The first piece, Danza del viejo boyero ("Dance of the Old Herdsman"), immediately strikes the ear as being odd. The reason is as simple as it is strange: the left hand plays only black notes, while the right plays only white notes. This means it is composed of two modes (bitonality), with the right hand in C Major and the left in Dâ™­ Major. Despite the seemingly unavoidable cacophony of that arrangement, Ginastera manages to frame a simple and charming melody through the use of rhythm and texture. The piece ends with a chord (E - A - D - G - B), the notes of a guitar when tuning. As a result of the criollo influence while looking for an Argentinian language, this was one of Ginastera's favourite chords.

Date of composition 1937
Type Dance
Catalogue Op. 2
Instruments Piano
Autotranslations beta Alberto Ginastera: Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2
Alberto Ginastera: Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2
Alberto Ginastera: Danzas Argentinas, Op. 2