Composer

:

Astor Piazzolla

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Tango

Compose Date

:

1969

Average_duration

:

3:48

"Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi" is a tango composition by the Argentine composer and bandoneon player Astor Piazzolla. The piece was composed in 1985 as a tribute to the renowned Argentine bandoneon player Alfredo Gobbi, who was one of Piazzolla's musical influences. The composition was premiered in Buenos Aires in 1985, and it quickly became one of Piazzolla's most popular works. "Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi" is a single-movement piece that lasts approximately six minutes. The piece is written for a quintet consisting of bandoneon, violin, piano, electric guitar, and double bass. The piece begins with a slow, mournful melody played by the bandoneon, which is then joined by the other instruments. The melody is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and chromaticism, which give the piece a sense of tension and unease. As the piece progresses, the tempo gradually increases, and the melody becomes more complex and virtuosic. One of the most distinctive features of "Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi" is its use of counterpoint. Piazzolla was known for his innovative approach to tango music, and in this piece, he combines traditional tango rhythms with complex polyphonic textures. The result is a piece that is both rhythmically and harmonically sophisticated, while still retaining the emotional intensity and passion of traditional tango music. Overall, "Retrato de Alfredo Gobbi" is a powerful and evocative tribute to one of Argentina's greatest bandoneon players. Its combination of traditional tango elements with modernist compositional techniques makes it a unique and compelling work that continues to be performed and admired by musicians and audiences around the world.

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