Welcome to Music of Argentina

Here is a brief timeline of Argentina's history!







1516- Explorer Juan Dìaz de Solis discovers Rio de la Plata. Spain later claims it and the surrounding region.
1776- Spain creates a large colony called the Viceroyalty of the Rio de la Plata. It covers present-day Argentina, Uruguay, Paraguay and southern Bolivia. Buenos Aires is named its capital.
1810- On May 25, armed citizens of Buenos Aires kick out the Spanish Viceroy and establish a government.
1816-1817- Argentina declares its independence from Spain. José de San Martín defeats Spanish forces in Chile.

1862- Alberto Williams is born
1880’s- Argentina becomes a major exporter of wool, wheat and beef. Soon, it becomes the richest nation in Latin America.
1890- Birth of Carlos Gardel
1897- Birth of Osvaldo Fresedo

1905- Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese is born

1908- Héctor Roberto Chavero Aranburu aka Atahualpa Yupanqui is born

1912- Carlos Guastavino is born
1916- Birth of Alberto Ginastera
1930- Golden age of Tango

1932- Lalo Schifrin was born

1934- Birth of Alicia Terzian
1935 -death of Carlos Gardel
1943- A group of military officers seizes power.
1946- Colonel Juan Perón is elected president. He promises higher wages and better working conditions. His wife, Eva "Evita" Perón, is in charge of labor relations. She becomes a powerful political figure.
1950s- Popularity of mambo and Latin jazz

1952 Alberto Williams dies
1960s- New tango popularized by Ástor Piazzolla
1980’s- In the 1980s, South American migrants from Peru and Bolivia brought the so-called tropical music to higher prominence in Argentina, a mixture of Cumbia& Chicha (Peruvian rhythm) and Bolivian Cumbia, but originally from Colombian, folk rhythms, and Caribbean styles.
1982- Argentina goes to war with Britain over control of the Falkland Islands. Argentina’s military government collapses, ending a period of repression.
1983- Death of Alberto Ginastera
1984- Death of Osvaldo Fresedo
1991- The government makes the peso equal to the value of the U.S. dollar. This helps to stabilize the Argentine economy.

1992- Atahualpa Yupanqui dies

1995- Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese dies
2001- Thousands protest soaring unemployment and increased poverty. On December 20, President Fernando de la Rua resigns. Congress names a new president, Eduardo Duhalde.
2007- Cristina Fernández de Kirchner becomes the first woman to be elected President. She succeeds her husband, Nestor Kirchner.
2009- Argentina claims a vast territory including the ocean as far as Antarctica and islands that are governed by the British. Britain refuses to negotiate its claims to the territory.

Sources:
http://www.timeforkids.com/destination/argentina/history-timeline
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Music_of_Argentina

Atahualpa Yupanqui

Atahualpa Yupanqui was born  Héctor Roberto Chavero Aranburu in  Pergamino, Buenos Aires on  He is a composer, poet, guitarist and singer.Violet Parra along with Yupanqui are  considered the founders of the folk music in Latin America.  They are also responsible for a new movement called nueva canción (new song).  This movement is dedicated to the rediscovery of rural folk Music. 

He traveled all around Argentina collecting popular songs, saying, and poetry to incorporate in his own music.  He wanted to collect and sing the forgotten arts  (cantar artes olvidadas) by living a humble life and expierencing life as  paisanos (poor people from the countryside) lived.  He did this for over 30 years.  In 1926 he wrote his first song titled Caminito del Indio.  His style included using poetic forms and rhythms of rural Argentina and a distinctive guitar style. 

In 1931, he took part in  Kennedy brothers uprising against the de facto government of Jose Felix Uriburu.  After the uprising failed, he was forced to seek refuge in another country.  He returned to Argentina in 1934 .He was forced into excile three times during his lifetime; in 1932, 1949, and again in 1967. His songs were seen as "protest songs" by the goverment. They showed a committed perspective to the life and experiences of ordinary people.

He traveled to Europe in 1950 captivated Edith Piaf, who was a french singer and cultural icon.  She encouraged his concerts in Paris.  He moved to Paris in 1967 largely due to his problems with the Argentine military dictatorship.  He is much admired in France; some of his songs and poems became part of the curriculum in primary schools.  He is considered one of the fundemental folklorists and guitarists of the century in Latin America.  He inspired a whole generation to follow in this foot steps.  He died in France in  1992. 

 

Discography


Sources:
Pablo Vila. "Yupanqui, Atahualpa." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 11 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/49864>.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atahualpa_Yupanqui

Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese

Osvaldo Pedro Pugliese was born in Buenos Aires on December 2, 1905.  He was a tango pianist, bandleader and composer. He trained at a private conservatory in Buenos Aires and started as a cinema pianist.   He realised that was'nt for him and soon after found a place in tango bands. Some other conductors he worked for  included Roberto Firpo, Pedro Maffia, and Pedro Laurenz.

In 1929 jointly led the Vardaro-Pugliese Sextet, one of the most distinguished ensembles of the 1930s, and only in late 1939.   After he formed his own first band in 1943. They made more than 600 recordings.   He was very accomplished as a piono player which contributed greatly to his band.   The band toured around the world including  the Soviet Union, China, Mexico, Cuba, and Japan.  He also  made a few notable appearances on French television in 1984.  Pugliese played an impresive concert in the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires in December 1985, soon after his 80th birthday. Pugliese was a lifelong communist and was imprisoned several times for his beliefs by President Juan Domingo Perón. He was a fruitfuland sophisticated composer having once been described as the "Wanger of Tango".  His arrangements pushed the ‘evolutionist’ trend in tango music to its limits.  Recuerdo and La yumba are two of his most famous tangos.  He died in Buenos Aires on July 24,1995. 



Discography


Sources:
Simon Collier. "Pugliese, Osvaldo." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 11 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/52564>.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osvaldo_Pugliese

Alicia Terzian

Alicia Terzian- was born in Cordoba on July 1st 1934 she is a musicologist and a conductor of American decent. in 1958 Alicia graduated from the national conservatory in Buenos aires and she also won a gold medal in 1959. At the lazzaros monastery , Alicia studied American sacred music with leoncio dayan.while in Argentina and in France Alicia had won many honours and had received many commissions from Argentina,London,new York,Zagreb,Grenoble,Salzburg,France and Buenos Aires. in 1978 Alicia fo. In 1978 she" founded Encountros Internacionales de Música Contemporánea to introduce international audiences to Latin American, and specifically Argentine, avant-garde music; under her direction, the group has participated in about 200 festivals". Alicia is a professor at the national consevatory, here she is a composer and has lectured on contemporary music.


discography

''Stage: Hacia la luz (ballet), 1965 [arr. of orch work, Movimientos contrastantes]; Génesis (ballet), with tape, 1972; Achtamar (ballet), 1979; Bestiela (theatre music, C. de Marigny), 1981; El Dr Brecht en el Teatro Colón (theatre music, A. Castillo), 1981; El otro Judas (theatre music, Castillo), 1981; El enano (theatre music, L. Lagerkvist), 1984 Orch: Vn Conc., 1955; El gris de la noche, str orch, cymbals, 1960–70; Movimientos contrastantes, 1964; Proagon, vn, str, 1969–70; Carmen criaturalis, hn, str, vib, cymbals, 1969–71; Narek, 1v, chbr orch, tape, 1979; Voces, 1v, ens, tape, 1979–82; Y cuya luz es como la profunda oscuridad, chbr orch, M.A. Vidal’s paintings, 1982; Y la luz se oira, chbr orch, 1982; Amores, 1v, ens, 1984–7; Off the Edge, 1v, orch, 1992; Les yeux fertiles, 1v, ens, tape, 1996; Adios a Brahms, 1997 Other inst: Danza criolla, pf, 1954; Elegia, vc, pf, 1954; Toccata, pf, 1954; 3 piezas, str qt, 1955; Canción y danza, gui, 1955; Juegos para Diana, pf, 1956–65; Cuaderno de imágenes, org, 1964; Atmósferas, 2 pf, 1969; Shantiniketan, fl, 1970; Yagua-Ya Yuca, perc, 1992; Frémissements, org, tape, 1996; Oda a Vahan, pf, tape, 1996; Tango Blues, pf, 1999 Vocal (1v, pf, unless otherwise stated): 3 canciones (Byron), 1954; 3 retratos (F. García Lorca), 1954; Canciones para niños (Lorca), 1956; Tristeza (Byron), 1956; 3 madrigales (E. Prados), SSA, 1958; Padre nuestro y Ave Maria, SATB, 1966; Embryo, 1v, va, 1969 Multimedia, el-ac: Atmósferas, tape, 1970; Musidanzavisíon, tape, slides, lasers, sculptures, paintings, improvised dance, 1970; Sinfonía visual en 2 movimientos, tape, slides, 1972; Sinfonía apocalíptica, tape, 1978–80; Canto a mí misma, str, digital delay, digital transposition in real time, sonorous system in hall, 1986 [str, tam-tam, sound transformation, 1993]; Buenos Aires me vas a matar, pf, actors, tape, 1990''

