Ne rendape aju

The story behind

The music of Ne Rendápe Aju, which translates to "I come to your side," was born from a tragic story that occurred in Paraguay. The melody was created by composer José Asunción Flores, while he was in Buenos Aires in the mid-1930s. The original lyrics, written in 1914 by poet Manuel Ortiz Guerrero, are said to have been dedicated to a woman named Iluminada Arias. What makes this piece so particular is that its title comes from an event in 1925 in the city of Luque. On a night perfumed by jasmine and orange blossoms, a serenade ended abruptly with a gunshot. A singer, Enrique Apolinar Barboza, who was trying to win or reaffirm love, fell mortally wounded. His last words, "Nde rendápe... ajuhaguére" (Because I came... to your side), echoed in that tragic moment, and it was never known who fired the shot.José Asunción Flores, upon hearing this account, was inspired by the singer's last words to title his composition. The melody was conceived with a structure reminiscent of a symphonic poem, seeking to capture the characteristic melancholy of the guarania and recreate the atmosphere of the episode. In some interpretations, elements can be perceived that evoke prayers or a funeral march, adding layers of sadness to the piece. The adaptation of the lyrics into Spanish was carried out by Mauricio Cardozo Ocampo, and the work is considered a high point in both Flores's career and the guarania genre.