Misa de once by Armando Tagini

Misa de once is a Tango written by Armando Tagini and composed by Juan José Guichandut.

Story behind the Tango Misa de once

The tango “Misa de once” (translated as “Eleven o’clock Mass”) narrates a nostalgic love story. The lyrics tell of a youthful relationship framed by their encounters at a Sunday mass, where the young woman was accompanied by her grandmother. The tango reflects on the promise and innocence of young love, contrasting it with the realities faced in later life, characterized by tiredness and disillusionment.

Symbolism of Misa de once

The song uses various symbols to deepen the emotional resonance of the narrative. The “Misa de once” or “Eleven o’clock mass” itself is symbolic, representing a structured time of innocence and youthful relationships. Phrases like “Voces de bronce” (Voices of bronze) likely refer to the church bells that resonate not just as a call to mass but as the call to a lost golden time. Additionally, nature elements like “Magnolias, menta y cedrón” evoke sensory memories, which punctuate the song with nostalgia and a yearning for a past time that seemed simpler and full of promise.

Misa de once in historic Context

Released in 1929, “Misa de once” arrives at the tail end of the 1920s, a dynamic decade of change and modernization that also faced major disruptions, including the Wall Street Crash of 1929. In such a context, a tango like “Misa de once” resonates with a longing for stability and the comforts of predictable rhythms, like those of church bells and Sunday services. Buenos Aires, Argentina, being the place of creation, was intensely influenced by immigration and urbanization, which is subtly mirrored in the nostalgic tones of the song as it reminisces about simpler, steadier times.

Armando Tagini

Armando Tagini was an Argentine lyricist known for his contributions to tango music, deeply embedding emotional and cultural narratives into his compositions.