Date: Tue, 12 Mar 1996 00:03:20 -0500 (EST)
From: ROBERTFINLEY@delphi.com
Subject: Tango: Albeniz-Godowsky

Tango: Albeniz-Godowsky (tango.mid)

This is a transcription of Albeniz's Tango by the famous pianist Leopold
Godowsky. Godowksy was a pupil of Franz Liszt and was famous during the
early part of this century. The Tango is one of Albeniz's most well known
pieces. It has also been arranged for violin and piano by Fritz Kreisler.
The original piece is from Albeniz's six piano pieces entitled "Album
Leaves", Op 165. I think this transcription by Godowsky is far better than
the original. Godowsky also wrote a marvellous transcription of "The Swan"
from the "Carnival of the Animals".

The Tango is a dance which originated in the San Telmo district of Buenos
Aires, Argentina. In 1993 I had the pleasure of working in Buenos Aires
for 6 months, and my favourite relaxation was to visit the Recoletta area
of the city on a Sunday afternoon and watch demonstrations of people
dancing the Tango, and to listen to a group of old men who sing tango
songs accompanied by an accordion and violin.

In Buenos Aires they have a 24hr a day Tango radio station. I investigated
the Argentine classical music while I was there and found that much of it
sounds like the tango. Major Argentine composers are Piazzola, Jose Gil,
Ginastera, Guastavino and Buchardo. I may sequence one of their pieces
soon.

This is a beautiful piece and I hope you enjoy it. Excellent recordings of
this work are by Shura Cherkassky, Jorge Bolet and Alicia Delarocha.

Robert Finley
ROBERTFINLEY@delphi.com