Juan Chattah
Kristin Wendland
Nation/Culture. Argentina is located in southern South America. Its borders include Uruguay, Brazil, and Bolivia to the north, Chile to the west and south, and the Atlantic Ocean to the east. It is a nation comprised of 23 provinces and the autonomous city of Buenos Aires, its capital and largest city. With a population of over 41 million people, Argentina’s diverse citizens come from both indigenous tribes, most notably the Mapuche, Kolla, Toba, Guarani, Wichi, Diaguita, Mocovi, and Huarpe, and European immigrants, most notably from Spain and Italy but also from northern and eastern European. The country’s name derives from argentum ("silver"), since the first Spanish conquerors came to the Rio de la Plata region in search of “silver mountains.”
The official language of Argentina is Spanish, but with unique inflections that differentiates it from Spanish spoken in Spain (such as the use of ‘vos’ rather than the tu for second person singular in informal/colloquial exchanges).
Music.
Folk. Traditional genres of folkloric music are rooted in a blend that merges indigenous musics with the influence of Spanish and immigrant Central European Styles. Often these realize as music/dance forms: chacarera, chamamé, gato, ranchera, samba (distinct from the Brazilian samba), and vals. Folk music can be heard during outdoor horse events known as jineteada or jineteada y doma in the country (pampas) and include musical forms such as cifras, estilos, milongas, and rancheras; additionally, folk traditions are at the center of the various peñas and at festivals like in Cosquín (in the province of Córdoba).
Tango. Tango, the urban music of Buenos Aires, may be heard in concert venues around the city such as Torquato Tasso, and in traditional milongas (tango social dances) in clubs such as El Beso and Salon Canning. The annual Tango Festival in August features concerts of prominent contemporary musicians, seminars devoted to the history of tango, and the Mundial (Tango Dance World cup). For more information visit: http://festivales.buenosaires.gob.ar/tango/festivalymundial/web/en/index.html
Rock. Rock in Argentina started developing in the 1960’s. Creating an identity of its own, using various musical genres derived from rock and roll and combining them with genuine styles, and using a language other than English, Argentinean rock rapidly became the most commercially successful outside its borders. Its pioneers were Sandro, Luis Alberto Spinetta , Los Abuelos de la Nada, Litto Nebbia, Norberto ‘Pappo’ Napolitano. Later, other popular soloists and bands appear: Charly García, Alejandro Lerner, Virus, Soda Stereo, Los Enanitos Verdes, Los Fabulosos Cadillacs, among many others.
Cuarteto (from Córdoba). Popular from the 1940’s, this music/dance style was named after Cuarteto Leo. It incorporates the ‘tunga-tunga’ accompaniment style which resembles tropical genres (such as guarachas and merengue). Popular performers of cuarteto include: Carlitos "La Mona" Jiménez, Damián Córdoba, La Banda de Carlitos, Ulises Bueno, Cachumba, Chebere.
Notable Musicians. Argentina is commonly considered the capital of the Tango. Yet its fascinating history, spectacular geography, and cosmopolitan culture, all contribute to forwarding musical multiculturalism into the 21st century, filled with evolving musical traditions and innovations beyond the archetypical notion of Tango music. In numerous genres, from Folkloric to Electroacoustic, from Concert music to Popular styles, Argentina has produced numerous world-renowned composers, performers, and conductors.
Concert Music Composers.
Alejandro Iglesias Rossi
Alberto Ginastera
Carlos Guastavino
Alberto Lysy
Concert Music Performers/Conductors.
Marta Argerich
Luis Ascot
Daniel Baremboim
Folkloric.
Mercedes Sosa
Eduardo Falu
Popular - Cuarteto.
Mona Gimenez
Popular - Rock.
Soda Estereo (Gustavo Cerati),
Charly Garcia,
Fito Paez
Enanitos Verdes - Virus
Tango.
Astor Piazzolla
Horacio Salgán
Leopoldo Federico
Aníbal Troilo
Carlos Gardel
Film Music.
Lalo Schiffrin
Gustavo Santaolalla
Scholars.
Isabel Aretz
Carlos Vega
Moreno Chá
Ana Lucia Frega
Music in Higher Education. The university system is composed of: 47 National Universities, 46 Private Universities, 7 State Institutes, and 12 Private Institutes. Yet, the Conservatory system is extremely popular and provides a platform for young musicians to access higher learning (within music) at a very early age. The following is a list of the main conservatories and other institutions dedicated to the studies of music:
Public Conservatories in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas.
