Per Nørgård

A Tortoise Tango (Without Jealousy)

Per Nørgård's A Tortoise Tango (Without Jealousy) is a work for Piano Solo composed in 1984. Programme note A Tortoise's Tango(1984), 'Light of a Night - Paul with bird (1989) and 'Esperanza - Hermit Crab Tango'(1997) are (the first) three movements of a suite 'Animals in Concert' for piano. 1. A Tortoise's Tango - Skildpadde-tango (1984) - dur. : 4' 2. Light of a Night - Paul meets bird (1989) - dur. : 6' 3. Hermit Crab Tango, Esperanza (1997) - dur. : 5' The movements can be performed separately. The tortoise as tango dancer must presumably possess certain rhythmic peculiarities, which I have chosen to express by letting the tune of the tortoise shuffle broadly, tripartite throughthe strict four partite time of tango. Tortoise Tango was the original title of this piece, 'written for Achilles' (the pianist Yvar Mikhashoff), for his so called tango project', including new tangos for piano by composers from all over the world. Esperanza and Tortoise Tango were later arranged for saxophone quartet (by Jesper Nordin) and for bandoneon and small ensemble (by Niels Rosing-Schow,) Per Nørgård