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.
La cumparsita is a Tango written by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez and composed by Gerardo Matos Rodriguez.
“La cumparsita,” which translates to “The Little Parade,” tells a poignant story of love, loss, and redemption. This piece is a narrative of a dying man, reflecting on his life’s choices and their repercussions. He reminisces his past passions and moments of departure, marked by abandoning his mother, which eventually leads to his endless regret and seeking redemption in his final hours.
Symbolism is rich and profound in “La cumparsita”. The “cumparsa de miserias sin fin” symbolizes the continuous parade of unending miseries that surround the protagonist, reflecting the agonies and despair that accompany him towards death. The reference to his mother (“viejita”) who dies of cold is an emotional reflection on neglect and abandonment. Her forgiveness in his final hours symbolically represents a moment of spiritual and emotional salvation, underscoring the themes of love and redemption embedded in this Tango. Phrases like “y por otro lo dejó” and “Sintió la cruda sensación de su maldad” encapsulate the betrayal and self-realization that visit the protagonist, enhancing the stark emotional tapestry of the Tango.
“La cumparsita” was created and recorded at the tail-end of the 1970s, a period of significant cultural and political changes in Argentina. This context influences the Tango’s themes of despair, loneliness, and longing for forgiveness. The cultural importance of Tango as a vehicle for expressing emotional and societal struggles is particularly pronounced during this era, making “La cumparsita” a reflection not only of personal loss but also of the larger societal melancholy that pervaded during the time.
Gerardo Matos Rodriguez was a prominent Uruguayan musician known for contributing greatly to the genre of Tango, with “La cumparsita” being one of his most famous and enduring works.