Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
Style
Orchestra
Singer
Author
Composer
Date
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 is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.
‘La cumparsita,’ which translates to ‘The little parade,’ intricately portrays a series of tragic life events revolving around remorse and despair. The narrative unfolds around a central character who recalls his past actions and their consequent sorrows as he lies on his deathbed. The lyrics suggest that his sufferings stem from abandoning his elderly mother and pursuing a love that ultimately betrayed him. This pursuit leads to a series of unfortunate circumstances that culminate in his profound regret and loneliness as he faces death.
The use of imagery in ‘La cumparsita’ enriches its emotional depth significantly. The opening reference to a “parade of endless miseries” symbolizes the relentless and haunting troubles that follow the protagonist. This motif of a parade suggests an inescapable, visible display of his internal torment. Key phrases such as “abandoned his old mother” and “ran after his beloved” are pivotal, as they underline actions leading to intense personal grief. The winter that takes his mother’s life symbolizes cold abandonment and uncaring fate, linking the chill of the season with the coldness of death and neglect.
The tango was composed in the mid-20th century, a time when tango music often reflected the social and emotional climates of its Argentinian roots. This period in Argentina was marked by significant socio-political changes and cultural shifts. The song’s release shortly after World War II perhaps mirrors a collective mourning and the personal losses experienced by many. ‘La cumparsita’ not only reflects personal regret but also could be seen as an allegory for the national sentiment of loss and melancholy that pervaded post-war Argentina.
Gerardo Matos Rodriguez was a Uruguayan musician and composer, renowned primarily for his contributions to the tango genre.