Sources:
Şahan Arzruni. "Terzian, Alicia." Grove Muwasic Online. Oxford Music Online. 10 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/45163>.

Carlos Guastavino

Carlos Guastavino was born in Santa Fe, Argentina, in April 5 1912 and died in Santa Fe, Argentina, Oct 29 2000.Carlos Gustavino- was a pianist from Argentina, some of his piano teachers were Esperanza lothringer and dominga laffei. besides studying the piano Cars also studied engineering in the university of litoral. Carlos received a grant to study at the national conservatory but he decided to take lessons from Athos palma and Rafael Gonzalez , by the mid 1940s Carlos guastavinos music gained local and international claim because of his performances and other artist that helped Carlos. Carlos guastavino did stay in London for two years at the British council, later performed his music in Ireland and great britian. Carlos guastavino traveled alot while on tour, he had gone to Latin America and to china in 1956. in 1960 Carlos did more teaching in Buenos Aires and compositions later on Carlos became depressed because of mothers death , in 1987 he decided to start writting again because he was encouraged by Carlos vilo. while working with Carlos vilo Carlos guastavinos arranged numerous works for vilos group later retired in 1992.





 discography



'' solo voice and piano: Arroyito serrano (Guastavino), 1939; Gratitud (Guastavino), 1939; Propósito (Guastavino), 1939; Balada (G. Mistral), 1940, unpubd, rev. 1989; Campanas (F. Silva), 1941; Piececitos (Mistral), 1941; Pueblito, mi pueblo (Silva), 1941; Se equivocó la paloma (R. Alberti), 1941; Manitas (Mistral), 1942, unpubd, rev. 1989; Por los campos verdes (J. de Ibarbourou), 1942; La rosa y el sauce (Silva), 1942; Anhelo (D. Zerpa), 1942; El vaso (Mistral), 1942; Cita (L. Varela), 1943; Paisaje (Silva), 1943; Riqueza (Mistral), 1943; Seis canciones de cuna (Mistral), cycle, 1943; Las nubes (L. Cernuda), cycle of 3 songs, 1944; 7 canciones (R. Alberti), cycle, 1944; Déjame esta voz (Cernuda), 1944; 3 canciones (Cernuda), cycle, 1945; La nube (M. Altolaguirre), 1945, unpubd, rev. 1989; El prisionero (anon.), 1947; Canción de Navidad (Silva), 1947; Esta iglesia no tiene (P. Neruda), 1948 4 canciones argentinas (anon.), cycle, 1949; 3 canciones (J. Iglesias de la Casa), cycle, 1950; Sonetos del ruiseñor (Varela), S, fl, cl, pf, 1951; Siesta (Silva), 1953; El labrador y el pobre (anon.), 1954; Canción de Navidad no.2 (C. Vicent [Guastavino]), (1955); La primera pregunta (El adolescente muerto) (N. Cortese), 1956; Ombú (N. Mileo), 1956, rev. 1989; Mi canto (Mileo), 1956; Los días perdidos (A.M.C. Aguirre), 1961; Soneto a la armonía (Aguirre), 1962; Milonga de dos hermanos (J.L. Borges), 1963; La tempranera (L. Benarós), 1963; Zamba del quiero (I. Malinov), 1964; Severa Villafañe (Benarós), 1964; Adiós quebrachito blanco (A. Yupanqui) (1964); Noches de Santa Fe (G. Eizenberg) (1964); Ojos de tiempo (A. García) (1964); Romance de la Delfina (Eizenberg) (1964) Elegía para un gorrión (García), 1965; En el pimpollo más alto (Benarós), 1965; Ay! Que el alma (Benarós), 1965; 4 canciones coloniales (Benarós), cycle, 1965; En el río feliciano (anon.); 15 canciones escolares (Benarós), cycle, (1965); Romance de José Cubas (Benarós), 1965; En la mañana rubia (Yupanqui) (1965); Yo, maestra (García) (1965); A un árbol (L. Furlain), 1966; Canción de cuna del Chacho (Benarós), 1966; 12 canciones populares (Benarós, A. Vázquez, Eizenberg, H.L. Quintana, García, Yupanqui), cycle (Buenos Aires, 1968); Edad del asombro (Quintana), cycle of 3 songs (1968); Flores argentinas (Benarós), cycle of 12 songs, 1969; Los ríos de la mano (J. Pedroni), cycle of 10 songs, 1973; Canciones del alba (Benarós), cycle of 4 songs, 1973; Pájaros (Benarós), cycle of 10 songs, 1974; 4 sonetos de Quevedo (F. de Quevedo y Villegas), cycle, 1975; Familia (M.A. Romero), 1988; Yegua (Romero), 1988''

