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La cumparsita

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and recorded by Ricardo Tanturi in 1940. Ricardo Tanturi has recorded La cumparsita as an instrumental Tango.
“La Cumparsita,” translated to English as “The Little Parade,” is a tango that captures the essence of fleeting moments. The title evokes images of a modest procession, perhaps symbolizing the passage of time and the quiet, communal dance of life. With its haunting melodies, it mirrors the delicate interplay between celebration and melancholy, echoing the inevitable cycles of joy and longing.

Tango

Style

Ricardo Tanturi

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Composer

1940/11/18

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Ricardo Tanturi
Ricardo Tanturi

Discover Other Orchestras

Aníbal Troilo – Tinta verde – (unknown date)
Aníbal Troilo – Responso – 1963/4/5
Aníbal Troilo – El marne – 1967/11/29
Aníbal Troilo – Ojos negros – 1948/10/1
Aníbal Troilo – A mis viejos – 1963/4/9
Héctor Varela – La payanca – 1957/4/12
Héctor Varela – Royal Pigall (Qué has hecho de mi cariño) – 1973/1/1
Héctor Varela – Quién te quiere como yo – 1958/3/19
Héctor Varela – El choclo – 1956/11/29
Héctor Varela – Qué tarde que has venido – 1956/7/24
Osvaldo Pugliese – Tortazos – 1944/6/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Desencuentro – 1962/8/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Tormento – 1972/7/17
Osvaldo Pugliese – Un tango para el recuerdo – 1957/6/24
Osvaldo Pugliese – El relámpago – 1964/12/1
Juan D’Arienzo – No tienes corazón – 1946/8/26
Juan D’Arienzo – De mi flor – 1938/11/3
Juan D’Arienzo – Castigo – 1939/8/9
Juan D’Arienzo – El cencerro – 1937/12/9
Juan D’Arienzo – Susanita (Yo me quedo con el tango) – 1957/3/13

Recommended

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.

La cumparsita recorded by other Orchestras

La cumparsita recorded by other Orchestras

1940/11/18 – Arganaraz (Aquellas farras) – Ricardo Tanturi
1940/11/20 – A media luz – Enrique Rodriguez
1940/11/21 – Canaro en Paris – Juan D-Arienzo
1940/11/21 – El corazon me engano – Juan D-Arienzo
1940/11/22 – Fue mi salvacion – Edgardo Donato
La cumparsita – 1943/11/5 – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1942/11/12 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/7/16 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – (unknown date) – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1955/6/20 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1963/4/9 – Anibal Troilo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1937/12/14 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/9/12 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1943/11/23 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1968/9/11 – Cuarteto Anibal TROILO – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1963/12/10 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1971/12/7 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 2015/1/1 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1946/2/8 – Angel d-Agostino – Angel Vargas
La cumparsita – 1964/4/24 – Miguel Calo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1927/5/3 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1943/6/28 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1979/10/30 – Osvaldo Fresedo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1926/11/7 – Pedro Laurenz – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1953/9/22 – Pedro Laurenz – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1942/9/10 – Rodolfo Biagi – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1940/11/18 – Ricardo Tanturi – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1935/5/6 – Edgardo Donato – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1944/6/3 – Alfredo De Angelis – Nestor Rodi
La cumparsita – 1961/8/29 – Alfredo De Angelis – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1953/1/22 – Enrique Rodriguez – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1955/9/16 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1956/7/26 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1961/4/28 – Jose Basso – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1983/1/1 – Jose Basso –
La cumparsita – 1968/5/2 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1956/11/29 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1954/11/25 – Hector Varela – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1966/3/21 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1973/1/1 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1968/5/30 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1957/1/1 – Astor Piazzolla – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1951/1/1 – Astor Piazzolla – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1950/5/17 – Osmar Maderna – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1977/1/1 – Enrique Francini – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1928/1/11 – Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1917/1/1 – Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1937/7/4 – Cuarteto Tipico Roberto Firpo – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1973/1/1 – Francini-Pontier – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1946/12/16 – Francini-Pontier – Alberto Podesta
La cumparsita – 1955/9/13 – Armando Pontier – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 211/12/1 – Horacio Salgan – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1987/1/1 – Nuevo Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgan) – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1930/1/1 – Julio De Caro – Instrumental
La cumparsita – 1926/5/12 – Orquesta Tipica Victor – Instrumental

