The Structure of Tango Music

All Western music is build with the same notes, and each type has its own form. The form of Tango comes from a culture of many cultural dances and classical music, where it s called the "Rondo"

Each type of music has a number of parts, a system of repetition of the parts, a system for musical phrases (within the parts), rhythmic changes, and mode changes that change the speed and mood of each part.

By the beginning of the 19th century Tango had developed into a form with three parts, each part with a particular melody (Melody A, Melody B & melody C)

Tango dance music is mostly played in the classical pattern of:

A-B-A-C-A

Sometimes this will be varied to, for example A-B-C-A-B-C

Tango songs (as opposed to dance music with the singer) developed in two parts A and B, with part C dropped. Tango songs are easily distinguished, with the singer beginning at the start, whereas dance songs will begin with a minute of more of instrumental before the singer comes in.

Each phrase has 8 single steps (16 beats). [Check "The Lost Beat"}. At the end of each phrase you will often hear a distinct ending, or flourish, signalling the start of the next phrase. A slight pause or hesitation will allow you to pick up on the next phrase before dancing on.

If a phrase begins with a quick, rythmic, upbeat (major key) pattern it will typically remain through the part. it will offer more double-time , happy steps. If the phrase begins with a more lyrical (minor key) feel it will likely stay that way, allowing more lyrical, flowing movement.

Typically, the phrases within each part interact in a question-answer form - part 1 question - part 2 answer etc. - but that's the next installment

[Adaptted from "Tango - Let's Dance to the Music", Joaquin Amenabar]