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La cumparsita

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and recorded by Héctor Varela in 1956. Héctor Varela has recorded La cumparsita as an instrumental Tango.
“La Cumparsita,” which translates to “The Little Parade” in English, is a tango that captures the essence of fleeting moments and unspoken emotions. This melodic procession weaves through the heart’s hidden corridors, whispering tales of love lost and memories cherished. Each note dances along like an ephemeral parade, painting a vivid tapestry of life’s complex beauty.

Tango

Style

Héctor Varela

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Composer

1956/11/29

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Héctor Varela
Héctor Varela

Discover Other Orchestras

Armando PONTIER – Verdemar – 1960/7/21
Armando Pontier – Nuetras cosas – 1963/1/1
Armando Pontier – Barrio pobre – 1957/8/7
Armando Pontier – Un momento – 1969/9/17
Armando Pontier – Carillón de La Merced – 1979/6/7
Armando Pontier – La ultima – 1968/4/29
José Basso – Besos brujos – 1967/1/1
José Basso – El amanecer – 1961/4/25
José Basso – Contratiempo – 1952/5/6
José Basso – El viejo vals – 1986/1/1
José Basso – Se tiran conmigo – 1967/1/1
Francini-Pontier – Ronda azul – 1955/3/2
Francini-Pontier – Pa’ que sepan como soy – 1951/7/10
Francini-Pontier – Lloró como una mujer – 1949/9/27
Francini-Pontier – La cumparsita – 1946/12/16
Francini-Pontier – El pecoso – 1948/4/8

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

1956/11/29 – La reja – Jose Basso
1956/11/29 – Mundana – Jose Basso
1956/11/29 – El choclo – Hector Varela
1956/11/28 – Nochero soy – Osvaldo Pugliese
1956/11/28 – Y con eso donde voy – Osvaldo Pugliese
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 parade

Of endless misery

Marches

Around that being

Sick,

Who will soon die

Of sorrow.

That’s why in his bed

He sobs distressed,

Remembering the past

That causes him to suffer…

He left his old 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 his maternal home,

To heal his sick

And wounded heart…

And he learned

That his saintly little mother,

Whom he had left

Last winter

Died of cold…

Now alone, abandoned

To the sadness of his fate,

He eagerly awaits death

Which will soon come,

And amid the sad coldness

That slowly invades the heart,

He felt the harsh feeling

Of his wickedness…

Among shadows

You hear him breathe

Suffering,

He who before dying

Smiles

Because a sweet peace

Reaches him…

He felt that from heaven

His good little mother,

Easing his sorrows

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,” which translates to “The Little Parade,” dramatically encapsulates a narrative of personal tragedy and remorse. The lyrics illustrate the mournful life of a person ridden with guilt and sorrow, reflecting on their actions too late. The primary theme revolves around a haunting regret for abandoning his vulnerable mother for a passionate yet ill-fated love affair—a decision leading heartbreakingly back to his maternal home, only to find his mother dead, having succumbed to the hardships exacerbated by his absence.



Symbolism of La cumparsita

The tango employs potent symbolic imagery to deepen the despair portrayed. Phrases like “La cumparsa de miserias sin fin desfila” (The parade of endless miseries marches) metaphorically convey the continuous, inescapable procession of suffering that plagues the protagonist. The relentless parade serves as a poignant backdrop to the protagonist’s life, emphatically mirroring his mental torment and the bleak, unforgiving passage of his guilt and sorrow.



La cumparsita in historic Context

Composed in 1956, “La cumparsita” emerges into a world still closely connected to traditional values, where family duty and maternal respect held significant cultural importance, especially in Argentina. This historical context amplifies the protagonist’s wrongdoing and subsequent suffering, making his neglect appear even more grievous and his sorrow more profound. Rodríguez, through this tango, articulates not only personal regret but also a broader societal reminder of the era’s familial expectations and moral obligations.



Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

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