''Other vocal Indianas no.1 (A. Vázquez, I. Aizenberg, J.F. Basso, Benarós), SATB, pf, 1967; Indianas no.2 (E. Apesteguia, A.M.C. Aguirre, Benarós, Basso), TTB, pf, 1968; Despedida (Benarós), Bar, female chorus, male chorus, orch, 1972 More than 60 choral arrs. of songs''

''Instrumental Ballet: Fue una vez (1), Buenos Aires, Colón, 27 Nov 1942, lost Orch: Sinfonietta, 1944, withdrawn; 3 romances argentinos, 1949, unpubd; Romance de Sante Fe, pf, orch, 1952, unpubd Chbr: Str Qt, 1948, withdrawn; Sonata, A, vn, pf, 1952, withdrawn; Presencia no.6 ‘Jeromita Linares’, gui, str qt, 1965; Tonada y cueca, cl, pf, 1965; Presencia no.7 ‘Rosita Iglesia’, vn, pf, 1965; Sonata no.1, gui, 1967; Sonata no.2, gui, 1969; Arroz con leche, 4 gui, 1970, unpubd; Sonata, cl, pf, 1971; Presencia no.8 ‘Luis Alberto’, ob, cl, hn, bn, pf, 1971; Presencia no.9, eng hn, pf, 1972; Sonata no.3, gui, 1973; Sonata, trbn/hn, pf, 1973; Introducción y allegro, fl, pf, 1973 Pf (solo unless otherwise stated): Bailecito, 1940; Gato, 1940; Tierra linda, 1940; la Siesta, 1942; Sonatina, g, 1945; Sonata, c , 1947; 3 romances argentinos, 2 pf, 1948; 3 sonatinas, 1949; Estilo, 1952; 10 preludios, 1952; Pampeano, 1952; La tarde en rincón, 1953; Las niñas, 1953; Suite argentina, 1953; Romance de Cuyo, 1953; 3 romances nuevos, 1955; 10 cantilenas argentinas, 1958; Las presencias, nos.1–5, 1960–61; Mis amigos, 1966; 10 cantos populares, 1974; Romance del Plata, sonatina, pf 4 hands, 1987''
Source:

Jonathan Kulp. "Guastavino, Carlos." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 10 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/45219 >.

