The Unacknowledged Success of Astor Piazzolla

Here’s a really wonderful paper by a friend of mine, Gennie Clarkson. Gennie is a tuba master student at Cincinnati-College Conservatory and originally from Arlington, VA.

Enjoy! It’s a wonderful, interesting, and fascinating read.

Cheers,

Adam

Now regarded as one of the most prolific folk composers in recent history, Astor Piazzolla’s modern take on the traditional Argentine tango has found its way into both concert halls and dance clubs, performed by a wide range of instruments and ensembles and featured on over 321 different recordings to date. In 1985, the composer and performer won the “Illustrious Citizen of Buenos Aires” award, recognizing his contributions to the worldwide accessibility and popularity of Buenos Aires tango. Appearing on television and radio multiple times and featured in the New York Times throughout his career, the depth and breadth of Piazzolla’s popularity prior to his death in 1992 is undeniable.  Referred to during his lifetime as the “contemporary master of the tango” and the “father of the ‘new tango,’” and serving as a benchmark for all other tango composers after his death, Piazzolla’s music has undoubtedly earned a permanent home somewhere in the gray areas between classical, pop, jazz, and ethnic music.