Context

Astor Piazzolla was an Argentinian composer (1921 – 1992), well-known for his many tangos. There are several arrangements of ‘Libertango’ to be found on YouTube. The original ‘Libertango’ was composed in 1974.

Libertango by Piazzolla

Listen For

  • Each section is repeated, and a new musical line is added each time
  • Can you hear the syncopated bass line?
  • Notice how the melodic lines have an improvised feel, as the performers add their own interpretation to the music.

Things To Consider

  • If you were to make your own arrangement of this piece, how would you do it? Think about instruments, the musical texture, and how you could structure it.
  • Can you find another arrangement on YouTube and compare it to this one – which version do you like best and why?
  • Why not try composing your own tango with our structured, self-paced course?