22/2024 - Orquesta Silbando plays Zum & the Pugliese catalog - Modern Argentine tango orchestra

When it comes to recordings from modern Argentine tango orchestras, I think what I like the most are instrumental arrangements that stay very true to the original versions. Going through Orquesta Silbando's albums Mano Sinistra and Manos Arriba, I found these four recordings that pay homage to the arrangements of Osvaldo Pugliese's orchestra.

Orquesta Silbando

Formed in 2010, the Silbando orchestra has been of the most sought-after Argentine Tango ensembles in Europe. Based in Paris, it was born during the prestigious tango orchestra workshop at the Tarbes festival, from the meeting of young musicians of various nationalities (France, Argentina, Chile, Spain) sharing the same ambition: to create a typical Argentine tango orchestra. Under the artistic direction of Chloë Pfeiffer, who is also the pianist and arranger for the orchestra, Silbando is dedicated to promoting and bringing a new identity to the tango of yesterday and today.

Putting the tanda together

Orquesta Silbando has a reportoire of traditional and modern tangos, and besides this tanda's selection of "songs from Pugliese" other highlights include 'Yapeyú' and 'Loca' from the D'Arienzo catalog. There's also a version of 'Malandraca' that you could possibly switch with one of the songs from this tanda.

'Zum' is an Astor Piazzolla composition and recording, to which I was unable to find the original recording date. Osvaldo Pugliese recorded it in 1973 and the song is the most modern one of the selection. Pugliese recorded 'Para Dos' in 1953, 'De Floreo' in 1950 and 'La Mariposa' in 1966. 'La Mariposa' is the oldest composition and was recorded by for example Carlos Gardel in 1930.

I was going to start the tanda with 'La Mariposa' and progress towards the most modern of these tangos. I also love that the song has a long enough of an intro that gives people plenty of time to enter the floor. 'Zum' is also a massive song to finish the tanda with.

But... I felt that 'La Mariposa' not only has a uniquely uplifting and harmonious quality, but it also features one of the most intense build-ups leading to the most head-bang-worthy final phrases in a tango song.

So I decided to reverse the order, start with 'Zum' and give the dancers a fair warning as well of what they were getting into. Here's the tanda!

What do you think? I'm also very curious about what are some of your favorite modern orchestras? Let me know in the comments!

Modern orchestras - Tanda of the Week

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