Tango Ballet

By Astor Piazzolla

My High School honors ensemble has performed this work after considerable coaching over a 12-week period. It is one of the few string ensemble works written by Piazzolla that is in the public domain. Scored for string quartet, I have augmented it to feature a string nonet (double quartet...

plus extra bass part). The parts are not evenly distributed as it has huge first violin solos, and solos for 2nd violin, viola and cello as well, thus requiring technically proficient performers. The 12 minute work is divided into several parts in contrasting tempi that segue into the new sections with a da capo return to the principal themes. While not as compositionally cohesive nor as dramatic as "Four for Tango" it is a fine example of Piazzolla's work.