From Piazzolla to Traditional Tango-(Part of the ongoing series -Music and Society in Latin America)

Argentina's tango has been widely recognized as one of the most significant genres in 20th-century music, due to its complex literary, political, social, psychological and cultural markers. Astor Piazzolla's music occupies a unique place in the development of the genre. He is arguably the most important figure in tango in the last quarter of the 20th century. However, Piazzolla remains a controversial figure in his own country. Titled "From Piazzolla to Traditional Tango," this recital with commentary will deconstruct the music of Astor Piazzolla, addressing the reasons for his controversial impact, and the complex identity and transnational issues surrounding his work. We will examine the trails of 1940's tango hidden in Piazzolla's music. We will also address the political and social changes that took place in Argentina in the 20th century, as reflected in the very texture of tango, and the role that American culture and worldview had in the transformation ofthe identity and global projection of this genre.