The Tango

TANGO….Just the word conjures up exciting images and inspires many 

associations and interpretations, such as passion, sensuality, drama, gender wars, even 

violent ones, a national identity, a by-gone era, and a universal art form.

 According to the Grove Dictionary and Oxford Music Online (subject heading "Tango"), a tango is a piece "in duple meter  with a characteristic rhythmic figure, it consists of two sections, the second usually in the dominant or relative minor." It gives the rhythmic figure as one of the following two possibilities:

1. Dotted eighth plus sixteenth, two eighth-notes
2. Sixteenth plus eighth plus sixteenth-note, two eighth-notes

The Harvard Dictionary of Music defines the tango as being a song in two equal repeating sections; the first section being in one key and the second being in either the key of the dominant or relative minor of the original key. This structure is very important to early and modern tango styles.

The musical element that really sets tango apart from other song types is syncopation. Most often seen written in 2/4, it is characterized by being in a duple meter (2/4 or 4/4 commonly). As Tango progresses throughout the musical time periods, the syncopation becomes more and more complex. However, simple repeating syncopated rhythms (8th-dotted, 16th, 8th, 8th) are very commonly heard.

Tango music is usually just associated with dancing, but there is also a common lyrical thread. The Harvard Dictionary of Music also says that originally the songs were often about urban or social issues, originating in urban areas of Argentina.

 It is traditionally played by a sextet, known as the orquesta típica, which includes two violins, piano, double bass, and two bandoneóns. Earlier forms of this ensemble sometimes included flute, clarinet and guitar. Tango may be purely instrumental or may include a vocalist.

All sources of Tango stress the influence of African communities and their rhythms, while the instruments and techniques brought in by European immigrants in the 20th century played a major role in its final definition.

The Tango usually features violins playing in the melody along with the Piano and Bandonean. The Tango can usually be improvised. There's always four beats to a bar and feature syncopated (off beat) rhythms (because it is a dance). Tangos are also always in a minor key and feature layers of ostinato. (repeated patterns)

There is no percussion section in the tango orchestra, but rhythmic patterns are

heard in different instrumental layers of the texture. The bass line often carries the

prominent dance rhythm, or perhaps it may be in an accompanying middle part such as

the bandoneón or the string section.