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CLUB TANGO
ARGENTINO

Argentine Tango Music

We at Club Tango Argentino are often asked where to buy music for dancing Argentine Tango. Music on CD covers a broad range, from classic tango songs of the 1920s to contemporary and show music. Much of the music available in stores is intended strictly for listening, or choreographed stage performances, rather than for social dancing. For instance, you can find Astor Piazzolla in local stores such as A&B Sound. Piazzolla's music (such as Adios Nonino, or Los Quatros Estaciones) is exquisite, but is a development of tango moving towards jazz, that is not intended for dancing. (For this reason, Piazzolla was shunned by many traditional tango lovers in Argentina.)

Argentine Tango as a social dance was at its most popular in Buenos Aires in the 1940s and early 1950s (coincident with the Big Band and Swing era in North America). The best Argentine Tango dance recordings come from this era often called the "Golden Age". The best modern recordings also tend to emulate this earlier style (.e.g. the group "Color Tango"). Few of the recordings are available over the counter, and the best sources are mail-order from Argentine Tango specialists in Argentina or the U.S.

The following websites are highly recommended for information on tango music and tango in general:

1. Todo Tango (www.todotango.com). An Argentine site that pays homage to the great Argentine musicians, singers and poets of tango. Many music samples can be played on-line, and many of the lyrics and sheet music is available also.
2. To Tango (www.totango.net). A wonderful Canadian site about Argentine Tango, and especially the music. The site is run by Keith Elshaw whose passion for Tango led him to Montreal. Keith is not only an excellent dancer and teacher, but also a sound recording engineer and sought-after tango DJ.

The following websites are highly recommended for the purchase of tango CD's or instructional videotapes:

1. Zivals (www.tangostore.com). A huge store in Buenos Aires with a massive, but well organized selection of CD's. Many tracks can be sampled on-line. A grasp of Spanish is an asset in ordering!
2. Classic Tango (www.classictango.com). Run by a dancer, DJ and tango enthusiast Mark Celaya in Los Angeles. Mark is always friendly and happy to give advice on the phone, and provides fast service.
3. Bridge to the Tango (www.bridgetothetango.com). A comprehensive site, run by dance teacher Daniel Trenner in New England. Reliable source of CD's, instructional Videos, and organized tango vacations for many years.

When you order music, bear in mind that the most sought after recordings for social dancing are by the great bandleaders; Osvaldo Pugliese, Carlos Di Sarli, Juan D'Arienzo, Miguel Calo, Francisco Canaro, Anibal Trolio and Angel D'Agostino. Each bandleader had a different style that may be better suited to different tastes, moods or style of dancing. For instance, many dancers who dance the close-embrace variant of Argentine Tango prefer the quick, upbeat sound of Juan D'Arienzo ("El Rey Del Compas").

The instrument above is a bandoneon. Its sound is similar to that of an accordion. The bandoneon is the signature instrument of Argentine tango. It was originally designed for playing in churches that did not have a pipe organ.