Los Fronterizos are among the most famous Argentine musical ensembles. They have recorded over thirty records throughout the more than fifty years in which they were active. Their genre is Folklore Argentino ("Argentine Folk") which blends powerful, vibrant rhythms from the Spanish Flamenco with indigenous South American elements such as the Andean flute, or quena. The latter is a hallmark of the Musica Andina genre which became well known in the U.S with Simon & Garfunkel's English version of "El Condor Pasa". Some of the Fronterizos' most famous records are Personalidad en Folklore (circa 1962), Color en Folklore, and Ariel Ramirez' Misa Criolla (1964 and 1977). In most songs, the band's instrumentation includes acoustic guitars and bombo legüero (a large indigenous drum), and occasionally, charango and quena.
Los Fronterizos' success may be attributed to their touching melodies written by some of Argentina's best song writers and to their remarkable harmony and rare combination of voices (one alto, two tenors, and one bass).
The group formally disbanded in 1977 but continued to reunite and perform in tours with great success for years thereafter. The very powerful lead voice (one of the two tenors) belonged to Gerardo López who died in 2004.
Recuerdo Salteño
Los Fronterizos Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
el recuerdo de mi adiós
nostalgias de tu río
el valle mío, ceibos en flor.
Vibra todo mi ser
al cantar mi canción
y al evocar tu cerro
repica un bombo en mi corazón.
Bajo tu cielo estaré
Salta, cuna de mi ser
como en aquellos tiempos
cuando era chango quiero volver
y sentir en el aire aromas de albahaca
pa'l carnaval.
Las flores de mi jardín
tan hermosas no son
como eres tú, mi dueña
dulce salteña de mi ilusión.
Si pudiera volar
como el libre zorzal
y cantar en tu reja
en una noche primaveral.
The lyrics of Los Fronterizos's song Recuerdo Salteño express a deep sense of nostalgia and longing for the singer's homeland of Salta, Argentina. The song is full of emotional intensity and vivid imagery, as the singer reminisces about the beauty of the Salta valley, the blooming ceibo trees, and the fragrant aromas of basil that waft through the air during the carnival.
The opening line, "Renace con emoción el recuerdo de mi adiós" (With emotion, the memory of my goodbye is reborn) sets the tone for the rest of the song, evoking a sense of sadness and longing for the singer's homeland. Throughout the song, the singer expresses his desire to return to Salta, to be once again under its sky, and to feel the same joy and freedom he experienced in his youth.
The song speaks to a deep sense of connection and love for one's homeland, and the powerful emotions that it can evoke. The singer's longing for Salta is palpable in every verse, and the imagery used paints a vivid picture of the region's natural beauty and cultural richness.
Line by Line Meaning
Renace con emoción
My emotions are stirred up as I remember leaving.
el recuerdo de mi adiós
I remember saying goodbye.
nostalgias de tu río
I am nostalgic for your river.
el valle mío, ceibos en flor.
I remember the valley, with its flowering ceibo trees.
Vibra todo mi ser
My whole being is moved.
al cantar mi canción
When I sing my song.
y al evocar tu cerro
And as I recall your mountain.
repica un bombo en mi corazón.
My heart beats like a drum.
Bajo tu cielo estaré
I will be under your sky.
Salta, cuna de mi ser
Salta, the birthplace of my being.
como en aquellos tiempos
Like in the old times.
cuando era chango quiero volver
I want to go back to when I was young and carefree.
y sentir en el aire aromas de albahaca
And smell the aroma of basil in the air.
pa'l carnaval.
For the carnival.
Las flores de mi jardín
The flowers in my garden.
tan hermosas no son
Are not as beautiful as you.
como eres tú, mi dueña
You are my love.
dulce salteña de mi ilusión.
Sweet woman from Salta of my dreams.
Si pudiera volar
If I could fly.
como el libre zorzal
Like a carefree thrush.
y cantar en tu reja
And sing at your window.
en una noche primaveral.
On a spring night.
Contributed by Makayla O. Suggest a correction in the comments below.