Borges Music – Valeria Munárriz

Valeria Munárriz (b. 1927)

Born Rosita Munárriz in Balcarce, Argentina to a Basque father and an Indian mother, Munárriz departed Argentina in the 1970s to establish her career in Paris, where she changed her name to “Valeria.” After two decades of recording tangos in France, she returned to Buenos Aires.

Borges-Related Works

Chante Jorge Luis Borges (1991)
An album of tangos and milongas with lyrics adapted from Borges’ poetry. Described below.

Chante Jorge Luis Borges (1991)

Chante Jorge Luis Borges
CD: Le Chant du Monde LDX 274917 (1991)
Purchase: CD [Amazon]
Online: Garden of Forking Paths [Dropbox MP3s]

Track Listing

1. Alguien le dice al tango (2:41)
   (J.L. Borges, Astor Piazzolla)
2. Al horizonte de un suburbio (4:10)
   (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
3. El general Quiroga va en coche al muere (1:57)
   (J.L. Borges, Victor Proncet/Mario Cosentino)
4. Ausencia (3:54)
   (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
5. El títere (2:35)
   (J.L. Borges, Astor Piazzolla)
6. Milonga de los Morenos (3:18)
   (J.L. Borges, Julián Plaza)
7. A un gato (2:18)
   (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
8. El tango (3:31)
   (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
9. Milonga de Don Nicanor Paredes (2:41)
   (J.L. Borges, Astor Piazzolla)
10. El Amenazado (4:34)
    (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
11. Milonga de Jacinto Chiclana (2:39)
    (J.L. Borges, Astor Piazzolla)
12. Tankas (2:59)
    (J.L. Borges, J.L. Castiñeira de Dios)
13. Milonga de los dos hermanos (3:23)
    (J.L. Borges, Carlos Guastavin)
14. El Caso de la esquina rosada (9:12)
    (J.L. Borges, Victor Proncet/Mario Cosentino)

Musicians
Valeria Munárriz, Voice
Anibal Binelli, Bandoneón
Arturo Eric Schneider, Flute
Ricardo Lew & Osvaldo Figueras, Guitars
Rubén Rada, Congas
Antonio Agri & Esteban Prentcki, Violins
Carlos Bolo, Eduardo Ferrer & Fernando Galimani, Bass

Chante Jorge Luis Borges contains fourteen tangos, milongas, and songs adapted from the poetry of Borges and scored by a range of composers. While Borges’ book of milongas Para seis las cuerdas (1965) is naturally represented, other lyrics have been adapted from earlier collections such as Fervor de Buenos Aires (1923) and Luna de enfrente (1925), while “A un gato” and the Japanese-inspired “Tankas” are drawn from El oro de los tigres (1972). Munárriz’s voice is intensely passionate, and the variety of moods expressed by these songs offers a perfect showcase for her remarkable versatility, from the exuberance of the Piazzolla settings to the intimate darkness invoked by Castiñeira de Dios. Highlights include the defiant fire of “El general Quiroga va en coche al muere,” the French torchiness of “Ausencia,” and the tragic duende of “Al horizonte de un suburbio.” A wonderful album, and an excellent introduction to Argentine music!

The CD is a French import; all the liner notes are in Spanish and French. Because the CD has long been deleted, the Garden of Forking Paths has placed the MP3s in a convenient Dropbox for visitors to enjoy.

Additional Information

La última diva
A 2005 profile and interview with Munárriz from Pagina 12. [Spanish]

Author: Allen B. Ruch
Last Modified: 6 August 2024
Borges Music Page: Borges Music
Main Borges Page: The Garden of Forking Paths
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