Tango in Uruguay

This article covers tango in Uruguay as documented by a small set of sources. The figures it names are Enrique Saborido, described as a Uruguayan tango composer and dance teacher ^[1], and Matos Rodríguez, who was born in Montevideo ^[2].

The best-documented event is the creation of 'La cumparsita'. Matos Rodríguez composed it in early 1916, at the age of 18, as a carnival march ^[3]. The score was then shown to Roberto Firpo at Café La Giralda ^[3], and Firpo recorded the piece for the Odeon label ^[3].

The sources also record the opening of the Teatro Solís in Montevideo in 1856 ^[4]. They do not describe any tango activity at the theatre.

Enrique Saborido was a Uruguayan tango composer and dance teacher ^[1]. His birth year is given as 1876/77, so the exact year is uncertain ^[1]. The source does not say which of his works are attributed to him, nor where he worked.

Matos Rodríguez was born in Montevideo on 28 March 1897 ^[2]. He died on 25 April 1948 ^[2]. He was 18 years old when he composed 'La cumparsita' in early 1916 ^[3].

Matos Rodríguez composed 'La cumparsita' in early 1916 ^[3]. He first wrote it as a carnival march rather than as a tango ^[3].

On 8 February 1916 the score was shown to Roberto Firpo at Café La Giralda ^[3]. The source does not say who performed the piece first or when.

In November 1916 Roberto Firpo recorded 'La cumparsita' for Odeon, under catalogue number 483 ^[3]. This is the earliest recording of the piece documented in the dossier ^[3]. No other recordings of Uruguayan tango repertoire are documented in the available sources.

The source on the Teatro Solís does not connect the theatre to tango ^[4].