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Le Grand Tango: The Life and Music of Astor Piazzolla
Astor Piazzolla was a musical genius, a man who used the national dance of Argentina as raw material for a whole new musical genre. In Le Grand Tango , María Susana Azzi and Simon Collier vividly capture the life of this extraordinary musician--a visionary who won worldwide acclaim, but sparked
bitter controversy in his native land.
Azzi and Collier trace Piazzolla's early life from his birth in Argentina in 1921 to his childhood years on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where he first developed a talent for the bandoneon, the accordion-like instrument central to the tango. They describe his return to Argentina at age 16
and his rapid rise in the intoxicating world of tango, where he quickly earned a place with the leading dance band, and then formed his own group. But at the height of his success, Piazzolla decided to take tango music to a new level and studied composition with the legendary Nadia Boulanger in
Paris. Combining deft musical analysis and intriguing personal insight, Azzi and Collier show how he created a dramatically new style of tango music influenced by jazz and classical pieces--a tango music meant for listening, not dancing. But they also show that, in the birthplace of the tango, he
met fierce resistance. He eventually left Argentina for Europe, where he emerged as an international celebrity.
Since Piazzolla's death in 1992, his influence has only grown. Jazz giants such as Gary Burton and Al Di Meola--and classical stars Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, and Daniel Barenboim--have all recorded albums of his works. Now Azzi and Collier have given us the first biography of this astonishingly
gifted musician.
bitter controversy in his native land.
Azzi and Collier trace Piazzolla's early life from his birth in Argentina in 1921 to his childhood years on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, where he first developed a talent for the bandoneon, the accordion-like instrument central to the tango. They describe his return to Argentina at age 16
and his rapid rise in the intoxicating world of tango, where he quickly earned a place with the leading dance band, and then formed his own group. But at the height of his success, Piazzolla decided to take tango music to a new level and studied composition with the legendary Nadia Boulanger in
Paris. Combining deft musical analysis and intriguing personal insight, Azzi and Collier show how he created a dramatically new style of tango music influenced by jazz and classical pieces--a tango music meant for listening, not dancing. But they also show that, in the birthplace of the tango, he
met fierce resistance. He eventually left Argentina for Europe, where he emerged as an international celebrity.
Since Piazzolla's death in 1992, his influence has only grown. Jazz giants such as Gary Burton and Al Di Meola--and classical stars Yo-Yo Ma, Emanuel Ax, and Daniel Barenboim--have all recorded albums of his works. Now Azzi and Collier have given us the first biography of this astonishingly
gifted musician.
326 pages, Hardcover
First published May 19, 2000
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
May 30, 2020
Very thorough look at a complex and talented composer-performer-personality.
It's fascinating to go along for the ride, traversing continents, music styles, and many moods. Oh, it does seem like Mr. Piazzolla did have his moods.
At one point Piazzolla threw his bandoneon in a closet and cursed it, giving it up for good!
His piano teacher in Paris did us all a favor by suggesting that Piazzolla focus on tango and bandoneon, not because he wasn't good at other things, but because she saw the treasures that could come.
It's fascinating to go along for the ride, traversing continents, music styles, and many moods. Oh, it does seem like Mr. Piazzolla did have his moods.
At one point Piazzolla threw his bandoneon in a closet and cursed it, giving it up for good!
His piano teacher in Paris did us all a favor by suggesting that Piazzolla focus on tango and bandoneon, not because he wasn't good at other things, but because she saw the treasures that could come.
March 16, 2013
Perhaps overly detailed (do we really need to know the address of every house or apartment Piazzolla lived in?), this is a comprehensive biography. I had to struggle to finish this book, there was nothing engaging about the writing style, although Piazzolla was probably a fascinating person to know or be friends with.
August 22, 2013
As much as I enjoy Argentinian music and history, this book is too much for me. However, if you need in-depth information about Astor Piazzolla and his innovative bandoneon playing, this book is for you. I could not finish this book.
December 5, 2008
I happen to be a big fan of the music of Astor Piazzolla, and this is an excellent biography that just stoked my enthusiasm even more.
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews