Carlos Gardel

Por una Cabeza

Carlos Gardel (1890 - 1935) was a French Argentine singer, songwriter, composer and actor, and the most prominent figure in the history of tango. Gardel's baritone voice and the dramatic phrasing of his lyrics made miniature masterpieces of his hundreds of three-minute tango recordings. Together with lyricist and long-time collaborator Alfredo Le Pera, Gardel wrote several classic tangos.

Without any doubt is his most famous composition the tango 'Por una Cabeza'. The name of this tango refers to a Spanish horse-racing phrase 'by a head', which means 'winning a horse race narrowly' - by just the length of its head. The lyrics speak of a compulsive horse-track gambler who compares his addiction for horses with his attraction to women.

Dutch arranger Roger Niese transcribed 'Por una Cabeza' for Trumpet with accompaniment of a Symphonic Band.