Welcome to Tango Music Australia
Australia's first website where you can track the progress and be informed about gigs by young emerging tango musicians in Sydney's leading music institutions
Tango Music Australia (TMA) aims to raise awareness in Australia of the empowering, rich and culturally relevant music of our Argentine neighbours and to help preserve and pass on the art of playing tango to future generations of musicians
Tiempo de Tango http://www.tiempodetango.com.au (under construction) is the professional ensemble associated with TMA. It is a typical tango quartet consisting of Violin, bandoneon, double bass and piano. They are unique in Australia in that the musicians train with tango specialists in Buenos Aires and study authentic tango performance technnique. They specialise not only in the tangos of the golden period of 1940 to 1955 but in interpreting the works of later composers such as Astor Piazzolla whose professional career began in the orchestras of that era Tiempo de Tango can be contacted at the email address below. For a recent live performance click on http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OrRsXGmmyQs
Further information: maggie.ferguson@gmail.com
Maggie Ferguson, violinist and director of TMA and Tiempo de Tango has studied and performed with the Orquesta Escuela de Tango Emilio Balcarce in Buenos Aires since 2003 at the invitation of Ignacio Varchausky, director of TangoVia Buenos Aires. There she works with the maestros of the great tango orchestras of the 1940's and 1950's absorbing a style of playing which is in danger of being lost, even in Argentina.
Through the generosity of TangoVia, TMA has acquired rare archival scores with which to teach young Australian musicians. Students play from original, highly sophisticated orchestral arrangements and are instructed in score interpretation, authentic performance practice, tango specific bow skils, percussive effects and tango history
The students are accomplished string players and pianists who study tango in various programs at Sydney Conservatorium with Maggie Ferguson. Others are in school ensembles and special string programs and workshops.
Results to date have been spectacular performances by orchestras of up to 17 members in locations including Government House, The Institute for International Affairs, Parliament House, The Sydney Conservatorium of Music and The Russian Club. The ensembles also perform at diplomatic events at the invitation of the Argentine Consulate, cultural events and at "milongas" at the invitation of various tango dance schools
In January tango music was introduced at Riverina Summer School for Strings. Students from capital cities, regional NSW and Victoria of all ages had the opportunity to study performance techniques and repertoire with specialist tuition by members of Tiempo de Tango and perform in concert with them. For pictures see www.summerstrings.com.au
More Information
Live events
We are preparing a collection of live performance photos - stayed tuned.