Conservatorio Nacional "López Buchardo," Av. Córdoba 2445 (1120) Buenos Aires
Tel.: 961-9943/4736/0161
Conservatorio Municipal "Manuel de Falla" ->Sarmiento 1551 piso 6º tel:371-5898/374-1251
Conservatorio Provincial "Juan José Castro" La Lucila ->Maipú 4162. La Lucila Tel: 4799-6896
Conservatorio Provincial de San Martín, Tucumán 2153. San Martín. Tel: 4752-8322
Conservatorio Provincial de Música de Bandfield "Julián Aguirre," Hipólito Irigoyrn
7672- (1828) Bandfield. Tel: 4242-0635
Conservatorio Provincial de Morón, San Martín 336. Morón. Tel:4629-3173
Conservatorio Provincial "Gilardo Gilardi" de La Plata, Calle 49 nº342.
La Plata- Instituto Vocacional de Arte, Garay 1684. Tel: 4304-4943
Instituto Municipal de Música de Avellaneda, Sarmiento 99. Tel: 4201-8843
Escuela de Música Popular de Avellaneda, Italia 36. Tel: 4222-6781
Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colón, Viamonte 1164.
Escuela Municipal de Bellas Artes, Rivadavia y Sarmiento (1878) Quilmes. Tel: 4253-0700
Concervatorio de Morón, San Marin 370 (1708) Morón. Tel: 4629-3173
Conservatories in states other than Buenos Aires.
Consevatorio Provincial de Música, Lavalle 375 (4600) Jujuy
Instituto Superior de Arte de la Provincia de Formosa, 9 de julio y España (3600) Formosa
Escuela Superior de Música, Roca 43 - (8300) Neuquen. Tel: (0943)433200
Instituto Superior de Música, " Lilia P. Elizondo" Roque Saenz Peña 276 (3500) Resistencia Chaco
Conservatorio Provincial de Música, "I:T:Garzón" Figueroa Alcorta 265 (5000) Córdoba
Instituto Nacional de Arte de General Roca, 9 de julio 1043, (8832) General Roca -Río Negro
Departamento de Música de la U.N.S.J. Ignacio de la Roza 235 (5400) San Juan
Instituto Superior de Música de la UNL. San Jerónimo 1750 (3000) Santa Fé
Escuela de Música de Rosario, Berutti 2191 (2000) Rosario -Santa Fé Tel: 4824912
Escuela de Música de la Universidad Nacional de Cuyo, Sarmiento 607 (5500) Mendoza
Tel: (061) 4257285
Escuela Provincial de Música, Danza y Teatro, Italia 61 (3100) Paraná -Entre Rios
Escuela de Artes Musicales de la Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, Chacabuco 243 (4000) Tucumán
Escuela Superior de Música de la Provincia de Salta, Zuviría 180 -(4400) Salta Tel: 4210084
Escuela de Música de San Luis, Colón 508- (5700) San Luis
Conservatorio de Música de Santa Cruz, (9400) Río Gallegos-Santa Cruz
Escuela de Música de Concepción del Uruguay, 9 de Julio 282-(3260) Concepción del Uruguay-Entre Rios
Escuela Superior de Música, 28 de julio 19- (9100) Trelew-Chubut
Escuela de Música, Universidad Adventista del Plata, Puigary-Entre Rios
Escuela de Música Municipal, Julio A. Roca 549 Pto. Madryn-Chubut Tel: (0965) 71233-1147
Escuela Superior de Música de Trelew, Gales 270 (y Mitre) Tel: (0965)36057
Conservatorio Provincial, San Martin 1049. San Miguel de Tucumán Tel: 4215864
Liceo Municipal de Santa Fé, San Martin 2076. Tel: (042)39696
Escuela de Música Villa Lib. Gral. San Martin Edison 420 - (3103) Entre Rios
Instituto Superior de Formación y Capacitacion Musical, Catamarca 853- (3400) Corrientes
Tel: 63975
Conservatorio de Catamarca, San Martin 555- (4700) Catamarca
Conservatorio Municipal de Olavarría, San Martin 2876- (7400) Olavarría-Buenos Aires
Conservatorio Provincial de Música, 25 de Mayo y San Luis- (7600) Mar del Plata Tel. 31668
Conservatorio de Junin, Rivadavia 16- (6000) Junin
Conservatorio Provincial de Chivilcoy, Av.Soarez 61-(6620) Chivilcoy Tel. 22455
Conservatorio de Música de Bahia Blanca, Belgrano 446-(8000) Bahia Blanca. Tel.27290
Instituto de Música Municipal de Vicente López, Ricardo Gutierrez 1060- (1638) Vicente López Tel. 791-5537
Instituto Superior del profesorado provincial nº6, Libertad 617 (4200) Santiago del Estero
Tel: 242-0635
Conservatorio de Música, San Martin 175 (4427) Cafayate- Salta
Escuela de Música, Av.Belgrano 350 (4200) Sgo del Estero
Private Institutes and Academies in Buenos Aires and surrounding areas.
