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Song

La morocha

"La morocha" is a tango with music by Enrique Saborido and lyrics by Ángel Villoldo, dated by sources to 1905 [1][2][4]. Sources describe it as a Guardia Vieja work and an early tango that spread abroad, although they differ on its exact composition and publication dates and on whether it was the first tango known outside Argentina [5][7][8][10].

"La morocha" is a tango composed by Enrique Saborido [1][2][3]. Spanish Wikipedia credits the lyrics to Ángel Villoldo and dates them to 1905 [4]. The same encyclopedia places the work in the Guardia Vieja era [5].

Sources date the composition to 1905, but they differ on how precisely [1][2][6][7][8]. Its first publication is dated to either 1905 or 1906 [5][9]. Several sources link the work to early circulation outside Argentina, but they do not agree on whether it was the first tango to become known abroad [7][8][10].

History

Todo Tango and Spanish Wikipedia credit the music to Enrique Saborido, and Wikipedia gives 1905 as the year of composition [1][2]. Tango.info and Spanish Wikipedia also give 1905 as the work date [5][6]. A Todo Tango biography of Saborido by Juan Silbido dates the composition to 25 December 1905, and a Todo Tango chronicle refers to "navidad de 1905" (Christmas 1905) [7][8]. These dating claims are marked as disputed in the source material [1][5][6][7][8].

The Todo Tango biography of Saborido and the Todo Tango chronicle both associate the work's premiere with Bar Ronchetti [7][8]. This claim is also flagged as disputed [7][8].

Publication

Sources differ on the publication date [2][5][7][9]. Wikidata gives 1905 [9]. Spanish Wikipedia gives 1906 [5]. The Spanish Wikipedia article on Saborido states that the work was edited in early 1906 and sold about 100,000 copies [2]. The Todo Tango biography of Saborido refers to a first edition by Luis Rivarola in 1906, a claim flagged as disputed [7].

Spread abroad

Todo Tango's biography of Ángel Villoldo states that the work "es considerado el primer tango que se difundió en Europa" (is considered the first tango disseminated in Europe) [10]. The Todo Tango chronicle "La Morocha, un tango de exportación" describes it as the first exported tango score and says it crossed the Atlantic around 1906 [8]. The Todo Tango biography of Saborido, however, states that it cannot be determined whether it was the first tango known abroad [7]. Sources therefore differ on this point [7][8][10].

Recordings and singers

According to Spanish Wikipedia, the work was recorded in the United States in 1906 [4]. The same source associates the singers Flora Rodríguez de Gobbi (1906) and Lola Membrives (1909) with the song [4].

Related

The Todo Tango biography of Saborido discusses "La morocha" in connection with the tango "El choclo" [7].

References

  1. 1.La morocha · todotango.com“Música: Enrique Saborido”
  2. 2.Enrique Saborido · es.wikipedia.org
  3. 3.TangoCloud public music credits · tangocloud.app
  4. 4.La morocha (tango) – Wikipedia, la enciclopedia libre · es.wikipedia.org
  5. 5.La morocha (tango) · es.wikipedia.org
  6. 6.La morocha · tango.info
  7. 7.Biografía de Enrique Saborido por Juan Silbido · todotango.com
  8. 8.La Morocha, un tango de exportación · todotango.com
  9. 9.La morocha · wikidata.org
  10. 10.Ángel Villoldo: biografía · todotango.com“es considerado el primer tango que se difundió en Europa”
Data: recordings, facts and sources

Recordings by year

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

19291981

1929: 1, 1937: 1, 1938: 1, 1941: 1, 1949: 1, 1951: 1, 1954: 1, 1959: 1, 1963: 1, 1966: 1, 1967: 1, 1970: 1, 1973: 1, 1981: 1

