Many of us know tango as a dance form, one steeped in romance and red dresses.
But the word "tango" actually describes an entire genre of music and dance that originated in Argentina in the 1800s.
Acclaimed tango ensemble QuinTango joined us to share more!
They've performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center and all over the world!
Like most tango ensembles, QuinTango includes string instruments (violin, cello, and bass, in this case), piano and a special type of accordion called the bandoneon.
Most of QuinTango's musicians are trained in classical music, but they're also experts in tango, music they say is all about storytelling.
And they use tango music's intense rhythms and beautiful melodies to help them convey the drama and emotion in those stories.
QuinTango also had the chance to share a specific group of women's stories through their partnership with a halfway house in Alexandria, VA.
The women, who had recently been in prison, shared a poem they'd written with QuinTango called "Aspiration," and bass player Ali Cook turned it into a tango.
Listen to the episode to hear "Aspiration" and more!
Help Sprouts grow! Support IPR for more classical music fun, just tell us in the comments that your donation is for Classical Sprouts.
Classical Sprouts is produced by Emily Duncan Wilson.
