Buenos Aires Hora Cero. A History of Tango

Tango emerged in Buenos Aires in the late 19th century. Its origins are enigmatic, blending influences from former enslaved people of African origin, newly arrived European immigrants, and criollos. Initially danced among men, it quickly became the iconic partner dance featured in countless films and TV shows. Between 1910 and 1920, tango, championed by Carlos Gardel, rose to international prominence. However, once it was established as a genre, it also began experiencing a series of paradoxes. The first one: Gardel perished in a 1935 plane crash and it was with the demise of its greatest figure that tango entered its golden age, an age epitomized by bandoneonist and composer Aníbal Troilo and his singers. Then, the second paradox presents itself: as tango music became more refined, its popularity declined, partly because its very sophistication led audiences to listen rather than dance. Thus, tango began a shift—whose effects last until today—from Buenos Aires' social heartbeat to a reflection of a bygone era. Finally, as tango's popularity kept waning, Astor Piazzolla surfaced as a tango revolutionary. While the genre was dying, Piazzolla became the most important composer in Argentine music history altogether—tango’s ultimate paradox. Piazzolla’s music can be heard today all over the world, with performances by artists ranging from Grace Jones to the Berlin Philharmonic. This course proposes a cultural journey, with Gardel, Troilo, and Piazzolla as our aides, and will provide participants with tools to further explore the enormous treasure of tango music.

Meet the Facilitator:
Eugenio Monjeau is an essayist, translator, editor, former choir baritone, and teacher of music history and appreciation. Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, he now resides in Princeton with his spouse, Alejandro Virue, a graduate student in the Department of Spanish and Portuguese at Princeton University. Eugenio earned his Philosophy degree from the Universidad de Buenos Aires and pursued graduate studies in Education at Harvard University. He has developed and taught over 30 courses to hundreds of students worldwide, covering topics from Mozart to Mahler, Steve Reich, Ennio Morricone, and tango. He likes to think of his courses as an excuse for collective listening. These shared experiences provide a unique way into the minds of composers and the worlds they created. In exploring these worlds, guidance often comes from the composers themselves—in the form of diaries and memoirs—from the insights of thinkers like Nelson Goodman, Thomas Mann, or Carolyn Abbate, or from other works of art. Eugenio is a published author, and his essays on music, education, politics, and the arts have appeared in both Argentine and international publications. He is currently working on a book about Argentine pianist Martha Argerich.

What to Expect:
Mini workshop (90 mins total)

To request accommodations for this event, please contact the workshop or event facilitator at least 3 working days prior to the event.

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Eugenio Monjeau

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