Gabino Coria Peñaloza
Encyclopedia
Gabino Coria Peñaloza was an Argentine poet and lyricist.
, in 1881. His family relocated to Buenos Aires
, and Coria eventually settled into a post as a tax collector for the city. His artistic inclinations stoked an interest in literature, poetry and narration - particularly a form of narration known in the Argentine countryside as coplas, ten-line verses rich in metaphor and aphorisms.
His knowledge of the mountainous La Rioja Province
by way of his mother helped secure him a post as vineyards inspector. His friendships with a number of rising figures in Argentine tango
, especially composer Juan de Dios Filiberto
and vocalist Carlos Gardel
, later prompted him to write his first tango, El Pañuelito ("The Handkerchief") in 1920. Made into music by Filiberto, this began one of the genre's best-known collaborations over the years.
He named and created lyrics for a number of tangos, including El besito ("Little Kiss"), La cartita ("The Letter"), La Vuelta de Rocha ("Rocha's Bend", a corner in La Boca
) and El ramito ("The Bouquet"), among others. His most celebrated creation, however, became a reminiscence of his days in La Rioja, and of a torrid love affair with a pretty young pianist who was forced to leave him after she became pregnant: Caminito
- the "Little Path."
Coria Peñaloza later wrote two tangos with Juan Carlos Moreno González: Margaritas ("Daisies"), recorded by Carlos Gardel
in 1929 and Mi casita ("My Little House"), with no recordings. Following this disappointment, he relocated to Chilecito
, a valley town situated high in the Andes
mountains in La Rioja Province. There, he published three books of poetry in subsequent years: El Profeta Indio (The Indian prophet), Cantares ("Ballads"), and La canción de mis canciones (Song of My songs).
Caminito, for its part, helped inspire Benito Quinquela Martín
's restoration of a derelict La Boca
shortcut by the same name
during the mid 1950s. The restored, pedestrian street's designation by that name by Mayor Hernán Giralt in 1959 was not attended by Coria, however, who disapproved on the ground that his lyrics referred to the La Rioja Province road, instead.
He remained in Chilecito with his wife, though unable to locate the son or daughter he was told to have fathered from his youthful fling. Gabino Coria Peñaloza died in Chilecito in 1975, at age 94.
Life and work
Gabino Coria Peñaloza was born in San Luis, ArgentinaSan Luis, Argentina
-External links:* * *...
, in 1881. His family relocated to Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
, and Coria eventually settled into a post as a tax collector for the city. His artistic inclinations stoked an interest in literature, poetry and narration - particularly a form of narration known in the Argentine countryside as coplas, ten-line verses rich in metaphor and aphorisms.
His knowledge of the mountainous La Rioja Province
La Rioja Province (Argentina)
La Rioja is a one of the provinces of Argentina and is located in the west of the country. Neighboring provinces are from the north clockwise Catamarca, Córdoba, San Luis and San Juan.-History:...
by way of his mother helped secure him a post as vineyards inspector. His friendships with a number of rising figures in Argentine tango
Argentine tango
Argentine tango is a musical genre of simple quadruple metre and binary musical form, and the social dance that accompanies it. Its lyrics and music are marked by nostalgia, expressed through melodic instruments including the bandoneon. Originated at the ending of the 19th century in the suburbs of...
, especially composer Juan de Dios Filiberto
Juan de Dios Filiberto
Juan de Dios Filiberto was an Argentine violinist, conductor, poet and composer who became prominent in the Argentine tango genre.-Life and work:...
and vocalist Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
, later prompted him to write his first tango, El Pañuelito ("The Handkerchief") in 1920. Made into music by Filiberto, this began one of the genre's best-known collaborations over the years.
He named and created lyrics for a number of tangos, including El besito ("Little Kiss"), La cartita ("The Letter"), La Vuelta de Rocha ("Rocha's Bend", a corner in La Boca
La Boca
La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse , and some people believe that...
) and El ramito ("The Bouquet"), among others. His most celebrated creation, however, became a reminiscence of his days in La Rioja, and of a torrid love affair with a pretty young pianist who was forced to leave him after she became pregnant: Caminito
Caminito (song)
Caminito is a tango song written and composed by Gabino Coria Peñaloza and Juan de Dios Filiberto, respectively.Widely known and readily identifiable throughout Argentina and neighboring Uruguay, the lyrics are in themselves a classically-structured poem with strophes made up of two verses and one...
- the "Little Path."
Coria Peñaloza later wrote two tangos with Juan Carlos Moreno González: Margaritas ("Daisies"), recorded by Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel
Carlos Gardel was a singer, songwriter and actor, and is perhaps the most prominent figure in the history of tango. He was born in Toulouse, France, although he never acknowledged his birthplace publicly, and there are still claims of his birth in Uruguay. He lived in Argentina from the age of two...
in 1929 and Mi casita ("My Little House"), with no recordings. Following this disappointment, he relocated to Chilecito
Chilecito
Chilecito is a city in the Argentine province of La Rioja, and head of the department of Chilecito.-Overview:It's located in the valley formed by the Sierras de Velazco to the east, and the Sierras de Famatina to the west. The city was founded in 1715 by Spanish colonizers...
, a valley town situated high in the Andes
Andes
The Andes is the world's longest continental mountain range. It is a continual range of highlands along the western coast of South America. This range is about long, about to wide , and of an average height of about .Along its length, the Andes is split into several ranges, which are separated...
mountains in La Rioja Province. There, he published three books of poetry in subsequent years: El Profeta Indio (The Indian prophet), Cantares ("Ballads"), and La canción de mis canciones (Song of My songs).
Caminito, for its part, helped inspire Benito Quinquela Martín
Benito Quinquela Martín
Benito Quinquela Martín , 1890 – January 28, 1977) was an Argentine painter born in La Boca, Buenos Aires. Quinquela Martín is considered the port painter-par-excellence and one of the most popular Argentine painters...
's restoration of a derelict La Boca
La Boca
La Boca is a neighborhood, or barrio of the Argentine capital, Buenos Aires. It retains a strong European flavour, with many of its early settlers being from the Italian city of Genoa. In fact the name has a strong assonance with the Genoese neighborhood of Boccadasse , and some people believe that...
shortcut by the same name
Caminito
Caminito is a street museum and a traditional alley, located in La Boca, a neighborhood of Buenos Aires, Argentina...
during the mid 1950s. The restored, pedestrian street's designation by that name by Mayor Hernán Giralt in 1959 was not attended by Coria, however, who disapproved on the ground that his lyrics referred to the La Rioja Province road, instead.
He remained in Chilecito with his wife, though unable to locate the son or daughter he was told to have fathered from his youthful fling. Gabino Coria Peñaloza died in Chilecito in 1975, at age 94.