Sebastián Piana

Sebastián Piana (26 November 1903 – 17 July 1994) 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 (with lyrics by Homero Manzi), Tinta roja (with lyrics by Cátulo Castillo), Sobre el pucho (with lyrics and musical collaboration by José González Castillo); and of the milonga-candombes Aleluya (from 1940, with lyrics by Cátulo Castillo), Pena mulata (with lyrics by Homero Manzi), 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 (from 1790 to 1916).

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 (lyrics by Homero Manzi, 1934); No aflojés (lyrics by Mario Battistella, music jointly with Pedro Maffia, 1934); El parque de artillería; and Son cosas del ayer, among others.

In 1985, he received a Diploma of Merit from the Konex Awards.

Works On the SADAIC (Argentine Society of Authors and Music Composers) website, there are 281 registered works by Sebastián Piana.

Films

He nacido en Buenos Aires (1959) dir. Francisco Mugica Derecho viejo (1951) dir. Manuel Romero Vidalita (1949) dir. Luis Saslavsky (music) La canción que tú cantabas (1939) dir. Miguel Mileo Los caranchos de la Florida (1938) El hombre que nació dos veces (1938) Una porteña optimista (1937)