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Popular Tango artists include Carlos Gardel, the celebrated band leader, Francisco Canaro, 020, and Tanghetto. Tango dancing and its accompanying music have been made popular by feature films since the 1920’s with Rudolph Valentino. More recently, it has been featured in films such as “Last Tango in Paris” (1972), “Strictly Ballroom” (1992), and “Chicago” (2002).

Tango originated in Argentina in the late 1800’s. It is a form of Latin Music, which developed from street music played by immigrants who lived in Buenos Aires and Montevideo. It is said that Tango is the music of Argentinian immigrants. However, it took over a decade for this sensual, hypnotic music to spread to Argentina’s larger pop culture.

Traditionally, Tango groups — known as “orquesta tipicas” — feature six members. The sextet will usually feature two violins, a double bass, a piano and two bandoneons (an instrument which is similar to an accordion). Later, the advent of the portable organ would broaden the popularity of Tango music. Flutes, guitars and violin trios are also typical of Tango groups.

Initially, Tango was popular with the Argentinian gangsters who flocked to the city’s abundant brothels. The intricate dances that arose from this complex music are due to the tendency of Argentinian men to practice the Tango in groups. These dances expressed both strong masculinity and sexuality, leading to the distinct mix of sensitivity and assertiveness of the form.

Tango began to gain rapid popularity across Europe in the early twenties. The first Tango album was recorded in Paris because there were no recording studios in Argentina. International sex symbol Rudolph Valentino brought Tango to Europe and the United States with his depiction of the romantic dance in his films. By the mid-twenties, Tango was being removed from its association with the dregs of Argentina, thanks to band leaders like Carlos Gardel. Gardel helped to develop the Tango-Cancion. He is one of the most revered Tango artists of all time.

The Golden Age of Tango took place concurrently with the Big Band era in the United States. This period lasted from 1935 to 1952. Popular Tango orchestras from this era include those of Juan D’Arienzo, Francisco Canaro, and Aníbal Troilo. D’Arienzo was nicknamed “the King of the Beat” because of the strong rhythms that he used. Canaro’s recordings from this time are considered to be the easiest to dance to, and are still very popular today. During this period, a boom in Tango recordings took place.

From the early fifties onward newer Tango artists experimented with implementing more pop-influences in their music. In the mid-seventies, a hybrid of Tango and Jazz developed in Buenos Aires. Popular musicians from this period, known as “Tango Nuevo,” include Litto Nebia and Sigo XX. More recently, the band 020 (also known as zero2zero) combined the influences of pop music, Britsh Rock and Roll and Tango to create their celebrated album “End of Illusions.”

Tango music continues to develop at a rapid pace. Today, artists have combined this sensual style of music with Techno. Musicians such as Tanghetto and Carlos Libedinsky have utilized electronic elements to create an exotic, modern style of this timeless music. Though their work may be viewed as a departure from the traditional styles of Tango, the music still has the same characteristic elements such as complex rhythms.

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