Composer, cellist, conductor, and arranger Jose Bragato (1915-2017) was Italian-born but spent most of his life in Argentina. In 1955, he joined Astor Piazzolla's Nuevo Tango ensemble, pioneering the use of solo cello in tango music. Bragato made countless string arrangements of Piazzolla's music and was instrumental in bringing his contemporary tango music to a global audience. His own compositions are likewise significant entries in the Argentine tango tradition.
Bragato was also known for his arrangements of South American folk music. The Chacarera is a dance local to rural areas of Argentina, characterized by distinctive syncopated rhythms. Bragato's short entry in the genre for piano trio brings the cosmopolitan influence of the tango to this lively, vibrant folk dance.
