Sebastián Piana
Sebastián Piana was an Argentine musician, composer, orchestra conductor, and pianist, dedicated to tango music.
He was the composer of the music, among many other works, of the milongas Milonga del 900, Milonga sentimental, Milonga triste; of the tangos Viejo ciego, El pescante, Tinta roja, Sobre el pucho ; and of the milonga-candombes Aleluya, Pena mulata, among many others, and he was the creator of this genre.
And also of pure candombes and street cries from colonial Buenos Aires, with lyrics by the poet Dr. León Benarós: Cara de negro – 12 candombes y pregones de Buenos Aires.
He also composed the musical scores for several films such as Sombras porteñas, Carnaval de antaño, He nacido en Buenos Aires, Nobleza gaucha, Las de barranco, El último payador, and Derecho viejo.
He was president of the Academia Porteña del Lunfardo''.''
Life
Early years
He was born in Buenos Aires on November 26, 1903, in the neighborhood of Almagro, in the home of an Italian immigrant family.His father was a barber and an amateur musician who played several instruments, such as the mandolin, guitar, and piano.
He also studied at the Odeón Music Institute with Maestro D’Agostino. He also took lessons with two important Argentine musicians: the virtuoso Ernesto Drangosch and the composer Juan Francisco Giaccobbe.
He debuted in a children’s trio when he was only 12 years old. Professionally, he made his debut at 17 years old in a neighborhood cinema, playing waltzes and opera excerpts.
Professional career
In 1922, he performed on the radio for the first time. Four years later, in 1926, he met Homero Manzi, with whom he formed a team known for writing several works in collaboration over the following years.Around 1930, Rosita Quiroga asked Homero Manzi to write a milonga, and he in turn asked Piana to compose the music so that he could write the lyrics. It was then that he composed Milonga del 900 in just one hour.
He continued composing milongas accompanied by Manzi’s lyrics, such as Ropa blanca. Piana is also the author of Milonga de los fortines, Milonga de Juan Manuel, Milonga de Puente Alsina, and several pieces in collaboration with the poet León Benarós, such as La Milonga de Arolas. At that time, the milonga was limited to just lyrics, and Piana renewed it because, according to him, the music was fundamental.
Piana was also the author of pieces considered among the best tangos, such as Silbando, in collaboration with Cátulo Castillo on lyrics by José González Castillo in 1925; Tinta roja with lyrics by Cátulo Castillo in 1941; De barro; El pescante ; No aflojés ; El parque de artillería; and Son cosas del ayer, among others.
Even at 90 years old, he was still composing and teaching. He wrote around five hundred works and was president of the Academia Porteña del Lunfardo.
In 1985, he received a Diploma of Merit from the Konex Awards.
He died in Buenos Aires on July 17, 1994.
Works
On the SADAIC website, there are 281 registered works by Sebastián Piana.Films
He nacido en Buenos Aires dir. Francisco MugicaDerecho viejo dir. Manuel RomeroVidalita dir. Luis Saslavsky La canción que tú cantabas dir. Miguel MileoLos caranchos de la Florida El hombre que nació dos veces- ''Una porteña optimista''