The History of Tango

Embark on an exciting journey through the history of tango, a cultural phenomenon that has captivated audiences worldwide.

The history of tango is as captivating as the tradition itself, undergoing different processes of continuous reinvention and adaptation, without losing its characteristic essence.

Tango, along with the cultural and symbolic significance it embodies, has managed to captivate and move a wide range of audiences over the years, probably one of the reasons why, more than 130 years after its birth, it still remains a relevant and avant-garde tradition.

This unique music genre goes far beyond music, dance and poetry; it has become a permanent representation of an incomparably unique culture that was recognized in 2009 by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

As a PR agency in Argentina, at Sherlock Communications, we’re committed to sharing our experience and knowledge of this amazing country and the rich culture that emanates from it.

And what better way of sharing our knowledge of Argentina than through one of its most globally resonant emblems?

Let’s embark on an exciting journey through the history of tango to get a better understanding of this unparalleled cultural phenomenon.

IMAGE: UNSPLASH

From The Arrabales To Ballrooms: A Journey Through The History Of Tango

The Origins Of Tango: Setting The Stage

Tango was born towards the end of the 19th century, in the Rio de la Plata region, with the City of Buenos Aires, Argentina, as the main stage.

Yet, the history of tango is also connected with the city of Montevideo, Uruguay, located on the other side of the Rio de la Plata river which connects the two countries.

Despite being known today as a sophisticated show of ballroom dancing, tango originated in the so-called “arrabales” of Buenos Aires, the impoverished neighbourhoods of immigrant workers that surrounded the cities near the Rio de la Plata. Buenos Aires was transitioning into modernity and becoming a cosmopolitan city, becoming a cultural melting pot where people did not share the same language but did share the language of music.

The emergence of tango was the expression and response of these lower classes in their search for identity and freedom. However, due to its sensual nature, the dance was frowned upon by the Argentine upper class, as well as the church.

It would take a long time for these sectors to view tango in a positive light and accept it as a valuable emblem of Argentine identity.

One Story, Three Stages

The history of tango is generally divided into three major stages.

Stage 1 – “la guardia vieja” (the old school): origin and development.
Stage 2 – “la guardia nueva”(the new school): rise and expansion.
Stage 3 – “la época dorada” (the golden age): glory and elevation.

Stage 1: The Old School Late 19th Century

This first stage is related to the origin and development of tango. As we mentioned before, tango emerged within popular sectors characterized by great cultural diversity. Due to this diversity of customs, beliefs and traditions, a distinct cultural identity began taking shape.

As a form of artistic expression, from its origins, tango served as a unifying element in bringing cohesion to a culture crying out for national identity.

As a consequence, and true to its multiethnic and multicultural roots, tango combined music genres such as candombe, milonga, polka and waltz, adding that unique touch given by its characteristic upbeat 2/4 rhythm, and, little by little, the history of tango developed in its melodic, harmonic and rhythmic aspects.

According to official sources, it is believed that the first tango song, “El Entrerriano”, was written in 1897 by the pianist and composer, Anselmo Rosendo. Among the most popular performers on stage, Roberto Firmo, the creator of the emblematic tango “Alma de Bohemio” can’t go without mention, as well as the Uruguayan Francisco “Pancho” Canaro, who created the popular song “Se dice de mi.”

When it comes to the actual dance, tango was initially danced by two men.

This generally took place in common areas where the lower classes typically socialized, such as on the street, in bars, in the arrabales and in conventillos — a type of urban tenement where the immigrant population was housed.

It was also very popular in brothels, with men dancing tango while they were waiting for service.

Stage 2: The New School Early 20th Century

Over the early decades of the 20th century, a period called “La Guardia Nueva” came about, also known as “the new school”, coinciding with Argentina’s so-called golden age, a time of economic prosperity for the country.

