For the 38th week of 2025, I’ve picked a name you don’t hear much at milongas, but he’s a big deal in tango history: Roberto Firpo. This week, I’m spotlighting his orchestra’s instrumental tangos from 1935 to 1937. Now, when I say “orchestra,” I mean it. Firpo also recorded with his quartet around this time, but in my humble opinion those tracks don’t really fit the vibe for milongas. Still, if you just want to listen and soak in Firpo’s style, they’re a treat.
Here’s a fun fact: Firpo recorded between 1,800 and 3,000 songs during his career. That’s a staggering number. He’s seen as one of the most traditional tango musicians, but also one of the most creative and productive.
My own archive’s pretty big, but I don’t have everything Firpo recorded. Still, I’ve got:
– 15 tracks from 1935
– 19 from 1936
– 25 from 1937
Out of these, 40 are tangos. That makes building a tanda both simple and tricky. Firpo doesn’t get played often at milongas, but don’t let that fool you. This tanda packs melody and rhythm that’s hard to resist. The first track, La carcajada (“the laugh”), really lives up to its name. It’s full of energy. The rest of the tanda takes you on a journey.
Leave a Reply