La Cumparsita is the quintessential tango tune, known all over the world. This version came about when I was asked to create an arrangement for the River City Brass Band to which one of the band members, baritonist Koichiro Suzuki, would dance a tango. I listened to several recordings of tango in hopes of gaining insight into what makes tango the art form it is; and after identifying some of the hallmarks of great tango music, I set to work on the arrangement. I introduced the piece with a short rubato/cadenza. With this, I meant to set the scene in a sort of dark street near all the hustle and bustle of a carnival a couple of blocks away. As I presented the melody, I integrated tight harmonies and lots of rubato, in the hope of acheiving an appropriately sensual tango sound. There is a flugelhorn solo in the middle which is meant to be played as a gypsy violinist might perform it - very stylized, sliding from note to note. Also, I used some muted cornets to mimic the sound of an accordian (accordian being a common - seemingly required? - instrument in tango). The result feels pretty authentic to me, and I believe it is equally effective as a concert piece as it is as an accompaniment for a dance.

• La Cumparsita is published by Drew Fennell Publishing.
  Available for Brass Band.

• Hear a computer generated version of La Cumparsita [brass band version]*.