Credit

Music
Enrique Saborido

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

Lyrics

Español

Yo soy la morocha, la más agraciada, la más renombrada de esta población. Soy la que al paisano muy de madrugada brinda un cimarrón. Yo, con dulce acento, junto a mi ranchito, canto un estilito con tierna pasión, mientras que mi dueño sale al trotecito en su redomón. Soy la morocha argentina, la que no siente pesares y alegre pasa la vida con sus cantares. Soy la gentil compañera del noble gaucho porteño, la que conserva el cariño para su dueño. Yo soy la morocha de mirar ardiente, la que en su alma siente el fuego de amor. Soy la que al criollito más noble y valiente ama con ardor. En mi amado rancho, bajo la enramada, en noche plateada, con dulce emoción, le canto al pampero, a mi patria amada y a mi fiel amor. Soy la morocha argentina, la que no siente pesares y alegre pasa la vida con sus cantares. Soy la gentil compañera del noble gaucho porteño, la que conserva el cariño para su dueño.

English · machine translation

I am the brunette, the most graceful, the most renowned of this town. I am the one who very early in the morning a cimarrón offers. I, with a sweet accent next to my little ranch, I sing a little style with tender passion, while my owner goes out at a trot on his redomón. I am the Argentine brunette, the one who feels no regrets and joyfully spends her life with her songs. I am the gentle companion of the noble gaucho from Buenos Aires, the one who preserves the affection for its owner. I am the brunette with an ardent gaze, the one who feels in her soul the fire of love. I am the one who to the criollito noblest and bravest loves with ardor. In my beloved ranch, under the arbor, on a silver night, with sweet emotion, I sing to the pampero, to my beloved homeland and to my faithful love. I am the Argentine brunette, the one who feels no sorrows and joyfully spends her life with her songs. I am the gentle companion of the noble gaucho from Buenos Aires, the one who preserves the affection for its owner.

Every recording

14 recordings by year · source: TangoCloud catalogue

  1. La morochaFrancisco Canaro · Ada Falcón1929
  2. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1937
  3. La morochaCuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo1938
  4. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1941
  5. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1949
  6. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1951
  7. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1954
  8. La morochaQuinteto Pirincho (Francisco Canaro)1959
  9. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1963
  10. La morochaFlorindo Sassone1966
  11. La morochaHéctor Varela1967
  12. La morochaJosé Basso1970
  13. La morochaFlorindo Sassone1973
  14. La morochaAlfredo De Angelis1981

Composed by3

Composed by Enrique SaboridoSingle source

Composed by Enrique Saborido1905Single source

Composed by Enrique SaboridoSingle source

Lyrics by1

Lyrics by Ángel Villoldo1905Single source

Recorded in1

Recorded in United States1906Single source

Sung by2

Sung by Flora Rodríguez de Gobbi1906Single source

Sung by Lola Membrives1909Single source

Published1

Published edited early 1906; c.100,000 copies sold1906Single source

Took place at7

Took place at Tango 19051905Single source

Took place at work date1905Single source

Took place at compuesto1905Single source

Took place at Enrique Saborido1905-12-25Single source

Took place at navidad de 19051905Single source

Took place at publication date1905Single source

Took place at publicación1906Single source

Premiered at3

Premiered at Bar RonchettiSingle source

Premiered at Bar RonchettiSingle source

Premiered at primera edición, Luis Rivarola1906Single source

Belongs to1

Belongs to Guardia ViejaSingle source

Commented on4

Commented on considered the first tango disseminated in Europe1906Single source

Commented on cannot determine whether it was the first tango known abroadSingle source

Commented on first exported tango score, crossed the Atlantic around 19061906Single source

El choclo — commented on La morochaSingle source

Listen

  1. La morochaFrancisco Canaro · Ada Falcón1929
  2. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1937
  3. La morochaCuarteto Típico Roberto Firpo1938
  4. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1941
  5. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1949
  6. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1951
  7. La morochaCarlos Di Sarli1954
  8. La morochaQuinteto Pirincho (Francisco Canaro)1959
  9. La morochaJuan D'Arienzo1963
  10. La morochaFlorindo Sassone1966
  11. La morochaHéctor Varela1967
  12. La morochaJosé Basso1970

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