Chamamé was crafted by the inhabitants of the Northeastern region of Argentina, an expanse enriched with forests, rivers, cascades, and red soil. The genre was cultivated through the amalgamation of Argentine Creoles and European immigrants from Germany, Russia, Poland, Ukraine, among other places. These settlers brought with them a crucial component: the accordion. This instrument proved to be indispensable in shaping and progressing the style.
Interestingly, chamamé is also known as the “music of the servants.” It earned its moniker due to its origins in the countryside, where the working class brought it to the suburban areas they eventually settled in. This intricate and lovely genre features a constant interplay between melancholy and joy.
This 6/8 rhythm was first documented in the early 1800s, and the first chamamé recording on a 78rpm disc was released by RCA in Buenos Aires in 1930.
The music boasts an array of unforgettable artists, including Mario del Tránsito Cocomarola, Ramona Galarza, Isaco Abitbol, Teresa Parodi, Salvador Miqueri, las hermanas Vera, Tarragó Ros, Ramón Ayala, Ofelia Leiva, el Trío de Oro, Marily Morales Segovia, Antonio Tarragó Ros (hijo), Los de Imaguaré, Pocho Roth, Mauricio Valenzuela, María Helena, Los Hermanos Barrios, Ernesto Montiel, Emilio Chamorro, Mario Bofill, Nini Flores, Raúl Barboza, el Chango Spasiuk, Susy de Pompert, and many others.
Argentina’s National Institute of Music (INAMU) is dedicated to supporting and promoting chamamé by providing resources for new musicians, participating in the National Chamamé Festival, and recovering important works from the Music Hall record catalog. In 2018, INAMU published “El Taita: Obra de Marío del Tránsito Cocomarola,” a free publication aimed at artistic education institutes nationwide, which opened the door to the study and preservation of chamamé’s timeless legacy.
In 2020, chamamé was recognized as an Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity and included on the Representative List, further cementing its place as a fundamental and vital aspect of cultural heritage.
(headline image: Chango Spasiuk)
Chamamé Recordings:
Raul Barboza King of Chamamé (1990)
Compartiendo Chamamé by Emiliano Cardozo (2004)
Chamamé Crudo by Chango Spasiuk (2003)
Charm of Chamamé by Chango Spasiuk (2005)
Chamamé: Music of Corrientes (2006)
Chamame books
Chamamé (Música De Nuestra Tierra) by Dominguez Zaldivar Saul
Author: Angel Romero
Angel Romero y Ruiz has dedicated his life to musical exploration. His efforts included the creation of two online portals, worldmusiccentral.org and musicasdelmundo.com. In addition, Angel is the co-founder of the Transglobal World Music Chart, a panel of world music DJs and writers that celebrates global sounds. Furthermore, he delved into the record business, producing world music studio albums and compilations. His works have appeared on Alula Records, Ellipsis Arts, Indígena Records and Music of the World.