Libertango

Libertango is a composition by tango composer Astor Piazzolla, recorded and published in 1974 in Milan. The title is a portmanteau merging "Libertad" (Spanish for "liberty") and "tango", symbolizing Piazzolla's break from classical tango to tango nuevo.

"Libertango"
Single by Astor Piazzolla
from the album Libertango
Released1974
RecordedMilan, Italy
GenreTango nuevo
Length2:49
LabelCarosello
Songwriter(s)Astor Piazzolla

Performances

Astor Piazzolla recorded and published Libertango in 1974 in Milan, symbolizing his break from classical tango to tango nuevo[1] (see below for recording details).

Cellist YoYo Ma played Libertango on his 1997 album Soul of the Tango: The Music of Astor Piazzolla.

It was featured by guitarist Al Di Meola in his 2000 album The Grande Passion.

In 2002 Libertango appeared on Australian/British classical crossover string quartet Bond second album "Shine".

In 2017, it appeared on the collaborative live album by the Japanese jazz pianist Hiromi and the Colombian harpist Edmar Castaneda, recorded in Montreal.

Derivatives

Although Libertango was born as an instrumental piece, in 1990 Uruguayan poet Horacio Ferrer added lyrics in Spanish language based on the theme of freedom.

According to the performance database at All Music Guide, the composition has appeared on over 500 separate releases.[2] Grace Jones's song I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) uses the same music, as does Jazz Mandolin Project's song "Jungle Tango", Guy Marchand's song "Moi je suis tango" and Kati Kovács's song Hívlak.

In 1997 Irish folk musician Sharon Shannon recorded a cover of Grace Jones' I've Seen That Face Before (Libertango) for her third album, Each Little Thing.[3] Featuring session vocals by Kirsty MacColl it also appeared in 2001 on The One and Only, a compilation album released after her death.[4] Shannon re-released the recording as the title track of her 2005 compilation.[5]

Cuban-American singer/composer Luisa Maria Güell added lyrics in the theme of the "Libertango" title and recorded it for her 2007 album Una. A more recent version in Spanish of Libertango lyrics belongs to the Argentinian singer, lyricist and composer Lilí Gardés, who describes the loneliness of city life. This version was approved by Edizione Cursi/Pagani SRL, and it was part of the show Zombitango.

Media

In the Prince of Tennis anime series, Atobe Keigo and Sanada Genichirou attended a performance of this song. They used it later to set the beat for their Doubles match. In the fandom these characters are known as the "Tango Pair".

Libertango was the backing music in the Tarot advert for Volvo's S60 compact executive saloon.[6]

The music was used in the Roman Polanski movie Frantic (1988), as well as in Jacques Rivette's film Le Pont du Nord (1981).

1974 performance
Astor Piazzolla
  • Astor Piazzolla: bandoneón, arranger, conductor
  • Felice Da Viá: piano, Hammond organ C3
  • Gianni Zilioli: Hammond organ C3, marimba
  • Giuseppe Prestipino (Pino Presti): bass guitar
  • Tullio De Piscopo: drums, percussions
  • Filippo Daccò: acoustic & electric guitar
  • Andrea Poggi: timpani, percussions
  • String section with
    • Umberto Benedetti Michelangelo - 1st violin
    • Elsa Parravicini - 1st viola
    • Paolo Salvi - 1st cello
  • Marlaena Kessick: G flute
  • Hugo Heredia, Gianni Bedori: C flute

Producer: Aldo Pagani

Recorded in May 1974 at "Mondial Sound Studio", Milan (Italy)
Sound engineer: Tonino Paolillo

References
  1. See Azzi and Collier, Le Grand Tango: The Life and Music of Ástor Piazzolla, Oxford University Press, 2000, p. 168.
  2. Performance Listing for "Libertango" at All Music Guide.
  3. Each Little Thing at All Music Guide.
  4. The One and Only at All Music Guide.
  5. Libertango at All Music Guide.
  6. Video from Volvo's YouTube channel.
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