Tango Music

A bit about traditional tango music. Traditional instruments used in tango music include guitar, bandoneón (similar to an accordion), piano, violin, flute, and double bass. Much of the music we dance to comes from the Golden Era of tango from the 1930s-50s.  In that era, the Orquesta Tipica was composed of bandoneóns, violins, double basses, piano, along with a singer and an animated conductor 

In any tango ensemble, there is a distinct lack of percussion instruments. If you listen, you’ll notice the music at the end of a tango song is distinct in a way that allows one to predict the song will end. This allows for a purposeful end of the dance, often with a final “pose”.

There are three basic types of music: tango, vals, and milonga. Tango is the most well-known of the three and is characterized by its slow, dramatic, and romantic style. Tango music is typically played in 4/4 time (or similar 2/4 or 4/8 time signature) and has a strong emphasis on the downbeat. Vals, on the other hand, is a faster-paced dance that originated from the Viennese Waltz but was adapted to the Argentine tango style. Vals is usually danced in 3/4 time, with a strong emphasis on the first beat of each measure, and is characterized by its flowing, sweeping movements. Milonga is the fastest of the three and has a more upbeat and lively tempo than Tango. Milonga music is often played in 2/4 time and has a strong emphasis on the upbeat, giving it a bouncy and rhythmic feel. Milonga is often described as the "happy cousin" of Tango, and is characterized by its playful and upbeat style.

Below is a playlist of tango, valses, milongas, and some more modern songs, many of which we've featured in class.  Feel free to use them to guide your practice at home.