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.
Testamento de arrabal is a Tango written by Raúl Hormaza and composed by Oscar Castagniaro.
“Testamento de arrabal” translates to “Suburb’s Will” in English, where “arrabal” refers to the outskirts or a neighborhood often associated with the working class and “testamento” represents a will or testament—typically written to express last wishes. In this tango, the poet pens a dramatic parting from Buenos Aires, the city that pulsates with the rhythms of tango, expressing a deep connection and simultaneously a heartbreaking farewell. Carrying a narrative of someone who leaves behind the streets that sculpted his identity, this piece is both an homage to the city and a personal confession of what was sincerely cherished in life—the simplicity of familial love, true friendships, and nostalgic tango nights.
The tango is rich in symbolic elements that deeply root it in the Argentinian cultural ethos. The mention of “las estrellas en un patio de arrabal” symbolizes a final resting place among the stars in a humble neighborhood, reflecting the poet’s wish to remain connected to his origins even in death. The request for his bohemian lover to leave a “lunar kiss” as a farewell denotes a deep-seated romanticism and the moon-kiss a poetic emblem of eternity and serenity. Furthermore, the poem delves into patriotic symbolism with respect to tango music, urging future generations to cherish it—tango thus stands as a national cultural pillar in the poem.
Written and recorded in the late 1940s, “Testamento de arrabal” captures a period of profound socio-political change in Argentina. Post World War II, Argentina was under the rule of Juan Perón, a time marked by significant urban and industrial development which altered the face of old neighborhoods like San Telmo and Barracas mentioned in the lyrics. The tango reflects a nostalgic longing for the disappearing local traditions and communal spaces, embodying a resistance to the loss of cultural identity amidst rapid modernization and social transformation.
Raúl Hormaza is an Argentine lyricist known for his profound and emotionally stirring tangos, which often reflect themes of nostalgia, love, and socio-cultural commentary.