Famous Tangos

Ole Guapa

Ole Guapa, was composed in 1925 by the Dutch composer Arie Maasland (Malando) .

Arie Maasland (1908 - 1980) a drummer and accordion-player from Rotterdam, Holland, who became enchanted by the Argentinian tango after seeing Eduardo Bianco perform in 1935.

He started composing tangos (i.e. Olé Guapa) it was recorded for the first time by Fred Marley's Orchestra in 1938. It became one of his greatest hits internationally.

Arie changed his name to Malando and started his own tango orchestra.

Jealousy

Jalousie 'Tango Tzigane', was composed in 1925 by the Danish composer Jacob Gade. The

Gade was principal conductor of the cinema orchestra at the time, the music was used as part of the accompaniment of the Danish premiere of the silent film Don Q, Son of Zorro.

In 1935 the first recording was made by the Boston Pops Orchestra conducted by Arthur Fiedler. Many other recordings followed.

Vera Bloom wrote English lyrics to it, entitled "Jealousy".

It has also been used in countless films, here with Rodolfo Rodolfo Valentino

El Choclo

El Choclo" meaning "The Corn Cob" is a popular song written by Ángel Villoldo, an Argentine musician.

It is probably one of the most popular tangos in Argentina.

The piece was premiered in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1903

El Choclo has been recorded (without vocals) by many dance orchestras, especially in Argentina.

A number of vocal versions were recorded in 1952, the most popular one by Georgia Gibbs, which reached #2 on the Billboard chart.

It was performed by Louis Armstrong by Connie Francis and Nat King Cole.

Por Una Cabeza.

“Por una Cabeza" is an Argentinian tango written in 1935, with music by Carlos Gardel and lyrics by Alfredo Le Pera

The name is a phrase in Spanish. meaning winning a Horse Race by the length of a head.

Alfredo Le Pera was a Brazilian from São Paulo, Brazil. Carlos Gaedel was born in Buenos Aires.

Le Pera and Gardel died in an airplane crash in Medellin, (Colombia), on June 24, 1935.

The tango has since, been performed by numerous tango orchestras. Tango scenes with "Por una Cabeza" appear in many movies.

La Cumparsita

"La cumparsita" is a tango written in 1916 by the Uruguayan musician Gerardo Matos Rodríguez, with lyrics by Pascual Contursi and Enrique Pedro Maroni.

It is among the most famous and recognizable tangos of all time Roberto Firpo, director and pianist of the orchestra that premiered the song, added parts of his tangos "La Gaucha Manuela" and "Curda Completa" to Matos' carnival march ("La Cumparsita"), resulting in "La cumparsita" as it is currently known.

The title translates as "the little parade", and the first version was a tune with no lyrics. Later, Pascual Contursi wrote words to make the most popular version of the song. The lyrics begin: "The little parade of endless miseries..."

The End