Piazzolla: Libertango for String Quintet (arr. Soteldo)

About the Composition

The title Libertango is a claim to musical freedom and artistic creativity. The elements in his ensemble, such as the string section, the drums, the electric guitar, the organ, and the electric bass, have no place in the traditional tango, and Piazzolla would remark on his need to break with old structures and show his personal label.

Libertango has become a covered and adapted work in any musical genre, such as the following examples: Aydar Gaynullin with the Chamber orchestra and chorus of the Staatskapelle Berlin in 2014, Yo-Yo Ma in the disc “The Soul of Tango” in 1997, Michel Camilo & Tomatito in the disc “Spain again” in 2006, Richard Galiano in the disc “Galiano Portal Blow up” 1997. The singed versions could be mentioned: Grace Jones’ version of ‘I've Seen That Face Before’ in a single in 1981, and María Rivas, a Venezuelan singer's version of Libertango in the disc “Pepiada Queen” in 2008.

You'll Receive

Individual Parts and the Full Score.

Background

After living in New York and returning to Buenos Aires in 1960, Piazzolla created the ensemble ‘Quinteto Nuevo Tango’; with it, he defined a before and after in his career. This ensemble became the fundamental template for his future works, and he would return every time he became frustrated with another project. It should be noted with this instrumentation template, he achieved great impact at the moment, and he made his most famous pieces known.

Astor Piazzolla keeped a difficult relation with the record labels, it started at the moment when RCA Victor made a requirement, some long play (LP) with classical tangos that Piazzolla called ¿Piazzolla o no? Bailable y apiazolado, as a condition to let him record another LP with his Works called Piazzolla interpret a Piazzolla. It is proper to say Astor Piazzolla never had the producers he deserved.

The oldest unreleased live recordings date from this time. They did not go on sale in CD format until after his death. The top moment with his Quintet was the concert at the Philharmonic Hall in New York, where they played the Devil series and the pieces that completed the Angel series.

In 1973, Piazzolla suffered a heart attack that forced him to reduce his activity and move to Italy. There, he formed the Electronic Ensemble with Italian musicians. From 1973 to 1977, he took a new approach to his work and experimented with electronic music, creating a fusion that some people would describe as Jazz-Rock, but Piazzolla was never convinced by this definition.

Two of his most famous albums at this time: “Libertango” (1974), in this LP he presents an ‘Adiós Nonino’ new version, and “Lumiere” (1975), where ‘Suite Troileana’ appears as an Anibal Troilo tribute.

The album Libertango was recorded in May 1974 in Milan at the ‘Mondial Sound Studios. The álbum tracks are:

1- Libertango
2- Meditango
3- Undertango
4- Adiós Nonino
5- Violentango
6- Novitango
7- Amelitango
8- Tristango