Astor Piazzolla
Imagine a mad scientist of sound – half genius, half troublemaker – who could make you want to dance, cry, and rethink your life choices all in the same song. He took the sensual, melancholic soul of tango, shoved it into a jazz club, sprinkled in some classical drama, and dared anyone to complain.
#about
A musical rebel with a bandoneon, he made traditionalists reconsider their views while he was busy revolutionising Argentine music.
#whatif
...Piazzolla lived in Ancient Greece?
Plato would’ve criticised his music for being too emotionally destabilising
(but then secretly listened to it while writing dialogues).💃
#quotes
"If I ever have to leave the country because some General kicks me out, I'll leave. But the advantage I have over the General is that he'll pass away and my music will stay."
Vicente knew his only kid was dreaming badly about a pair of skates – Astor had been asking for it for months already – but he could not pass by a bandoneon offered at a pawnshop. He agreed with the seller about the price and time for it to be paid and left the shop with a box of about 4 kg.
Astor met his father at home. At discovering that the heavy box was meant for him, the boy almost forgot how to breathe. These certainly must be skates! Finally, he will become as cool (or even cooler) as his friends from the street! The day could not be better for the kid of 8 or 9 years old.
The sparkles in Astor’s eyes vanished as quickly as they had appeared when he opened the box.
Tango and bandoneon used to play it was his father’s old passion, and never his. It was Vincent Piazzolla who would listen to tango daily but not Astor, who would rather spend time outside playing football. The boy was ready to cry when his father sat down close to him with the instrument in his hands.
– Astor, this is the instrument of tango, I want you to learn playing it.
The kid was so devasted by the gift that the poor bandoneon had to live in the darkest corner of the room or even in the bathroom for a few months before Astor would become at least a bit curious about it. It would take many, many years but the instrument of tango would ultimately turn into part of Astor’s life – equally emotional, controversial, and highly authentic.
