Carillón de La Merced by Enrique Santos Discépolo, Alfredo Le Pera

Carillón de La Merced is a Tango written by Enrique Santos Discépolo, Alfredo Le Pera and composed by Enrique Santos Discépolo.

Story behind the Tango Carillón de La Merced

The poignant lyrics of “Carillón de La Merced” portray a narrative of reflection and loss centered around the Carillón (bell tower) of the Merced Church. This church is likely a reference to a historical church located in Buenos Aires, Argentina. The protagonist revisits this landmark, which stirs memories of a past love. The bell tower, with its unchanging voice, acts as a catalyst for the speaker’s journey through his memories and emotions. The use of the church’s bells as a motif in the song connects the personal sorrow to a collective memory, a place where many might come to seek solace and remembrance.

Symbolism of Carillón de La Merced

In “Carillón de La Merced,” the recurring sound of the bell serves as a symbol of inescapable, resounding memory. The carillón, with its “immutable voice,” stands for the unchanging past that haunts the narrator. This symbolism of sound extends itself to the emotional spectrum by depicting how certain places or songs can trigger profound memories. The lyric “penetraste el secreto de mi corazón” (you penetrated the secret of my heart) emphasizes the emotional depth that these memories hold, ingrained deeply and revived by the echoing chime of the Carillón.

Carillón de La Merced in Historic Context

The song was recorded in 1941, during a period that was globally tumultuous but also rich in cultural expression within Argentina. During this time, Tango music was evolving, reflecting deeper narratives and complex emotions possibly mirroring societal sentiments of uncertainty and change. The historical backdrop might have influenced the song’s themes of nostalgia and the pain of irretrievable losses, as people then were intensely feeling the pressures of political and social upheaval.

Enrique Santos Discépolo, Alfredo Le Pera

Enrique Santos Discépolo, known for his profound and sometimes melancholic lyrics in Tango, collaborated with Alfredo Le Pera, who was renowned for his work with Carlos Gardel, producing some of the most famous tangos. Their combined expertise is evident in the lyrical depth and emotional resonance of “Carillón de La Merced.”