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Organito de la tarde

Organito de la tarde is a Tango written by Cátulo Castillo and recorded by Rodolfo Biagi in 1956. Rodolfo Biagi has recorded Organito de la tarde as an instrumental Tango.
“Organito de la tarde,” or “Little Organ of the Afternoon,” captures the essence of twilight’s gentle embrace with its whimsical notes. As the sun dips below the horizon, this melodic whisper weaves through the streets, evoking a dance of nostalgia and dreams. It is the soundtrack of memories, swirling in the amber glow of day’s end.

Tango

Style

Rodolfo Biagi

Orchestra

Instrumental

Singer

José González Castillo

Author

Cátulo Castillo

Composer

1956/3/24

Date

Instrumental
Instrumental
Rodolfo Biagi
Rodolfo Biagi

Discover Other Orchestras

Armando Pontier – Repuntando – 1956/4/13
Armando Pontier – Buen amigo – 1962/4/12
Armando Pontier – Carillón de La Merced – 1979/6/7
Armando Pontier – Dame tiempo – 1967/2/3
Armando Pontier – El torito – 1957/9/30
Francini-Pontier – Canción para breve final – 1948/2/4
Francini-Pontier – Cobrate y dame el vuelto – 1946/10/21
Francini-Pontier – Sirva otra copa – 1946/1/29
Francini-Pontier – Para lucirse – 1950/3/22
Francini-Pontier – Dicen que dicen – 1950/12/5
Roberto Firpo – Misa de once – 1929/9/11
Roberto Firpo – Vea vea – 1927/5/19
Roberto Firpo – Damisela encantadora – 1936/10/19
Roberto Firpo – Flor de pajonal – 1930/4/28
Roberto Firpo – Volvé hermanita – 1927/7/27
Alfredo Gobbi – Jueves – 1947/7/30
Alfredo Gobbi – Racing Club – 1949/10/13
Alfredo Gobbi – Sin vuelta de hoja – 1956/9/18
Alfredo Gobbi – El Incendio – 1948/4/13
Alfredo Gobbi – La última curda – 1957/6/18

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.

Organito de la tarde recorded by other Orchestras

Organito de la tarde recorded by other Orchestras

1956/3/24 – Alguien – Rodolfo Biagi
1956/3/20 – A Roberto Peppe – Osvaldo Pugliese
1956/3/20 – Que te pasa Buenos Aires – Osvaldo Pugliese
1956/3/16 – Historia de un amor – Ricardo Malerba
1956/3/16 – Quejas de Montmartre – Ricardo Malerba
Organito de la tarde – 1942/11/30 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1951/10/23 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1954/8/31 – Carlos di Sarli – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1967/7/27 – Juan D-Arienzo – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1956/3/24 – Rodolfo Biagi – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1970/1/1 – Jose Basso –
Organito de la tarde – 1959/10/8 – Florindo Sassone – Andres Peiro
Organito de la tarde – 1968/6/3 – Florindo Sassone – Instrumental
Organito de la tarde – 1960/1/1 – Quinteto Real (Horacio Salgan) – Instrumental

Letra del Tango Organito de la tarde

Al paso tardo de un pobre viejo
puebla de notas el arrabal,
con un concierto de vidrios rotos,
el organito crepuscular.
Dándole vueltas a la manija
un hombre rengo marcha detrás
mientras la dura pata de palo
marca del tango el compás.

En las notas de esa musiquita
hay no sé qué de vaga sensación
que el barrio parece
impregnarse todo de emoción.
Y es porque son tantos los recuerdos
que a su paso despertando va
que llena las almas con un gran deseo de llorar.

Y al triste son
de esa su canción
sigue el organito lerdo
como sembrando a su paso
más pesar en el recuerdo,
más calor en el ocaso.
Y allá se va
de su tango al son
como buscando la noche
que apagará su canción.

Cuentan las viejas que todo saben
y que el pianito junta a charlar
que aquel viejito tuvo una hija
que era la gloria del arrabal.
Cuentan que el rengo era su novio
y que en el corte no tuvo igual…
Supo con ella, y en las milongas,
con aquel tango reinar.

Pero vino un día un forastero,
bailarín, buen mozo y peleador
que en una milonga
compañera y pierna le quitó.
Desde entonces es que padre y novio
van buscando por el arrabal
la ingrata muchacha
al compás de aquel tango fatal.

English lyrics of the Tango "Organito de la tarde"

At the slow pace of a poor old man,
the neighborhood is filled with notes,
with a concert of broken glasses,
the twilight barrel organ.
Turning the crank,
a lame man follows behind,
while his hard wooden leg
keeps time with the tango beat.

In the notes of this little music
there’s an indescribable vague sensation
that seems to immerse the neighborhood
in waves of emotion.
And that’s because there are so many memories
that it awakens as it goes,
filling souls with a great desire to cry.

And to the sad sound
of its song,
the sluggish organ continues,
as if sowing along its path
more sadness in the memories,
more warmth in the sunset.
And there it goes
to the rhythm of its tango
as if searching for the night
that will extinguish its song.

The old women who know all
and gather around the piano, say
that the old man once had a daughter
who was the pride of the neighborhood.
They say the lame man was her boyfriend
and that he was unmatched in the cut…
He knew how to reign with her, at the milongas,
with that tango.

But then came a day a stranger appeared,
a dancer, handsome and a fighter
who at a milonga
stole his partner and his technique.
Since then the father and boyfriend
have been searching through the neighborhood
for the ungrateful girl
to the beat of that fatal tango.

Organito de la tarde by José González Castillo

Organito de la tarde is a Tango written by José González Castillo and composed by Cátulo Castillo.



Story behind the Tango Organito de la tarde

The lyrics of “Organito de la tarde” unfold a nostalgic narrative centered around an old organ grinder, a handicapped man, and a tale of lost love in a Buenos Aires neighborhood. The organ grinder and his companion roam the districts, with the evening organ evoking intense emotions among the locals, reminiscent of past events filled with love and betrayal, ending in the poignant echoes of a forgotten tango. The song weaves heart-wrenching stories of romance, nostalgia, and the relentless passage of time as captured by the traditional street organ’s music.



Symbolism of Organito de la tarde

The “organito,” or street organ, symbolizes the passage of tradition and memories across generations. Its music sets a backdrop to personal and collective histories, awakening sentiments tied deeply with the neighborhood’s past. Key phrases such as “pata de palo marca del tango el compás” (wooden leg marks the tango’s beat) and “el organito crepuscular” (the twilight street organ) emphasize a connection between physical disability and the relentless march of time, mirroring the faded yet persistent remnants of a bygone era where tango reigned supreme in community gatherings.



Organito de la tarde in historic Context

The tango “Organito de la tarde” was created in a post-war Argentina, a period characterized by significant cultural transitions and the nostalgia for a simpler, yet dramatically charged past. During the mid-20th century, Buenos Aires was a melting pot of cultures and stories, and tango music was a critical outlet for expressing the urban folklore. Recorded in 1956, this tango captures the essence of the barrio’s soul, portraying the social dynamics and emotional landscapes prevalent in the city suburbs during that era.



José González Castillo

José González Castillo was a pivotal figure in Argentine theatre and tango, contributing significantly to its lyricism and depth.