Le Grand Tango for Cello and Piano Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla was an Argentine
tango composer and bandoneón player.
His compositions revolutionized traditional tango through the incorporation of
elements of jazz and classical music into a new style termed nuevo tango. Piazzolla was born in Argentina in 1921
to Italian parents, but spent most of his childhood with his family in New York
City, where he was exposed to both jazz and the music of J.S. Bach at an early
age. After winning a scholarship to
study composition with renowned teacher Nadia Boulanger in Paris, Piazzolla
began to take more seriously his tango works, which he had previously viewed as
novelties.
Le
Grand Tango for cello and piano, was
written in 1982 and dedicated to Russian cellist, Mtislav Rostropovitch who
premiered the work in 1990 in New Orleans.
The piano presents the primary rhythm of the tango with the twists and
turns of the melodies in the cello providing much of the character of the
piece. With each glissando or pizzicato
from the cello, it is easy to image the sweep of a ruffled skirt or the turn of
a dancer's leg.
Classical Music | Cello Music
Astor Piazzolla
Le Grand Tango for Cello and Piano Play
Recorded on 11/28/2010, uploaded on 02/09/2010
Musician's or Publisher's Notes
Le Grand Tango for Cello and Piano Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla was an Argentine tango composer and bandoneón player. His compositions revolutionized traditional tango through the incorporation of elements of jazz and classical music into a new style termed nuevo tango. Piazzolla was born in Argentina in 1921 to Italian parents, but spent most of his childhood with his family in New York City, where he was exposed to both jazz and the music of J.S. Bach at an early age. After winning a scholarship to study composition with renowned teacher Nadia Boulanger in Paris, Piazzolla began to take more seriously his tango works, which he had previously viewed as novelties.
Le Grand Tango for cello and piano, was written in 1982 and dedicated to Russian cellist, Mtislav Rostropovitch who premiered the work in 1990 in New Orleans. The piano presents the primary rhythm of the tango with the twists and turns of the melodies in the cello providing much of the character of the piece. With each glissando or pizzicato from the cello, it is easy to image the sweep of a ruffled skirt or the turn of a dancer's leg.
More music by Astor Piazzolla
Tango-Étude No. 3 for Solo Violin
Tango Etudes No. 3 & 4
Tango No. 2
Contrabajeando
Milonga del Angel
Oblivion
Libertango
Le Grand Tango for Cello and Piano
Primavera Porteña
Adios Nonino - Tango Rapsody para Piano
Performances by same musician(s)
Sonata for Cello and Piano
Piano Trio in E-flat Major, Opus 70, No. 2
Classical Music for the Internet Era™
Courtesy of International Music Foundation.