Lalo Schifrin

Lalo Schifrin was born in Buenos Aires, in June 21 1932.Lalo is also a composer from Argentina and he was a pianist, Lalo won a scholarship to the Paris Conservatoire to work with Charles koechlin and studied with Oliver Messiaen.lalo did start to play the piano early as a child.''he played with jazz artist in Paris and later lalo represented Argentina in the jazz festival in 1954'', lalo saw himself as a composer, conductor, arranger and pianist. lalo moved to new York in 1958 , while in new York lalo worked with Eddie de hass and ruby collins. lalo was recognized as a pianist in gilespie s jazz quintet, he became a film music composer. a couple of movies lalo worked in were the liquiador in1964, cool hand Luke frolom 1966 lalo was more of a symphony conductor in 1980s and he ended up leaving his film writing to do one of his projects called jazz meets the symphony.



 discography

''Film and television scores (film directors in parentheses): Rhino (I. Tors), 1964; The Liquidator (J. Cardiff), 1966; Mission: Impossible, 1966–73 [TV]; Murderers' Row (H. Levin), 1966; Cool Hand Luke (S. Rosenberg), 1967; The Fox (M. Rydell), 1967; Bullitt (P. Yates), 1968; Hell in the Pacific (J. Boorman), 1968; Sol Madrid (B.G. Hutton), 1968; Che! (R. Fleischer), 1969; Kelly's Heroes (Hutton), 1970; Dirty Harry (D. Siegel), 1971; The Hellstrom Chronicle (W. Green), 1971 [documentary]; Enter the Dragon (R. Clouse), 1973; The Four Musketeers (R. Lester), 1973; Magnum Force (T. Post), 1973; Voyage of the Damned (Rosenberg), 1975 The Eagle Has Landed (J. Sturges), 1976; The Amityville Horror (Rosenberg), 1978; Rollercoaster (J. Goldstone), 1979; The Competition (J. Oliansky), 1980 [incl. song ‘People Alone’]; The Osterman Weekend (S. Peckinpah), 1983; The Sting II (J.P. Kagan), 1983; Bad Medicine (H. Miller), 1985; Black Moon Rising (H. Cokliss), 1986; The Fourth Protocol (J. Mackenzie), 1987; Face to Face, 1990; The Beverly Hillbillies (P. Spheeris), 1993; Money Talks (B. Ratner), 1997; Rush Hour (Ratner), 1998 Orch: Gillespiana, ballet, 1961; Jazz Faust, ballet, 1963; Dialogues, jazz qnt, orch, 1969; Improvisations, jazz soloists, orch, 1969; Pulsations, elec pf, jazz band, orch, 1971; Tropicos, chbr orch, 1983; Gui Conc., 1984; Pf Conc.; Conc., tpt, perc, wind orch; Conc., vn, vc, orch Inst: Suite, tpt, brass, 1961; The Ritual of Sound, 15 insts, 1962; Canons, str qt, 1969; Variants on a Madrigal of Gesualdo, 13 insts, 1969; Continuum, hp, 1970; Capriccio, cl, str, 1981; many works, arrs., for jazz ens Vocal: Jazz Suite on the Mass Texts, jazz band, 1965; The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, orat, 1967; Rock Requiem, 1970; Madrigals for the Space Age, nar, vv, 1976''
Sources:
Michael J. Budds. "Schifrin, Lalo." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 10 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/24853>.

Astor piazolla

Astor piazolla was an Argentine composer that played the bandoneon and was also band leader. Astor and his family later moved to new York in 1924, when Astor returned to Buenos Aires he performed in concerts and made tango rehersals for troilors band. in 1954 Astor composed a symphony for Buenos Aires which won him a scholarship to go to Paris and study with Boulanger. In Paris Astor did more compositions of tango later moved back to Argentina and formed the octeto Buenos Aires and the quinteto nuevo tango which were performed in astors club. in 1974 Astor went back to Paris to compose concerts for a sonata of bandoneon and cello.Most of Astors work was approved by France and the united states not Argentina, in the 1980s astors music was heard and accepted by argentina.classical performers started to like the astors work.Astor composed 750 works which were film scores for tangos, two of the films that used astors work were the exile of gardel that was in 1985 and Sur 1987 .Before Astors died he was commisioned to write an opera on the life of gardel.
Discography



Sources:
Cliff Eisen. "Piazzolla, Astor." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 10 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/45192>.

