with Piazzolla, José spent much of his time making arrangements of Piazzolla's music for duos, trios, string quartets and full orchestras which have helped to bring tango to a wide international audience. Years in exile During the period of Argentine military dictatorship from 1976 to 1982, he left Argentina and became principal cellist in the Orquestra Sinfonica de Porto Alegre (OSPA) in Brazil. Three years after leaving Argentina he joined the Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte (UFRN) in Natal, Brazil, where he was a member of the Quartetto UFRN along with Korean violinist Won Mo Kin, Brazilian violinist Reinaldo Couto and American violist Mark Cedel. During his time in Brazil, he founded several classical music archives and was the conductor for several chamber music ensembles. At the same time he was becoming recognized as an arranger of Paraguayan folk music, including guaranias and polkas. Later years In 1982 José returned to Argentina and was appointed assessor of music for the Argentine popular music archives of SADAIC (Argentine Society of Music Authors and Composers). SADAIC helps to promote the music of Argentine composers throughout the world by providing free sheet music to non-profit making musical and educational establishments. His last solo performance, when he was 80 years old, was with the Atilio Stampone ensemble in Radio City Music Hall, New York City, accompanying the Argentine ballet dancer Julio Bocca and his company. His composition Graciela y Buenos Aires, a tango for cello and string orchestra, has become the mainstay of the symphonic tango repertoire in Europe where his works are widely performed. He died on 18 July 2017 at the age of 101. Prizes and awards Honorary doctorate (Doctor Honoris Causa), Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal Brasil Francisco Canaro Award for his career awarded by SADAIC in 1999. Prize "Merito a la Trayectoria" by the City of Buenos Aires, 1999. Latin Grammy Award in 2002 as composer and arranger of Piazzolla's music for string quartets. "Due Mondi" of Friuli, Italy. Compositions A Mauricio (Guarania y Galopa Paraguaya) A un Amigo Amo Ka Aru lado Ave Maria Andina Campanas de la Encarnacion Chacarera Cuatro Fragmentos Liricos Cuatro Bocetos Sobre Ritmos Dos Canciones Argentinas Dos Canciones sobre Ritmos Paraguayos El Instante Anhelado El Vals de Laura Andrea Elsita Fantasía Folklórica Farra Jhape Sapucai Flauta Retozona Graciela y Buenos Aires Impressionista In Memoriam Leitmotiv Lis Ciancons Che Ciantave Me