Letra del Tango La cumparsita

La cumparsa
De miserias sin fin
Desfila
En torno de aquel ser
Enfermo
Que pronto ha de morir
De pena.
Por eso es que en su lecho
Solloza acongojado
Recordando el pasado
Que lo hace padecer…

Abandonó a su viejita
Que quedó desamparada,
Y loco de pasión
Ciego de amor
Corrió tras de su amada,
Que era linda, era hechicera
De lujuria era una flor,
Que burló su querer
Hasta que se cansó
Y por otro lo dejó…

Largo tiempo después
Cayó al hogar materno,
Para poder curar su enfermo
Y herido corazón…
Y supo
Que su viejita santa,
La que él había dejado
El invierno pasado
De frío se murió…

Hoy ya solo, abandonado
A lo triste de su suerte,
Ansioso espera a la muerte
Que bien pronto ha de llegar,
Y entre la triste frialdad
Que lenta invade el corazón,
Sintió la cruda sensación
De su maldad…

Entre sombras
Se le oye respirar
Sufriente,
Al que antes de morir
Sonríe
Porque una dulce paz
Le llega…
Sintió que desde el cielo
Su madrecita buena,
Mitigando sus penas
Sus culpas perdonó…!

English lyrics of the Tango "La cumparsita"

The procession
Of endless misery
Parades
Around that being
Sick
Soon to die
Of sorrow.
That’s why in his bed
He sobs distressed
Recalling the past
That causes him to suffer…

He left his little mother
Who was left helpless,
And mad with passion
Blind with love
He ran after his beloved,
Who was beautiful, was enchanting
A flower of lust,
Who mocked his love
Until she grew tired
And left him for another…

Long time later
He returned to the maternal home,
To heal his sick
And wounded heart…
And he knew
That his saintly little mother,
Whom he had left
Last winter
Died of cold…

Today alone, abandoned
To the sadness of his fate,
Anxiously awaits death
Which will soon arrive,
And amidst the sad coldness
Slowly seeping into his heart,
He felt the harsh sensation
Of his wickedness…

Among shadows
He is heard breathing
Suffering,
To whom before dying
Smiles
Because a sweet peace
Arrives…
He felt that from heaven
His good little mother,
Easing his pains
Forgave his sins…!

La cumparsita by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.



Story behind the Tango La cumparsita

“La cumparsita” tells a poignant tale of loss, regret, and redemption through the life of a man whose missteps lead to profound suffering. Structured as a narrative, the lyrics reflect on his neglect of his mother, “viejita,” for a passionate but ultimately tragic love affair with an enchanting woman who later abandons him. Returning to his maternal home too late, he finds that his mother has died of cold, a tragedy that precipitates his own demise weighed down by remorse.



Symbolism of La cumparsita

The primary symbol in “La cumparsita” is the “cumparsa,” a parade of endless miseries, representing the protagonist’s stream of suffering and failures that haunt him until his death. This relentless procession reflects his inner turmoil and the irreversible consequences of his actions. The motifs of death and cold symbolize not just physical end but also the emotional barrenness and isolation that follow his indiscretions and neglect. The ultimate peace he finds in imagining his mother’s forgiveness from heaven underscores the theme of redemption and longing for absolution.



La cumparsita in historic Context

“La cumparsita,” recorded in 1940, was created amid significant global and local upheaval, including the advent of World War II and a period of political and social transformation in Argentina. The tango, inherently reflective of the Argentine spirit, emphasizes themes of loss, nostalgia, and the pain of love—emotions that resonated deeply in a society facing uncertainty and change. The portrayal of personal tragedy mirroring broader societal anxieties is typical of the tango genre, which often serves as an emotional outlet and a reflection on human vulnerabilities.



Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez was an Uruguayan musician and composer, renowned primarily for composing “La Cumparsita,” one of the most famous and recognizable tangos globally.