Think of the four seasons, and Antonio Vivaldi’s concerti are the first pieces of music that come to mind. But Vivaldi is not the only composer to have been inspired by the seasons. The following is Cuatro Estaciones Porteñas (The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires), by the father of tango nuevo, Ástor Piazzolla

Tango began as the music and dance of gangsters and thugs in 19th century Argentina. Much like jazz, which gained popularity and was later elevated into an artform, tango was popularized in the 20th century, during which Piazzolla was inspired by jazz and classical music to develop a more academic style called tango nuevo. He abandoned the large tango orchestra in favour of smaller groups modelled after the jazz combo, which allowed him to experiment with extended harmonies and the use of counterpoint (music with more than one melody).

The Four Seasons of Buenos Aires were originally separate compositions written from 1965 to 1970, later combined into a single suite. The above recording is by Piazzolla’s Quinteto (quintet), an ensemble including a violin, piano, electric guitar, and bass. Much like in a jazz ensemble, each musician has the freedom to improvise and respond to one another. Throughout the recording you can hear Piazzolla leading the group on the bandoneon, a type of accordion common in tango.

I first heard this anecdote about Piazzolla from Dr. Peter Paul Koprowski, who had also studied with the famed composer and conductor Nadia Boulanger. In his 30s, Piazzolla went to Paris to study with Boulanger. At the time Piazzolla was ashamed of his roots in tango, so he only showed Boulanger his avant-garde compositions. But it was not until he played his tango Triunfal for her that she exclaimed, “That’s the true Piazzolla. Never leave it.” For me, this story is a reminder to stay true to yourself and pursue your passion, for otherwise how can you create anything meaningful?

Piazzolla also wrote tangos in collaboration with notable Argentinian poets including Jorge Luis Borges. I’ll leave you with a personal favourite, the tango Las Ciudades with lyrics by Horacio Ferrer.