resistance he found. However, his music gained acceptance in Europe and North America.
Histoire du Tango is a suite for solo flute and guitar composed in 1986. The suite consists of four movements, each of which tells a different story about the tango. The second movement, Café 1930, captures the essence of a tango cafe in the 1930s. The third movement, Night Club 1960, explores the tango's evolution into a more modern and sophisticated dance form in the 1960s. Throughout Histoire du Tango, Piazzolla demonstrates his mastery of tango style and his ability to create a rich and vibrant musical landscape.