A Performer’s Guide to Astor Piazzolla's <i>Tango-Études pour flûte seule</i>: An Analytical Approach

<p>This dissertation aims to give performers deeper insight into the style of the <em>Tango-Études pour flûte seule</em> and tango music in general as they seek to learn and apply tango performance conventions to the <em>Tango-Études</em> and other tango works. Significant research elements of this dissertation include a complete analysis of phrasing, tonality, and formal structure and how these relate to performance in each of the six <em>Tango-Études</em> and an examination of Piazzolla’s compositional use of descending chromatic chords and implied descending lines; my reductions of this voice leading as it appears in the <em>Tango-Études</em> are exclusive to this dissertation. This dissertation is divided into five chapters and an appendix. Chapter one presents background information about Piazzolla and his serious works and a review of literature pertaining to this dissertation. Chapter two examines the history of tango with a focus on its settings and the flute’s role in it. Chapter three provides analysis of fraseo, rhythm, form, rubato, ornamentation, and improvisation and how musicians might implement these parameters in their performances. Chapter four offers formal and stylistic analysis of each <em>Tango-Étude</em> and gives interpretative suggestions based on analysis of form, harmony, phrase-structures, motives, thematic development, and implied textures. The appendix comprises a series of interviews with tango musicians who worked alongside Piazzolla. This dissertation opens new avenues of scholarship in the analysis, performance, and style of the music of Astor Piazzolla, and I hope that subsequent research will address his chamber works.</p>

Name thesis:degree_name

Doctor of Musical Arts

Level thesis:degree_level

Doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

The Graduate School and University Center of The City University of New York

Year dc:date.available

2018

Author dc:creator

• Reyes, Asis

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Antoni Pizà

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Thomas McKinley
• Peter Manuel
• Tania Leon

• Music Performance
• Music Practice
• tango
• new tango
• Astor Piazzolla
• Tango-Études
• flute
• performance practice
• Buenos Aires

Repository record dc:identifier

https://academicworks.cuny.edu/gc_etds/2509

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:academicworks.cuny.edu:gc_etds-3561