Get to know your tango orchestras

Each orchestra has its own idiosyncratic style which changed over the lifetime of the orchestra as it developed and evolved along with tango fashion. This introduction will help you find your way through the tango music maze. Which orchestra is your favourite? The following playlists use a free music service called Spotify.

These playlists do not work in Safari. You can view them in Chrome, or install the free Spotify app and search for Tango orchestras in playlists. 
Here is a brief insight into the music that has shaped our dance. In the animated version of the orchestral timeline on the left, we hear 20 second extracts of three versions of the tango "La Cumparsita" that span three-and-a-half decades.
  • Roberto Firpo (1916 - pre golden age
  • Edgardo Donato (1935) - start of golden age
  • Juan D'Arienzo (1951) - almost at the end of the golden age.
We hear not only the improvement in sound recording over this period but also the changing orchestral style as they evolved and developed their music to excite and engage dancers over the decades. If you are interested in this stylistic development, the Spotify playlist on the right connects to versions of  "La Cumparsita" by all the orchestras in the timeline.

Exploring a little deeper

Many of the great tango orchestras worked with a variety of singers over the decades. As well as the quality of their voice and 'soundstage presence', the collaboration between the orchestra, the singer and the arrangers sometimes created a period of a unique style within the orchestra's timeline. I have compiled a playlist of the singers who worked with Carlos di Sarli's orchestra between 1935 and 1955 (listed in date order). I think you'll find new depths in your appreciation of this orchestra and realise that your favourite tracks are not 'just' di Sarli, but the partnership of di Sarli and one of these singers....

These playlists do not work in Safari. You can view them in Chrome, or install the free Spotify app and search for Tango orchestras in playlists. 
Tango Orchestra Genealogy

Working with data prepared by Pascale Guilloux, this is an infographic of tango orchestras and musicians across time. If you are curious about the sound and line-up of tango orchestras - for example, who played second bandoneon in Osvaldo Pugliese's orchestra in 1941, this  chart may offer an answer. The orchestras shown are: 
  • Juan D'Arienzo
  • Carlos di Sarli
  • Osvaldo Pugliese
  • Ricardo Tanturi
  • Aníbal Troilo
  • Troílo y Grela
and spans the years 1927 - 1975


Click the image to download a hi-res PDF 
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