Adiós Nonino

When one immerses themselves in the music of Astor Pantaleón Piazzolla, they encounter pieces that transcend labels. A clear example is Adiós Nonino, a piece that, with its 4 minutes and 56 seconds of duration, encapsulates deep expressiveness. Piazzolla, born in Mar del Plata in 1921 and deceased in Buenos Aires in 1992, was a key figure in the evolution of Argentine music. His training included studies in harmony and composition with the renowned Nadia Boulanger, who lived between 1887 and 1979. In his early years, Piazzolla worked arranging music for other tango greats, such as Aníbal Troilo, and performed as a bandoneonist.

Piazzolla’s musical proposal, especially regarding rhythm, sonority, and harmonic structure, sparked debate. Supporters of the so-called «Guardia Vieja» of tango, deeply attached to the conventions of rhythm, melody, and orchestration, did not look favorably upon his innovations. In fact, during the 1950s and 1960s, some even went so far as to call him “the killer of tango.” Piazzolla, however, redefined his proposal as “contemporary music of Buenos Aires,” facing resistance from radio stations and record labels that avoided broadcasting or releasing his work, which was sometimes labeled as hybrid and dissonant. Despite this criticism, his music was later reappraised by intellectuals and rock musicians, and he himself deeply admired contemporaries like Alfredo Gobbi and Osvaldo Pugliese.