Escuela de Música de Buenos Aires, Ciudad de la Paz 1831 Tel: 4782-4007
Academia de música "Ricardo Pellican," J.B.Alberdi 1406 Tel: 431-2471
Academia Bach Juan S. M.Sastre 3148 Tel: 501-7249
Asociación Musical Pueyrredón, Carlos A. López 2459. Tel: 571-1043
Centro de Estudios Avanzados en Música Contemporánea (CEAMC), Sta. Fe 1769 4º Piso.
Tel: 812-8865
Collegium Musicum de Bs.As. Libertad 1630. Tel: 815-0447/5192/5892
Conservatorio Surif, Díaz Colodrero 265. Tel: 521-6445
Conservatorio Amanda y Elsa Bolia, Independencia 2085
Conservatorio D'Andrea, Pte. Perón 1919.Tel: 953-0494
Conservatorio Dima, J. Alvarez 2332. Tel: 832-1508
Conservatorio Ed. Albistur, Thames 2293. Tel: 774-7448
Conservatorio Elena Spisso, Estados Unidos 521. Tel: 362-9647
Conservatorio Fracassi, Arcos 1535. Tel: 783-8029
Conservatorio Galvani Fundador Rotta, Hipólito Irigoyen 489. Tel: 362-7810
Conservatorio Ibero Americano y Rossini, Lavalle 1710. Tel: 371-5980
Antiguo Conservatorio Musical Beethoven, Sta. Fe 1736 Telfax: 811-3971
Conservatorio Thibaud-Piazzini SRL, Sánchez de Bustamante 72. Tel: 861-3629
Conservatorio Weber, Primera Junta 2326. Tel: 631-1536
Conservatorio Julián Aguirre, Lomas de Zamora
Escuela de Música Rubén Ferrero, Viel 1272 Tel: 92-0788
Escuela de Jazz Alejandro Moro Marta Bellomo, Pje Emilio Zola 5185 Tel: 774-8902/553-0234
Instituto Lucchelli Bonadeo, Gral. Venancio Flores 185. Tel: 903-8845
Instituto Tecnológico de Música Contemporánea (ITMC), Av. San Isidro 4142. Tel: 702-2585
La casa de La escalera, Mariano Acosta 315 Tel: 671-2981
Universities with strong Music Departments.
Universidad Nacional de Cuyo.
Universidad Nacional de La Plata
Facultad de Artes y Ciencias Musicales de la Universidad Católica Argentina
Universidad Nacional de Córdoba
Universidad de Mar del Plata
Universidad de Bahía Blanca
Universidad Nacional de Rosario
CD Recommendations.
Rough Guide to the Music of Argentina
Tango & Folkore Music of Argentina - Epsa World Music
Nostalgias Argentinas: Piano Music of Argentina
Todos! / 100% Rock Nacional
Recommendations for Viewing.
Cafe de los Maestros (Miguel Kohan)
Documentary about the last of the great tango maestros from the Golden Age.
Si sos brujo (Caroline Neal)
Documentary about the formation of the Orquesta escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce.
Recommended Websites.
Most comprehensive tango website for musicians, poets, singers, audio files, and sheet music.
http://www.eldorado.org.ar/Directorio/conservatorios%20locales.htm
Comprehensive directory of music schools and conservatories (complementing the ones listed here).
Most comprehensive and updated site about cuarteto.
Recommendations for Reading.
Cuarteto Music and Dancing from Argentina: In Search of the Tunga-Tunga in Cordoba (Jane Lynn Florine)
Tango!: The Dance, the Song, the Story (Simon Collier, Artemis Cooper and Ken Haas)
The Rioplatnense Guitar: The Early Guitar and It's Context in Argentina and Uruguay (Richard Pinnell)
El Tango y Sus Circunstancias: 1880-1920 (Fernando O. Assuncao)
The Film Music of Alberto Ginastera: An Introduction to the Sources and Their Significance (Deborah Schwartz-Kates)