Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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These Tangos, Valses, and Milongas were recorded around the same time. Take a look to discover what else this orchestra—or others—may have recorded during the same week or even on the exact same day.
El pescante is a Tango written by Homero Manzi and composed by Sebastián Piana.
“El pescante” narrates a poignant tale of a coachman and his horse, reflecting on the passage of time and the inevitability of change. The primary themes outlined are nostalgia, the transient nature of life and love, and a yearning for a past characterized by youth and vibrance. The coachman, once vigorous and revered, now journeys through the city, yearning for the days when his life was filled with purpose and passion. Homero Manzi uses the coachman’s nightly rides through Buenos Aires as a metaphor for traveling through one’s memories and past experiences.
In the lyrics, the coach and horse symbolize the journey through life and time. Manzi’s use of phrases like “cargao con sombra y recuerdo” (loaded with shadow and memory) and “camino al tiempo olvidado” (path to forgotten time) heightens the sense of nostalgia. The horse’s tired movements, “bajo el sol de la calle Callao” (under the sun on Callao Street), represent fading vitality and glory. Furthermore, the mention of René and Suisse hints at specific personal memories associated with places or people, symbolizing moments of love or significant life events that burn bright in the coachman’s fading memories.
Written in 1962, a period of great transformation in Argentina, “El pescante” reflects a sociocultural nostalgia for the old Buenos Aires, amidst rapid modernization and social changes. The locations mentioned, such as Constitución and Calle Callao, are significant; they represent busy urban settings that have evolved over decades. This tango, with its emphasis on the past, perhaps serves as a lament for the disappearing traditional ways of life, symbolized by the coachman whose era and importance are waning in the face of modernity.
Homero Manzi was a renowned Argentinian lyricist and poet, famous for his significant contributions to the tango genre. His works often encapsulate deep sentimentalism and a strong connection to Buenos Aires.