What is the Role of the Piano in Tango?

The piano has been described as the backbone of the tango orquesta, and Dr Daniel Rojas brought his formidable professional skills to this question at a presentation on 12 August 2017.

This edition includes a report on this discussion, recognises El Señor del Tango, and closes with the second part of the discussion of how we learn tango with Sarah Bonnar. That’s Tango Capital, Sunday evening from 7:00pm to 8:00pm:

• broadcasting on 2xxfm 98.3 in Canberra
• streaming to the web at http://www.2xxfm.org.au
• on demand from http://www.2xxfm.org.au/programs/tango-capital/

Image: Dr Daniel Rojas explaining a point at the Sydney Tango House on 12 August 2017

PLAYLIST:

• Chau Pinela, the name a reference to a casual farewell (from lunfardo); it’s a tango recorded by Carlos Di Sarli; on 3 September 1930 music and lyrics by Humberto Castiglioni and sung by Ernesto Famá.
• La Estancia, the name a reference to a cattle run; it’s a tango recorded by Carlos Di Sarli; on 4 November 1930 music and lyrics by Pintín Castellanos and sung by Ernesto Famá.
• Flora, the name a reference to a woman’s name; it’s a tango recorded by Carlos Di Sarli; on 4 November 1930 with music composed by Augusto Pedro Berto lyrics by Carlos Keller Sarmiento and sung by Ernesto Famá.
• Felicia, the name a reference to a woman’s name; it’s a tango recorded by Juan D’Arienzo; on 29 April 1954 with music composed by Enrique Saborido, first recorded in 1927 and lyrics by Carlos Mauricio Pacheco.
• El Ingeniero, the name a reference to The Engineer, The Architect, or The Builder); it’s a tango recorded by Carlos Di Sarli; on 31 January 1955 with music composed by Alejandro Junnissi, first recorded in 1945.
• La Yumba, the name a reference to the rasping sound of the bandoneon; it’s a tango recorded by Osvaldo Pugliese; on 13 November 1952 with music composed by Osvaldo Pugliese, first recorded in 1946.
• Adiós Nonino from the ‘Adiós Nonino’ release in 1991, meaning ‘Farewell, Father’; it’s a concierto recorded by Astor Piazzolla; on ? 1960 with music composed by Astor Piazzolla in October 1960.
• Este Es El Rey, meaning ‘This Is The King’; it’s a tango recorded by Juan D’Arienzo; on 26 November 1971 with music composed by Carlos Ángel Lázzari, Manuel Antonio Caballero, and Juan Polito.
• Perfume from the ‘Tango Club’ release in 2002; it’s a tango recorded by Bajofondo; on 2002 music and lyrics by Luciano Supervielle  and sung by  Adriana Varela.