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Sonatina

Sonatina is a Tango written by Marcelino Hernández and recorded by Carlos di Sarli in 1956. The Tango Sonatina is written by Marcelino Hernández, Carlos di Sarli has recorded Sonatina with the singer Jorge Durán.
“Sonatina,” the diminutive form of “sonata” in Spanish, suggests a playful yet sophisticated musical piece. This title evokes a dance of delicate melodies, weaving through each note with the lightness of a gentle breeze. It captures the essence of simplicity touched by grace, where every phrase resonates with an elegant charm that lingers in the heart.

Tango

Style

Carlos di Sarli

Orchestra

Jorge Durán

Singer

Abel Aznar

Author

Marcelino Hernández

Composer

1956/10/19

Date

Jorge Durán
Jorge Durán
Carlos di Sarli
Carlos di Sarli

Discover Other Orchestras

Héctor Varela – La catrera – 1957/4/22
Héctor Varela – Y no me digas no – 1957/7/2
Héctor Varela – El Caburé – 1966/10/23
Héctor Varela – Portero suba y diga – 1955/10/19
Héctor Varela – Entre tu amor y mi amor – 1959/8/21
Carlos di Sarli – Calla – 1956/12/19
Carlos di Sarli – La cachila – 1941/3/6
Carlos di Sarli – Carnaval de antaño – 1927/3/27
Carlos di Sarli – Un desolado corazón – 1954/8/31
Carlos di Sarli – Cara sucia – 1952/9/15
Horacio Salgán Y Dante Amicarelli – Amarraditos – 1970/1/1
Horacio Salgán Y Dante Amicarelli – Ritmo fascinante (Vertigo ciudadano) – 1970/1/1
Horacio Salgán Y Dante Amicarelli – Fuegos artificiales – 1970/1/1
Horacio Salgán Y Dante Amicarelli – La chica de Ipanema (Garota de Ipanema) – 1970/1/1
Horacio Salgán Y Dante Amicarelli – En bateau – 1970/1/1
Ricardo Tanturi – Así era ella muchachos – 1946/3/13
Ricardo Tanturi – Tus besos fueron mios – 1946/11/29
Ricardo Tanturi – Canción de rango (Pa’ que se callen) – 1942/12/4
Ricardo Tanturi – Qué vas buscando muñeca – 1943/12/16
Ricardo Tanturi – Ivón – 1945/9/5

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.

1956/10/19 – Y todavia te quiero – Carlos di Sarli
1956/10/19 – Cafe para dos – Miguel Calo
1956/10/19 – Mi promesa – Miguel Calo
1956/10/17 – Buenos Aires – Armando Pontier
1956/10/17 – Silbando – Armando Pontier

Lyrics Translation of the Tango Sonatina

This is the translation of the Tango “Sonatina” from Spanish to English. The English lyrics of the Tango “Sonatina” have been done with AI.

Letra del Tango Sonatina

Las copas ya vacías
sobre el frío mostrador,
en cada copa un sueño,
una lágrima, un rencor.
Y siguen la rutinas,
la vieja sonatina,
llorando en la neblina
del humo y del licor.
La turbia indiferencia
del que va para olvidar,
la otra indiferencia
del que toma por tomar.
Reniega de tu pena,
gastada pero ajena
y al fin te quedas solo,
como una copa más.

Con tu violín descolorido
y con tu alma de arlequín,
seguís andando sin olvido,
de cafetín en cafetín.
Tu vieja y triste sonatina,
parece, en cada bodegón,
una esperanza que camina
bajo un cielo de neblina
arrastrando un corazón.

Y sigues noche a noche,
desnudando tu violín
y vas de mesa en mesa
con tu alma de arlequín.
Tu alma empecinada
que nunca encuentra nada,
buscando en las cantinas
y en cada cafetín.
Buscando una sonrisa,
una lágrima nomás,
buscando quien comprenda
la amargura que hay detrás,
de cada madrugada
cuando solo te quedas
mirando las monedas
que no te llevarás.

English lyrics of the Tango "Sonatina"

The glasses are already empty
on the cold counter,
in each glass a dream,
a tear, a grudge.
And the routines continue,
the old sonatina,
crying in the mist
of smoke and liquor.
The murky indifference
of one who goes to forget,
the other indifference
of the one who drinks to drink.
Curse your sorrow,
worn yet foreign
and in the end you stay alone,
like one more glass.

With your faded violin
and a harlequin soul,
you keep wandering without forgetting,
from café to café.
Your old and sad sonatina
seems, in each tavern,
a hope walking
under a misty sky
dragging a heart.

And you go on night after night,
stripping your violin
and move from table to table
with your harlequin soul.
Your stubborn soul
that never finds anything,
searching in the bars
and in every café.
Looking for a smile,
a single tear,
seeking someone to understand
the bitterness that lies behind,
of each dawn
when you are left alone
watching the coins
you won’t take with you.

Sonatina by

Sonatina is a Tango written by and composed by Marcelino Hernández.

Story behind the Tango Sonatina

The lyrics of “Sonatina” capture the melancholy ambiance of Buenos Aires’ bustling nightlife, particularly within the dimly lit cafes and bars. The author paints a vivid image of solitary wanderers, drifting from one tavern to another, guided by the haunting tunes of a well-worn violin. The repetitive sonatina mentioned in the lyrics serves as a metaphor for the daily routine and emotional burden these individuals carry, oscillating between dreams, tears, and resentment.

Symbolism of Sonatina

The “cold counter” with empty glasses symbolizes missed opportunities and unfulfilled dreams, filled initially with promise but ultimately abandoned or consumed. The “lonely, discolored violin” and “soul of a Harlequin” evoke the image of a sad, wandering musician, adding a layer of tragedy to the narrative. The sonatina, or simple musical piece, represents a repetitive, unchanging life, filled with fleeting hopes and lingering heartache. The “sky of mist” casts a veil over aspirations, leaving those within the bars caught in a never-ending search for understanding, comfort, or simple recognition—a human connection. Key phrases such as “crying in the mist of smoke and liquor” highlight an atmosphere of despair, while “searching for a smile, a tear” underscores a relentless quest for empathy. The imagery of counting the coins at dawn speaks to the transactional, often ungratifying nature of their existence, where financial gain pales in comparison to emotional voids left unfilled.

Sonatina in Historic Context

Composed in 1956, “Sonatina” reflects the post-war era in Buenos Aires, a time when tango music was both a cultural staple and an emotional refuge for many Argentinians. The city’s bars and cafes served as social hubs where individuals from disparate backgrounds gathered, often united by shared struggles or losses. This historical context amplifies the emotional gravity found in “Sonatina,” presenting a portrait of a city coping with its evolving identity, beset by modernity and tradition.

Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Marcelino Hernández was a prolific composer who contributed significantly to the rich tapestry of tango music, embedding the rhythms and sentiments of his homeland into his compositions. The influence of Buenos Aires’ bustling urban life and complex emotional landscape is indelibly imprinted upon his works, including “Sonatina.”