Alberto Williams

Alberto Williams was born in Buenos Aires, on Nov 23 1862, Alberto death was in Buenos Aires, June 17 1952.Alberto Williams was a Argentine composer, conductor, pianist and teacher. Alberto started composing at an early age because his family were musicians. Alberto first started his lessons with Pedro beck later on in the school of musica dela provincia he studied with Luis bernasconi who taught piano, Nicolas bassi who taught harmony and Benjamin godard who taught instrumentals ensemble. in 1879 Alberto Williams had his first public performance at the Sociedad del Cuarteto concert organized by Bernasconi. in1881 he published his first work, the mazurka Ensueño de juventud.Alberto won A scholarship that took him to the Paris Conservatoire in 1882.while In Paris albertos piano works where published such as the Souvenir d’enfance op.2 and mazurca op.3 . in 1889 Alberto went back to Argentina to do recitals and he exposed himself to folk music until he learned how to combine them into compositions.Alberto was one of the first composers to use folk music in symphonies.there were a couple of concerts he founded and conducted, which are the athenaeum Concerts which was in 1894, the National Library Concerts which was in1902, the Popular Concerts and the Buenos Aires Conservatory Concerts.Alberto Williams was also interested in music education, he was interested in the progress of teaching methods he learned in Europe.Alberto went back to Europe to conduct the Berlin concert,while in Paris in 1930 Alberto had three concerts of his music .1910 through 1933 Alberto had produced six of nine symphonies.


discography





Sources:
Susana Salgado. "Williams, Alberto." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 10 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/30339 >.




''Orch: Primera obertura de concierto, 1889; 9 syms., 1907, 1910, 1911, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1937, 1938, 1939; 5 danzas argentinas-milongas, 1912; Primera suite argentina, str, 1923; Las milongas de la orquesta, 1938; Poema del Iguazú, 1943; Aires de la pampa, 1944; 11 other works Chbr: 3 sonatas, vn, pf, 1905, 1906, 1907; Sonata, vc, pf, 1906; Pf Trio no.1, 1907; 4 other works Pf: El rancho abandonado, 1890; Primera sonata argentina, 1917; 100 other works Vocal: 15 choral works, 75 songs 19 essays; many textbooks on music, piano technique, solfège; musical editions''

Osvaldo Fresedo

Osvaldo Fresedo was born in 1897. He was nicknamed El pibe de La Paternal ("the kid from La Paternal". As a teenager he learned to play the bandoneón and joined several orchestras. He traveled to the United Stated in 1920 and recorded a couple of albums with a quartet. Once back in Argentina we worked as a composer and conductor. He formed his first orchestra which showed his trademark style; they displayed true elegance. Fresedo was one of the innovators of tango in the early 1920s. He had a certain level of technique and was able to bring a more refined musical style which was later known as the tango of the Guardia Nueva ("New Guard").Some of his other earlier works also include "El espiante" ("The Rejected One"), to which he now added "Vida mía" ("My Life"), "El Once" (the name of a neighborhood of Buenos Aires), and "Pimienta" ("Pepper"). Between 1925 and 1928, Fresedo recorded about 600 pieces for the Odeón label.

During the 1930s he left his label Odeón to front a larger orchestra and began using a new orchestral style and a new singer named Robert Ray. The Fresedo-Ray recordings are among the most memorable in the history of tango: "Vida Mia", ""Como una princesa" ("Like a Princess"), "Isla de Capri" ("Isle of Capri") is some of the works done together.

The 1940s brought a new generation of musicians and new musical styles. . Fresedo attempted to adapt to these new times’ however his work at this time didn’t compare to his previous works. He continued to record during the 1940s and 1950s. He moved to Columbia records in 1959 and became of the first artists to record in stereo. He continued to lead orchestras until he retired in 1980. He had the longest recording career in tango from 1925 to 1980. He died in 1984.

Link to discography

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Osvaldo_Fresedo

Alberto Ginastera

Alberto Ginastera was born in 1916 to parents of Catalan and Italian descent. He showed a early talent for music and began formal training at age 7. He graduated from Williams Conservatory in 1935 with a gold medal in composition. He following year he entered the National Conservatory. He received the Professor's Diploma for his Psalm cl.

