Tango Music

Written by : Joe Yang

Tango music, as you can imagine, is a vital part of tango dance. And to get a general grasp of this subject is to touch upon the history of the tango itself.

The origins of tango are a little sketchy because the dance originated in working class neighborhoods, street corners, and parts of town that no one (at the time) would think of as a major starting point for historical/cultural achievements.

Many historians believe that the mid 1800s was the first time in which tango songs were sung and performed in Buenos Aires, Argentina. And chances are, those tunes sounded really different from the tangos we're used to hearing today.

In the late 1800s, however, a pianist/club owner wrote a song called El Enterriano, which is probably the oldest known tango that's still played at modern milongas (tango dancing events).

The first tango "hit" was a tune written in 1905 by a guitarist named Angel Villoldo. The song is known as El Choclo, which is still very popular among tango dancers and musicians.

"El Choclo" literally means corn-cob in Spanish, but since the nature of the song was intended to be comedic (and very suggestive), we can assume that Villoldo's lyrics probably weren't about farming or ethanol. In later years the lyrics were changed but the melody remains the same.

Click the play icon on the player below to hear a version of El Choclo...

And it was about this time when Argentina was experiencing a huge influx of European immigrants, with many coming from Naples, Italy. The Neopolitans brought with them musical influences that further evolved the beauty of tango music.

Along with the invention of a German-made, accordion-like instrument called the bandoneón (or squeeze-box to some). But be warned, however. If you ever meet a bandoneón player, never, ever call the instrument an accordion. If you do, you will get punched in the face.

With the popularity of the bandoneón's passionate sound, tango was well on its way to becoming a cultural staple in Argentina.

The mid 1930s to 1955 was known as the "Golden Age of Tango," with famous composers, musicians, singers, and conductors performing and recording tango music that are still loved by dancers. But with the fall of the Perón government in 1955, the new regime that took over outlawed mass public gatherings and seemed intent on ruining everyone's fun.

Although the law was meant to stifle any possibility of organized political dissent, it ended up driving tango underground. You couldn't even listen to the corn cob song without getting into trouble.

Tango would not re-emerge until after 1983, when the ruling military dictatorship finally collapsed. With the help of famed musician/composer Astor Piazzolla and the popularity of the show Tango Argentino, the dance underwent a massive renaissance both in Argentina and around the world.

In the 21st century, tango dancers still make regular pilgrimages to Buenos Aires. However, the scene is now made up mostly of foreign tango enthusiasts who began learning the dance in their own countries.

Many believe that tango has become somewhat commercialized, and that the dance may be losing its pure flavor. Nonetheless, Argentina still continues to produce exceptional tango music, dancers, and instructors.

Click on the names of composers and/or music groups below to get a better taste of tango music...

Carlos Gardel
Carlos Di Sarli
Miguel Calo
Francisco Canaro
Juan D'Arienzo
Edgardo Donato
Osvaldo Fresedo
Astor Piazzolla
Osvaldo Pugliese
Anibal Troilo
La Nueva Guardia (opens new window)
Narcotango (opens new window)
Otros Aires (opens new window)
Tangodrims (opens new window

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