Edward Neeman plays It Takes Twelve to Tango by Milton Babbitt

Babbitt's tango is part of the collection of 127 tangos by 127 composers commissioned by Yvar Mikhashoff between 1983 and 1991. The beguiling mix of edgy modernism and tango rhythms is far from obvious, as sensual dance-like lines alternate with psychedelic fast cuts, and florid lines rub shoulders with disembodied gestures pirouetting simultaneously in different registers of the piano.

Babbitt structures his tango using an all-partition array, a highly complex serial construction a bit like writing counterpoint in three dimensions instead of two. He similarly structures the rhythm using a partition technique, but keeps the beats of the 2/4 tango consistent. The title, It Takes Twelve to Tango, is a reference to the twelve-tone technique.

Live performance, Cleveland International Piano Competition, Cleveland Playhouse Bolton Theater, August 30, 2009.

http://edwardneeman.com

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[TheGabrielArens]

almost like an improv

[2300skiddo]

Can't remember whether I had heard this. But it's now my favorite serial tango!  :-)

Thanks for posting.

[wheatminer17]

Excellent! I've been learning this piece for some time, but am not able to play as well as you. It's really a delightful, playful work. Hopefully more people will get to know Babbitt's post 1980 work. Thanks for posting this.

[japanesesweet]

Well done! it must be a difficult piece to memorize and the sudden changes of mood come across well. My favourite piano piece by Babbitt is Allegro Penseroso- -it has a lightness of touch which you don`t get much from 12 tone music.