Rough Guide to the Music of Argentina

Various Artists (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 26, 2004)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: World Music Network
• ASIN: B0001IW4JG
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,145 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Tango de Ayer

2. Oro y Plata

3. Cancion de Lejos

4. Volver

5. Triste Febrero

6. Romance de Abril

7. Triste

8. La Comparsita

9. Grito de Milonga

10. Tortazos

11. Verano Porteño

12. El Motivo

13. La Siciliana

14. Peregrinacion

15. Poyenekayan

16. La Trunca Norte

17. Chiquilin de Bachin

18. Chacerera del Fuego

19. Canto a Ñande Reta

Editorial Reviews

Argentina is synonymous with its global music export, the tango. Born as an expression of the country's working classes in the brothels and bars of late nineteenth century Buenos Aires, this sensual and highly popular dance swept the world. However, the tango is just one of Argentina's vast musical treasures explored on this album. Over the years, Spanish stringed instruments and African rhythms have been incorporated into the array of indigenous styles, adding to the country's diverse musical outpourings. The Rough Guide To The Music Of Argentina explores this rich musical region, home to countless Andean folk styles, travelling through tango, milonga, chacarera and chamamé.

Artists include: Adriana Varela, La Chicana, Lorena Astudillo, Hugo Diaz, Caceres, Osvaldo Piro, Roberto Grela, Walter Rios Orquesta, Barbara Luna, Carlos Gardel, Astor Piazzolla Y Su Quinteto Tango Nuevo, Anibal Troilo, Cuarteto Almagro, Jaime Torres, Beatriz Pichi Malen, Domingo Cura, Antonio Agri & Ricardo Dominguez, Alberto Rojo and Chango Spasiuk

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Beautiful Introduction to the music of Argentina, June 8, 2004

By 

D. Pawl "Dani" (Seattle) - See all my reviews
(TOP 1000 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Rough Guide to the Music of Argentina (Audio CD)

Before I heard this album one of the only genres I was familiar with was tango. There are actually other beautiful and haunting styles of music like the upbeat milonga (similar to the tango, but with a musical resolution unlike the "frustrated" final note associated with tango) and ballads. This album was a great introduction to the variation of styles played in contemporary Argentina as well as traditional sounds.

The CD starts out with the sabor of tango. "Tango de Ayer" made me think of the arabals (slums) of Buenos Aires. I could almost smell the cigarette smoke and the red wine coming from a nearby tavern as a smouldering couple provocatively swirls around the dance floor, locked in a passionate embrace. What a fabulous beginning for an album that just continues to grow progressively more intriguing with every track. Some of my favorite tracks are:
Cancion De Lejos--The words are so powerful. (Me voy, amor/si soy motivo para olvido decirmelo--Translation: I am going, my love/If I am motive for forgetfulness tell me)
There is also a wonderful tango from the era of the 1910s-1930s sung by the legendary Carlos Gardel (Tortazos).
My favorite track by far is the song Canto a Nande Reta. It is a beautiful tune played with accordeon and has a very Slovic feel to it (like a polka).

Please, for anyone who hasn't immersed themselves in the beautiful music of Argentina, or for people who have a great love for it already, buy this album! You won't be sorry.