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La cumparsita

La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and recorded by Alfredo De Angelis in 1961. Alfredo De Angelis has recorded La cumparsita as an instrumental Tango.
“La Cumparsita,” meaning “The Little Parade,” is a poignant tango that captures the bittersweet essence of life’s fleeting moments. The title evokes images of a small procession, a metaphor for the passage of time and the myriad emotions that accompany it. Through its haunting melodies, the piece speaks of love, nostalgia, and the dance of memories.

Tango

Style

Alfredo De Angelis

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Author

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Composer

1961/8/29

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Alfredo De Angelis
Alfredo De Angelis

Discover Other Orchestras

Edgardo Donato – Y llego el amor – 1934/6/28
Edgardo Donato – Petrolina y Candelario – 1934/1/9
Edgardo Donato – No vuelvas más – 1931/1/1
Edgardo Donato – A media luz – 1961/11/1
Edgardo Donato – La pena de un desencanto – 1930/1/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – No juegues a la guerra – 1956/1/31
Osvaldo Pugliese – Bien de abajo – 1967/6/1
Osvaldo Pugliese – Ilusión marina – 1947/1/28
Osvaldo Pugliese – En otros caminos – 1957/7/10
Osvaldo Pugliese – A mis compañeros – 1956/1/31
Armando PONTIER – Verdemar – 1960/7/21
Adolfo Carabelli – Por qué – 1931/11/2
Adolfo Carabelli – Rodríguez Peña – 1932/6/24
Adolfo Carabelli – Mi refugio – 1931/9/4
Adolfo Carabelli – Cuando canta mi guitarra – 1933/1/1
Adolfo Carabelli – Loco – 1932/9/9

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

1961/8/29 – Ni tu ni yo – Alfredo De Angelis
1961/9/1 – Bronca – Osvaldo Pugliese
1961/9/1 – Coplas – Osvaldo Pugliese
1961/9/3 – Naipe marcado – Osvaldo Fresedo
1961/9/3 – Tal vez manana – Osvaldo Fresedo
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 miseries
Marches
Around that being
Sick
Who soon will die
Of sorrow.
That is why in his bed
He sobs distressed
Remembering the past
That causes him such pain…

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 charming
A flower of lust,
Who mocked his love
Until she grew tired
And left him for another…

Long time later
He returned to his mother’s home,
To try 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 his sad fate,
He anxiously awaits death
Which soon will come,
And amid the cold melancholy
That slowly invades the heart,
He felt the harsh sensation
Of his wrongdoing…

Among shadows
He is heard breathing
In pain,
To those who before dying
Smile
Because a sweet peace
Reaches them…
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 tragic tale of regret and redemption. The protagonist reflects on his life’s missteps, primarily his abandonment of his devoted mother for a love affair that ultimately leads to betrayal and his emotional decay. As death approaches, he recalls the warmth of his mother and the coldness of the world he chased, grappling with the immense guilt of his choices. The tango portrays his journey towards seeking forgiveness, which he receives spiritually as he nears death, imagining his mother pardoning him from the beyond.



Symbolism of La cumparsita

The lyrics of “La cumparsita” are rich with symbolism. The “cumparsita,” often interpreted as a small parade or troupe, symbolizes the procession of hardships and sorrows that follow the protagonist. Key phrases like “De miserias sin fin” (endless miseries) and “Sintió la cruda sensación de su maldad…” (He felt the harsh sensation of his wickedness) underline the themes of relentless suffering and self-awareness of his failures. The eventual “sweet peace” that reaches him signifies his reconciliation with his past and acceptance of his mortality.



La cumparsita in historic Context

Composed in 1961, a period rich in tango evolution, “La cumparsita” is set against a backdrop of tango’s resurgence as a symbol of Latin identity. This timeframe adds depth to the narrative, blending the traditional melancholic tango with a story of personal torment and societal values, emphasizing familial bonds and moral judgments that were significant in Argentine culture.



Gerardo Matos Rodriguez

Gerardo Matos Rodriguez was a Uruguayan musician and composer, credited with some of the most famous tangos, including “La cumparsita.”