Adiós Nonino
Spanish work
Definition
Farewell, Grandfather — Piazzolla's most personal composition, written in 1959 after learning of the death of his father Vicente ('Nonino') while on tour in New York. One of his most performed works, it exists in many versions for different ensembles. The title uses the affectionate Italian diminutive 'nonino' (little grandfather) that Piazzolla used for his father.
Interpretive Guidance
Adiós Nonino should carry the weight of genuine grief — not theatrical sorrow but the specific, disoriented sadness of someone who received news of a death at a distance and alone. The long, arching melody line is a cry; the rhythmic sections underneath are the attempt to keep walking. Play it slowly enough to breathe.