Casimiro Alcorta

Full biography Casimiro Alcorta

Casimiro Alcorta was an Argentine musician and composer who lived from 1840 to 1913. He was born in Buenos Aires and was of Afro-Argentine descent. Along with Sinforoso, another Afro-Argentine musician, he played violin and clarinet in the early years of tango music in Buenos Aires.

Alcorta is known for his contributions to the development of tango music in Argentina. He is considered one of the pioneers of the Guardia Vieja, the first generation of tango musicians. His compositions were played in the milongas, the dance halls where tango was danced, and were also performed by many prominent tango orchestras.

Some of his most famous compositions include "Quejas de bandoneón" and "La cumparsita," which later became a worldwide hit and one of the most well-known tango pieces. He also wrote many other tangos, milongas, and waltzes, some of which were attributed to other composers.

Despite his significant contributions to tango music, Alcorta remains relatively unknown outside of Argentina. However, he played a crucial role in the development of this music genre.