Composer

:

Gustavo Montesano

Genre

:

Chamber

Style

:

Flamenco

Tango Aria (after J.S. Bach's Air on the G String) is a composition by the Argentine composer and violinist Gustavo Montesano. The piece was composed in 1997 and premiered the same year in Madrid, Spain. The composition is a fusion of two distinct musical styles: the classical Baroque music of Johann Sebastian Bach and the passionate and rhythmic Argentine tango. Montesano takes Bach's famous Air on the G String and transforms it into a tango, adding new harmonies, rhythms, and instrumentation. The piece is divided into three movements. The first movement begins with a solo violin playing the familiar melody of Bach's Air on the G String. The tango rhythm is introduced gradually, with the addition of percussion, piano, and bandoneon. The movement builds in intensity, with the violin and bandoneon engaging in a fiery dialogue. The second movement is a slower, more introspective section. The violin plays a mournful melody, accompanied by the bandoneon and piano. The movement is characterized by its melancholic and nostalgic mood, typical of many tango compositions. The final movement is a return to the energetic and rhythmic tango style. The violin and bandoneon engage in a virtuosic duet, with the piano and percussion providing a driving rhythm. The movement builds to a dramatic climax before ending with a flourish. Overall, Tango Aria is a unique and innovative composition that blends two seemingly disparate musical styles into a cohesive and exciting whole. Montesano's skillful arrangement and composition showcase the beauty and versatility of both Bach's Baroque music and the Argentine tango.

More....