POR UNA CABEZA for string quartet; for viola and piano

POR UNA CABEZA for string quartet;
for viola and piano
Carlos Gardel (1890-1935)
arr. Lucian Moraru
String quartet: SonArt Publications
SON-49-1, 2021
Viola and piano: SonArt Publications
SON-49-3, 2021

Carlos Gardel began his musical life as a folk singer in Latin America, and became an international sensation of tango music, bringing it out of bars and night clubs to a much wider audience. The lyrics by Le Pera are about the addictions of horse racing and women. Since then, it has been used
in many movies, firstly sung by the composer himself in Tango Bar in 1935, and then in many other movies, including Schindler’s List. Tragically, Le Pera and Gardel died in a plane crash in 1935 not long after Tango Bar was made, so this was his last recorded song.
The quartet version also highlights the viola, and if a string quartet were to present an instrument demonstration, this short work would be an ideal presentation for the viola, although all instruments have some contributions to make thematically and are imaginatively voiced. The viola rendition
has, as with La Cumparsita, several alternate lines where a more or less difficult part can be chosen, opening it up for a wider cohort of performers. It is fascinating to compare this version with another recent arrangement by Wolfgang Birtel (Edition Dohr 17609). As well as being in different keys, rhythms and tempi differ considerably – both editions have their merit. The somewhat steamy painting gracing the cover of the viola part of the SonArt edition was viewed rather suspiciously by one of my younger students – now, that should get everyone checking out the website!

Stringendo (Australian Strings Association’s magazine) - October, 2023