In 1939 he premiered his first ballet titled Panambíi. A year later the director of the American Ballet Caravan, Lincoln Kirstein commissioned a second choreographic work called Estancia. The troupe disbanded in 1942; however Ginastera extracted an orchestral suite from its score. It premiered in 1943 and was received warmly. This and other works contributed to his growing popularity as one of the most t musically moving composers associated with the nationalist movement.
In 1941 he began teaching at the National Conservatory and the San Martín National Military Academy. He also married that year. He remained stable in Argentina until 1945. He signed a petition in support of civil liberties the Peronist regime forced his resignation from the National Military Academy. He previously received a Guggenheim grant which he postponed and used it to travel to the USA with his family. He stayed from 1945 until 1947. While in the U.S he visited Juilliard, Harvard, Yale, Columbia and Eastman music schools.

In 1948 he played an influential role in founding the Argentine section of the International Society of Contemporary Music (ISCM). , He also organized and became director of the conservatory of music and theatre arts at the National University of La Plata. Unfortunately he faced difficulties with the Perón government and in 1952 he was forced to resign his directorship at La Plata. He didn’t regain his post until 1956. This was the year after Perón's defeat. Despite difficulties during those years, his creative production thrived, and he produced three splendid works, the Piano Sonata no.1 (1952), Variaciones concertantes (1953) and Pampeana no.3 (1954). These earned him great recognition.

He became a full professor at La Plata in 1958, but resigned later that year. He was asked to organize and direct the faculty at the Catholic University of Argentina. There he served as dean until 1963. In 1958 he composed the String Quartet no.2. He combined a brilliant comination styles and techniques he used earlier with early incursions into serialism. At its première by the Juilliard String Quartet it was hailed as the zenith of the First Inter-American Music Festival. From this moment on his international reputation was guarenteed. . Brilliant first performances of his Piano Concerto no.1 and Cantata para América mágica at the Second Inter-American Music Festival fused his artistic status. He now composed almost exclusively by commission.

In 1969 he seperated from his wife which began a troubled period in his professional life. He was unable to focus on this work he was overwhealmed and distracted. Fortunately he met Argentine cellist Aurora Nátola which helped respark his creativity. In 1971 they married.
During his last 12 years he composed phenomenal works. One work in particular is called Turbae ad passionem gregorianam (1974). He was awarded the grand prize of the Argentine National Endowment for the Arts in 1971 and the UNESCO International Music Council music prize in 1981. He died in 1983 in Switzerland.

His music was in a nationalistic idiom up to about 1958 when he adopted more advanced procedures including serialism microtones, and aleatory rhythms.

Link to discography

 






Sources:
"Ginastera, Alberto." The Oxford Dictionary of Music, 2nd ed. rev. Ed. Michael Kennedy. Oxford Music Online. 8 Mar. 2012< http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/opr/t237/e4275>.


Deborah Schwartz-Kates. "Ginastera, Alberto." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 8 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/11159>.

Carlos Gardel

Carlos Gardel was born in Toulouse, France  on December 11, 1890.  He was a singer, songwriter and actor.  He is also one of the most noticeable artists in the history of Tango music.  He formed a duo in 1911 with Uruguayan singer José Razzano, which lasted about 14 years. He popularized sung tango; before this time tango songs were played by bands and weren’t sung to.   In 1917 he recorded his first tango song called Mi Noche Triste. During the 1920's he established himself as Argentina's leading tango singer.  During his career he recorded over 900 songs and appeared in several classic films.  Some of his better known compositions include Mi Buenos Aires querido, Por una cabeza, El día que me quieras, Volver, and Silencio.  He was killed in a plane crash in 1935.  He came to symbolize the “fulfillment of Dreams" of Argentine's porteño people.  Singer Libertad Lamargue describes Gardel as ‘the tango made flesh’.
Link to discragraphy

Source:
   Cliff Eisen. "Gardel, Carlos." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. 8 Mar. 2012 <http://www.oxfordmusiconline.com/subscriber/article/grove/music/45191>.