Great Composers Note Reading Worksheet – Piazzolla
Here is a great composers note reading worksheet on Piazzolla. Astor Piazzolla is a Latin American composer who was born in Argentina. His family moved to New York City when he was 5. Then the Piazzollas moved to Buenes Aires when Astor was 19. Throughout his adult life he lived in New York, Buenes Aires, and Argentina. His father bought a bandoneon from a New York pawn shop. And so Piazzolla’s music education began.
Are you wondering what a bandoneon is? It is like an accordion. Piazzolla became a master at playing the bandoneon. He played the bandoneon in his tour band. You can see Piazzolla playing a bandoneon in the youtube link below.
Piazzolla’s Musical Education
Piazzolla studied music with many teachers. First he took lessons from a piano teacher who taught him to play Bach’s music on his bandoneon. Then, he met and played with leading tango conductor Carlos Gardel. While in Buenos Aires he played the bandoneon in the tango orchestra of Anibal Troilo. Troilo began to feel threatened by Piazzolla and so Piazzolla left that group. Because of this Piazzolla decided that he should pursue classical composition. So he set aside composing tangos.
He won a scholarship to travel to Paris to study with the famous Nadia Boulanger. She listened to several of his compositions. However when she heard Piazzolla play one of his tangos that she saw his gift. Consequently she encouraged him to pursue composing tangos. But most importantly her advice set Piazzolla on his life work, the tango. Ironically the genre that Piazzolla had set aside, was the very thing that launched him into the classical music world. Tangos are his legacy and are being performed in the great concert halls.
After that he returned home where Arthur Rubinstein suggested Piazzolla study composition and orchestration with Alberto Ginastera. Ginastera also from Argentina was known as a great classical composer and teacher. Piazzolla studied with Ginastera for 5 years. In addition to studying classical music during this time, Piazzolla also began to study jazz.
The Composer Piazzolla
Piazzolla began writing his tangos for an octet. This included 2 bandoneons, 2 violins, a double bass, a cello, a piano, and an electric guitar. He began combining some new things into the tango form using classical elements and jazz elements. Therefore, Piazzolla’s tango style became known as “Nuevo Tango,” or the “new tango.” Because of his changes to the tango, he was not popular in Argentina. That is to say, there were those in Argentina that did not appreciate these new sounds and harmonies added to tangos. For example, after a concert a fight broke out between the two sides. However, these new tangos were welcomed in Europe and North America. As a result Piazzolla began to travel all over the world giving concerts.
Then Piazzolla decided to begin experimenting with a smaller chamber group, the quintet. This new chamber group included a bandoneon, a violin, electric guitar, double bass, and piano. Now, Piazzolla this group best fit his nuevo tango.
Piazzolla’s Compositions
One of Piazzolla’s most popular compositions is “Adios Nonino.” During a performing tour in Spanish speaking countries, things started to fall apart. First, the tour wasn’t going well. Consequently he was becoming concerned with finances. In addition, Piazzolla was homesick. As a result a severe depression set in. Then, after giving a concert in Puerto Rico he received news that his father died in a bicycle accident. Five years earlier Piazzolla had written a tune that he dedicated to his father titled “Nonino.” Nonino was his father’s nickname. After receiving this news, Piazzolla took “Nonino” and composed a new piece in memory of his father. Surprisingly it took him about an hour to compose. And he called it “Adios Nonino.” Clearly this music expresses the deep emotions he was feeling.
Astor Piazzolla’s son writes regarding the time in his family:
Dad asked us to leave him alone for a few hours. We went into the kitchen. First there was absolute silence. After a while, we heard dad playing the bandoneon. It was a very sad, terribly sad melody. He was composing “Adiós Nonino”.
It reminds me of this quote:
Where words fail, music speaks – Hans Christian Anderson
Why String Students Should Know Piazzolla
- Standard Repertoire – He composed around 3000 pieces. Consequently many of his works are becoming standard repertoire for world-famous artists.
- Creativity – He is credited as the creator of a musical form because he combined the counterpoint of Bach, jazz harmonies and Latin American rhythms. As a result it is a true blending of 3 genres.
- Perseverance – He almost quit writing tangos. Students can learn endurance, perseverance from his life, even in the face of discouragement and doubt.
- Encouragment – Without Boulanger’s encouragement we wouldn’t have Piazzolla tangos.
- Expression – Students learn by Piazzolla’s example in using music to express emotions. As a result they learn healthy and good ways to express their feelings.
- Legacy – Piazzolla recorded almost 500 tracks of his own works. Importantly this lets students hear how he wanted his music played.
Great Composers Note Reading Worksheet
Piazzolla’s compositions are not easy. The rhythms and position work is a good challenge for the intermediate violinist. Because of the position work, I designed this worksheet for ledger line note reading. Students have a tendency to guess at ledger line notes. Likewise some students read ledger lines by relationship. For example, “This note is one note lower, so it must be this…” Certainly that it a valid and necessary way to read music. But this method doesn’t always work well for large intervals. Therefore it is important that students can easily read ledger line notes.
In conclusion, I have also posted collections of Piazzolla’s sheet music for violin. Some of these are play-along books with backing tracks. Have fun with your students as you explore the works of Piazzolla.
Sheet Music by Piazzolla
look inside | Piazzolla Tangos Violin Play-Along Volume 46. Composed by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992). Violin Play-Along. Jazz, Tango. Softcover Audio Online. 16 pages. Hal Leonard #M051107902. Published by Hal Leonard (HL.48022997). |
look inside | Vuelvo al Sur 10 Tangos and Other Pieces for Violin & Piano. Composed by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992). Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music. Latin, Tango. Softcover with CD. 24 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M060119675. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48019801). |
look inside | Piazzolla Tangos Violin. Composed by Astor Piazzolla (1921-1992). Boosey & Hawkes Chamber Music. Latin, Tango. Softcover Audio Online. 24 pages. Boosey & Hawkes #M051107957. Published by Boosey & Hawkes (HL.48023258). |
Piazzolla Recordings
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