Fabrice Knecht Tango DJ
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.
Una carta is a Tango written by Miguel Bucino and composed by Miguel Bucino.
The tango “Una carta” captures a profoundly emotional moment in the life of its protagonist, a malevo (a tough man from the lower social classes of Buenos Aires) who finds himself in a distressing situation. This man, incarcerated, writes a letter to his mother, driven by his anguish and betrayal. He questions his significant other’s fidelity during his imprisonment and is tormented by the gossip that she might have taken another lover, and that his child has been left in an orphanage. This tango dramatically portrays the pain, uncertainty, and desperate need for truth in the face of abandonment and deception.
The symbolism in “Una carta” is rich and evokes the cultural ethos of Argentina in the early 20th century. The cement floor on which the protagonist cries symbolizes the cold, harsh reality of his imprisonment. The act of writing a letter, in itself, conveys his isolation and his reliance on distant communication as his only means to reach out. The “cruz que hice en la reja” (cross made on the prison bars) signifies a vow or oath, suggesting both his religious faith and a deeply rooted intention of revenge. The heart depicted as turning into the number seven (“siete”) when he thinks of his child, utilizes a local slang where ‘hacerse un siete’ means to get tangled or conflicted, illustrating his emotional turmoil.
Recorded on July 7, 1931, in Argentina, “Una carta” emerges during a time of political upheaval and social change. The late 1920s and early 1930s in Argentina were marked by the rise of the inflexible and oftentimes violent ideological clashes. In such a context, tangos like “Una carta” resonate deeply with an audience facing economic hardships and social instability. The tango serves as a reflection and an outlet, offering a narrative that intertwines personal betrayal with broader themes of injustice and resilience. The reference to a child possibly left in an orphanage also touches on the dire social conditions of the time, where many children ended up in such institutions due to economic despair or familial breakdown.
Miguel Bucino was a noted figure in the world of Tango, contributing both as a lyricist and composer, capturing the essence and struggles of early 20th-century Argentinian society.