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This combination of African, European and “criollas” roots is by far the best Argentine contribution to the worlwide culture.
Described as a clearly popular style born in Buenos Aires suburbs, brothels and tenement houses, tango (meaning “a place for slaves to meet”) is intrincately embedded in its music and lyrics melancholic essence as well as in the sensuality and passion felt when dancing it.
At its early stages, which could arbitrarily be dated back to the middle of the XIX century, the main instruments played were the flute, the violin and the guitar.
With the strong waves of immigration taking place in the 1900, a new instrument known as bandonneon gained popularity, and it has definitely played a major role up until today.
Carlos Gardel, the “Zorzal Criollo”, was the musician who popularized tango as a song during the XX century´s first decades and it has certainly become a worlwide icon in this genre and a symbol of the Argentine culture.
Since the 40s, when local cultural industries have grown stronger, above all that of TV and radio, tango reached its golden age and since then it has been interpreted by composers and singers like Osvaldo Pugliese, Aníbal Troilo, Enrique Cadícamo, Tita Merello, Virgilio and Homero Expósito, Alberto Castillo, Enrique Santos Discépolo, Horacio Salgán and Homero Manzi, to mention just a few.
Roberto Goyeneche began his music carrer in the mid 50s. Nevertheless, he is still regarded as one of the most versatile tango composers and master of a unique tango style and phrase, which assign him a transversal place throughout the history of tango. He was reivindicated by all generations until his death in 1994. Moreover, the “Polaco” Goyeneche as he came to be known, sponsored the carrer of Adriana Varela, a talented singer currently standing as one of the 2X4 female voices
Tango went through a stage of transition between the 60s and the 70s, with Astor Piazola, who with his compositions and bandonneon, took it to the acme of musical frontiers together with other music styles like jazz. The most traditional tango style was interpreted by a group of singers such as the Sexteto Mayor, or by solo singers like Julio Sosa, Leopoldo Federico and Mariano Mores, whose music is still played nowadays.
Another tendency of contemporary tango development can be associated with the combination of this rhythm with other genres, as young musicians have revitalized tango by including other types of music such as electronic and rock.
Some of the projects reflecting the above mentioned combinations of music styles are the Gotan Project, Bajo Fondo Tango Club and Tanghetto.
Three events held in Buenos Aires have gained momentum in the international agenda: the Tango Championship, the Tango World Cup and the Tango Festival, which have attracted visitors from all over the world since the last decade.