By this stage, the increasingly popular tango continued its expansion, becoming a sensation throughout Europe, but also in the United States, This, coupled with the success of the dance in Paris in 1910, lead to a more widespread acceptance of tango as part of Argentina’s popular culture, especially among the upper classes who began viewing this tradition more favourably and changing opinion on their initial disapproval and criticism.

Musically, this stage is characterized by sextets that included instruments such as the violin, piano, double bass and the bandoneón (a large accordion), which would become the emblematic instrument of tango.

One of the most significant aspects of this period is that the songs’ lyrics started gaining more protagonism, with the peculiarity of including the use of lunfardo, a Rio de la Plata slang typical of the region.

As a consequence, tango singers also gained a more prominent role. Probably one of the most outstanding lyrical trailblazers of the time is Carlos Gardel, performer of the iconic tango “Por una cabeza”, who was able to imprint his unique style and created a new way of singing tango, something that had not been seen or heard before.

Stage 3: The Golden Age 1940s

Although by this time tango had already reached many places around the globe, it was during the 1940s that the tango boom really began gaining traction.

Tango became very popular in Buenos Aires during this period, being played in places it had never been played before: it was broadcasted on Argentine radio and movies, and it was also played in the many cafés of Buenos Aires, with the iconic Corrientes Avenue being the epicentre of the tango movement.

Musically, this was a period of the genre’s maturation. Artists such as Osvaldo Pugliese, Anibal Troilo and Roberto Goyeneche stand out, among many others.

This golden age coincided with the rise of Peronism in Argentina, a political movement describing itself as “national and popular”, with which many prominent tango figures identified. It is at this point that the history of tango began to unfold an aspect crucial to its development and consolidation, involving the support of public cultural policies that accompanied and facilitated greater circulation of tango artists and public in general.

In 1955, Perón was overthrown in a coup d’état, with this political movement leading to the decline of the golden age.

Meanwhile, other genres such as rock and folklore began to take the lead, and tango was relegated almost exclusively to the milongas — the name given to the event where Argentine tango is danced.

The Resurgence And Adaptation Of The Genre

These are the three main stages in the development of tango, yet, the story does not end there.

After many years of ostracism, tango continued to be played, and, true to its dynamic nature, it adapted and transformed to respond to new cultural and social dynamics.

A major player in this transformation was Astor Piazzolla, who introduced in the 1950s an avant-garde approach that incorporated jazz harmonies and off-beat rhythms, a modern approached that was resisted among traditional tango enthusiasts.

Yet, Piazolla’s music was well received among younger audiences, especially in the 1960s and 1970s, with genre fusions involving rock and jazz.

Another distinctive trait of Piazolla’s proposition was that his music was made to be listened to, breaking away from the traditional paradigm of tango as a dance. This led to a clear distinction between “tango for listening” and “tango for dancing.”

Several years later, another relevant exponent of tango’s adaptation emerged: Bajofondo Tango Club — launched in 2002 by Gustavo Santaolalla and Juan Campodónico — was a project with the clear proposal of synthesizing original tango recordings together with other contemporary musicians.

All these projects sought, in one way or another, to rediscover this traditional genre of Argentine and global culture, to bring new audiences worldwide closer to the universe, as well as to the history of tango.

Tango: Cultural Heritage Of Argentina And The World

Tango has a rich history that continues to be written.

In addition to being recognized by UNESCO as Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity, it also has its own National Day of Tango, celebrated since 1977 every December 11th, in honour of the birth of two major tango figures, Carlos Gardel and Julio de Caro.

Today, widely recognized around the world, the tango community also holds the main international competition in Buenos Aires every year, the Dance World Championship, where thousands of dancers from all over the world gather to enjoy the passion of tango.

Milongas and competitions dedicated to the genre can be found all over the globe. Did you know there is a well-established tango festival in Tokyo? Today, and always, tango caters for a variety of expressions, from more traditional options to more avant-garde variations.

In the history of tango, there is a place for everyone.