Work

Programme Note

Modern Tango is one of five tangos, Tango Cinco, for solo piano. Sydney dance teacher Ian Murphy tells how the Argentinean tango began in the ghettos of Buenos Aires, with dance steps grouped in 5s and 7s which worked across the music’s phrasing. However, when taken to Europe, extra dance steps were invented to fit into groups of 8s. I heard a modern tango, with its faster tempo, performed at Darling Harbour in Sydney one Sunday afternoon, and this Modern Tango explores the grouping of 5 within this faster tempo. The piece employs voice leading, shifting harmonies and a long melody. The first performance was given at Sydney and Nimbin (November 2006) in which two composers, Michael Hannan and I, played our own piano works.

Difficulty:

Intermediate

Performance History

	12 Nov 2006	Performed by Diana Blom at “Michael Hannan & Diana Blom play Hanna and Blom” at The Killara Music Room
	02 Jun 2007	Performed by Diana Blom on 2MBSFM – the Fellowship of Australian Composers