July Review of Piazzolla Videos

There were 517 videos of Piazzolla’s music posted on YouTube in the month of July, 2009. 389 (75%) of the videos were performance videos featuring live performances. The others were videos which used Piazzolla’s music as a sound track for photo or video montages. I highlighted my journey through these many videos in this blog.

Thirty-three percent of the performance videos were in the classical mode, 32% in Nuevo tango, 17% in pop and 18% in jazz.

Here are the most frequently performed pieces this month (Libertango was the most frequently played – 23% of the total; the others follow in order):

1. Libertango
2. Adios Nonino
3. Oblivion
4. La muerte del ángel
5. Milonga del ángel
6. Verano Porteño
7. Invierno Porteño
8. Balada para un loco
9. Primavera Porteña
10. Tango Suite (1-3)

The top three on this list seem to be fairly stable month-to-month but the bottom seven change every month.

The performance videos came from 48 different countries. Argentina posted the most videos: 62. Switzerland appears on this list for the first time. The top ten posting countries are listed in order here:

1. Argentina
2. Italy
3. USA
4. Brazil
5. Spain
6. Germany
7. France
8. Japan
9. Russia
10. Mexico Portugal Switzerland (tie)

It was a bonanza month for video originals by Piazzolla – there were 30 of them. Eleven of those have been posted before but the others are important additions to the collection of Piazzolla live videos. They include an Amsterdam performance with Pugliese which includes La Yumba and Adios Nonino; an interview and additional performances from Amsterdam; a performance of Adios Nonino in an orchestral setting at the Teatro de Colon; a series of eight videos featuring the first electronic octet; and a series of videos from a performance with Gary Burton at the Ravenna Jazz Festival in 1986. The Gary Burton series continues into the month of August.

Quality of performance varied from excellent to bizarre. With the wealth of performances by Piazzolla himself, choosing the best video was difficult but I ultimately chose the classic performance of Adios Nonino by the combined Sextet and Pugliese orchestra. If that video does not appear below, click here.

The choice for most bizarre this month was less difficult: a conductor developing her skills on Lo que vendra. The “action” in this video starts after thirty-five seconds have passed. Good luck to the orchestra when she steps to the podium. If that video does not appear below, click here.

I have put a table with links to all 517 videos as well as some more information on the videos on the July link in my Piazzolla on Video website.

Best Video of the Month


Most Bizarre Video of the Month