Program Notes

Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992)
The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires for Flute and Strings (1964-70)

Notes for: July 17, 2007

The Argentine tango is a style of song and dance music rather than a specific dance or dance rhythm. It originated in the poor slum areas outside Buenos Aires in the late 19th century and has remained the most popular Argentine song and dance style of the 20th century. While it comes in many varieties, its common characteristics are syncopated rhythmic patterns within a 2/4 meter, abrupt rhythmic and dynamic contrasts, and an accompaniment pattern in which all beats are sharply accented and occasionally interrupted by sudden pauses.

Traditionally, the dance is for couples in tight embrace and is characterized by almost violent movement. When sung, the lyrics reflect the origin of the tango among the urban poor – pessimistic, fatalistic and often intensely negative in tone. The original performance groups were solo voice with guitar accompaniment, and trios with violin, flute and guitar or bandoneon (a small type of accordion).

In recent years, the leading figure in the composition of tangos has been Astor Piazzolla, who was born in Mar del Plata, not far from Buenos Aires, but brought up in New York City. Piazzolla learned the tango style and the bandoneon at an early age, but broadened his musical education to include study with Alberto Ginastera, Argentina’s leading classical composer. He also went to France to study with Nadia Boulanger, the great Paris teacher whose other pupils included Aaron Copland, Walter Piston, Virgil Thomson and Roy Harris.

With this background, Piazzolla introduced into the tango such diverse influences as jazz, the dissonance of contemporary classical composition and even Italian opera. He also added a harp and percussion instruments to the traditional tango orchestra, introduced the electric guitar into smaller ensembles, and experimented in adapting the tango style to other instrumental media. At the same time, he maintained the tango’s roots in the working-class dance halls and water-front nightclubs of Buenos Aires.

Inspired by The Four Seasons of Vivaldi, Piazzolla composed over a six-year period (1964-70) four tangos and published them as The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires. Each tango is a unique blending of the syncopations of the dance, Bach-like counterpoint, touches of Romantic and Impressionistic music, and jazz. Originally, the pieces were conceived as separate compositions rather than one suite, but Piazzolla himself established the practice of performing them as a unit.

The four tangos were originally scored for a quintet of violin, piano, electric guitar, double bass and bandoneon. However, they have been arranged for a wide assortment of groups – including violin and string orchestra, piano trio, saxophone quartet, period Baroque instruments, six cellos and double bass, and symphony orchestra. This evening’s arrangement for flute, two violins, viola, cello and double bass was made by Dmitriy Varelas, a Finnish flutist, for his chamber music group in Helsinki.

Apparently, each of the four “seasons” in Buenos Aires has its unique character. Thus “spring” is a lively fugue, “summer” is outdoor music seasoned with street noises, “autumn” is a busy time of year, and “winter” is quiet and a bit desolate.

Copyright © 2007 by Willard J. Hertz