Astor Piazzolla (1921 –1992)

 In 1921 Astor Piazzolla was born in Mar del Plata, Argentina. He was the only child of Vicente Piazzolla and Asunta Malnetti. When Astor was only three years of age he and his family moved to New York City in 1924. At eight years of age Astor was given his first instrument, a bandoneón, by his father. He studied Bandoneón for a year before he made his first record, Marlonette Spagnol. Later, Astor studied with pianist Bela Wilda and later that year, he connected with Carlos Gardel, a French born composer, whom he worked for and appeared with on the film El día que me querría (1935).

Piazzolla returned to Argentina in 1937, where he would settle for long period of time. After making the move to Buenos Aires, Piazzolla got an opportunity to work for the band leader of one of the best orchestras of Argentina, Anibal Troilo, whom he served for until 1944—during which time he started a family of four with Dedé Wolff. He left Anibal Troilo to form the Orquesta del 46. He composed many tango works over the next ten years before traveling to France to study with famed Nadia Boulanger on a scholarship he won. Over the next few decades Piazzolla composed some of his most important works, such as El Tango, which was inspired by Piazzollas friendship with Jorge Luis Borges.

Piazzolla spent the last twenty years of his life living in multiple locations, such as Italy and France, and performing and composing around the world. He gave concerts and compositions in Paris, Buenos Aires, New York City, New Orleans, Amsterdam, and London. Finally, Piazzolla gave his final performance in Athens, Greece in 1990, before dying in 1992 in his native country. Piazzolla is known for his unique style of tango, which initially received negative reactions from traditional tango composers, due to his additions of counterpoint, and new rhythms and harmonies. His style of tango would later be called “nuevo tango”, and despite early backlash, his career would see him regarded as the great tango composer and serve as an influence for newer generations.  

Discography (Abridged)

Adios Nonino (1972), Brazil, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo). Company: Som Livre.

Balada para un loco (1976), France, Tango/vocal. Astor Piazzolla (orchestra). Company: Coco Records. 

The Central Park Concert (1987) USA, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo) live recording. Company: Chesky.

El tango (1965) Argentina, Tango. Astor Piazzolla and Jorge luis Borges (orchestra). Company: Polydor.

El Nuevo Tango (1989) Switzerland, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (quintet) recorded live in Switzerland (1986). Company: WEA.

Five Tango Sensations (1991) Germany, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (Kronos Quartet). Company: Elektra, Nonesuch.

Libertango (1974), Italy, Contemporary Jazz and Tango, Astor Piazzolla. Producer: Aldo Pagani. Company: Polydor.

La Camorra: la soledad de la provocación apasionada (1989), Germany, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo). Company: American Clavé.

Lumiere (1976), France,Tango, Astor Piazzolla. Company: Polydor.

Luna (1992) Europe, Tango. Astor Piazzolla (sex-tet) live recording in in Amsterdam (1989). Company: Hemisphere.

Maria de Buenos Aires (1968), Argentina, Tango, Astor Piazzolla and Horacio Ferrer. Componay: Harmony.

Nuestro Tiempo (1962), Argentina, Tango, Astor Piazolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo). Company: Tova.

Olympia 77 (1977), France, tango/contemporary jazz. Astor Piazzolla (orchestra). Company: Polydor.

Sergio & Odiar Assad

Piazzolla de Buenos Aires (1975), Argentina, Tango. Astor Piazzolla

Summit (1974), Italy, Tango, Astor Piazzolla and Gerry Mulligan (orchestra). Company: Erre T.V

Sur (1988), France, soundtrack/tango. Astor Piazzolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo)

Tango Nuevo (1975), Germany, Tango, Astor Piazzolla and Gerry Mulligan (orchestra). Company: Atlantic.

Tango para una cuidad (1963) Argentina, Tango. Astor Piazolla (Quintet Tango Nuevo). Company: Harmony.

Bibliography

Cliff Eisen. "Piazzolla, Astor." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 1 Jul. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/45192>.

Pessinis, Jorge. "Astor Piazzolla: Chronology of a Revolution." Piazzolla.org. N.p., 2002. Web. 2 Jul 2012. <http://www.piazzolla.org/biography/biography-english.html>.

"Astor Piazzolla".  Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Online.

Encyclopædia Britannica Inc., 2012. Web. 02 Jul. 2012

<http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/459226/Astor-Piazzolla>.

"Astor Piazzolla." Discogs. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 July 2012. <http://www.discogs.com/artist/AstorPiazzolla>.

"Astor Piazzolla Discography and Music at CD Universe." CD Universe. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 July 2012. <http://www.cduniverse.com/search/xx/music/artist/Astor Piazzolla/a/albums.htm>.

"Astor Piazzolla on AllMusic." AllMusic. N.p., n.d. Web. 06 July 2012. <http://www.allmusic.com/artist/astor-piazzolla-mn0000607967>.