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Orchestra

Pedro Maffia

Pedro Maffia was a bandoneon player and composer whose own orchestra debuted as a sextet at the Café Colón in Buenos Aires in December 1926, featuring Elvino Vardaro and Osvaldo Pugliese [2]. Before leading his own ensemble he played with Roberto Firpo, Juan Carlos Cobián and Julio De Caro [1], and he remained active as a leader and recording artist until 1965 [2].

Pedro Maffia was born on 28 August 1899, according to one source [5]. He came to prominence as a bandoneon player in the orchestras of Roberto Firpo, Juan Carlos Cobián and Julio De Caro, before leaving De Caro to form his own group in 1926 [1][2].

The orchestra bearing his name began as a sextet with violinist Elvino Vardaro and pianist Osvaldo Pugliese, which debuted at the Café Colón on Avenida de Mayo [2]. In later years the ensemble was expanded, added a cello, recorded for Brunswick and appeared at theatres, cinemas, cabarets and carnival dances in Buenos Aires and beyond [2]. Sources differ on the period during which Maffia led the orchestra: one account dates its debut to December 1926 and describes activity continuing into the 1930s, while a discography lists his leadership as spanning 1929 to 1930 [2][6].

Maffia's later career included an appearance in the film Tango in 1933, a tour of Chile and Peru with Homero Manzi in 1935, a quartet on Radio Belgrano in 1941 and a new orchestra formed in 1959 with singer Alberto Gómez [1][2][3]. He made his last record in 1965 and died in Buenos Aires on 16 October 1967 [1][2].

Early career as a sideman

In 1917 Maffia joined Roberto Firpo's orchestra as first bandoneon, after José Ricardo, the guitarist of Gardel and Razzano, heard him in Punta Alta [1]. He remained with Firpo until 1921 [1].

In 1922 he joined Juan Carlos Cobián's sextet, where he played alongside Julio De Caro [1]. From 1923 he played in the Julio De Caro sextet, staying until 1926 [1]. With De Caro he appeared at venues including L'Aiglón, the Café Colón, the Palais de Glace, Chantecler and Select Lavalle [1].

In July 1925 Maffia made his first record, "Julián", for Victor [2].

History of the orchestra (1926–1931)

In December 1926 Maffia left De Caro and debuted his own sextet at the Café Colón on Avenida de Mayo [2]. The founding line-up included Elvino Vardaro and Osvaldo Pugliese [2].

In 1927 he expanded the orchestra for the carnival dances at the Centro Eslavo, and the group also played the Cine Electric on Lavalle [2].

In 1929 the orchestra added a cello and began recording for Brunswick [2]. That year it played the Cine Hindú and the carnival at the Teatro Nuevo [2]. A discography records Maffia as leader of the orchestra between 1929 and 1930 [6]; this range is narrower than the chronology given in another account, which places the debut in 1926 and further engagements in 1931, so sources differ on the dates of his leadership [2][6].

In 1931 the orchestra played the Teatro San Martín, toured Córdoba and appeared at the Cabaret Pelikán [2].

Later activity (1933–1967)

In 1933 Maffia appeared in Tango, described by one source as the first Argentine sound feature film [3].

In 1935 he toured Chile and Peru with Homero Manzi [1].

In 1941 he led a quartet on Radio Belgrano with Abel Fleury, Sebastián Piana and Alfredo Corleto [2].

In 1959, at the prompting of singer Alberto Gómez, Maffia formed a new orchestra and recorded with him [2].

In 1965 he made his last record, a duo with José Canet, on which he premiered his last tango, "Heliotropo" [2]. Maffia died in Buenos Aires on 16 October 1967 [1].

Singers

Singers associated with the orchestra in the dossier sources include the following [7][8]:

- Félix Gutiérrez, recorded as singing with the orchestra on 4 October 1934 [7]. - Martín Podestá, recorded as singing with the orchestra in 1935 [8]. - Alberto Gómez, at whose prompting Maffia formed a new orchestra in 1959 and with whom he recorded [2].

Recordings

Maffia's recording career, as documented in the sources, ran from 1925 to 1965 [2]. Recordings mentioned include the following [2]:

- July 1925: "Julián", his first record, for Victor [2]. - From 1929: recordings for Brunswick by his orchestra, after the addition of a cello [2]. - 1959: recordings with singer Alberto Gómez [2]. - 1965: his last record, a duo with José Canet, premiering the tango "Heliotropo" [2].

Repertoire

Maffia composed "La mariposa" in 1921 [4]. His last tango, "Heliotropo", was premiered on his final record in 1965 [2].

References

  1. 1.Biografía de Pedro Maffia · todotango.com
  2. 2.Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia · todotango.com
  3. 3.Biografía de Pedro Maffia · todotango.com
  4. 4.es.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org
  5. 5.Tangopedia staff · tangopedia.app
  6. 6.milonga.co.uk - building a library · milonga.co.uk
  7. 7.Calendar - Argentine Tango - tango.info · tango.info
  8. 8.Biography of Martín Podestá by Néstor Pinsón - Todotango.com · todotango.com
Data: recordings, facts and sources

Recordings by year

Source: TangoCloud catalogue

19301959

1930: 2, 1931: 4, 1934: 1, 1936: 1, 1959: 9

Singers over the years

First to last recording together · source: TangoCloud catalogue · tap a bar for the takes

19311959
  1. Alberto Gómez1959 · 4
  2. Francisco Fiorentino1931 · 1
  3. Pedro Lauga1931 · 1
  4. Rafael Cisca1931 · 1
  5. Félix Gutiérrez1934 · 1

Singers

Described as15

Described as Joins Roberto Firpo's orchestra as first bandoneon after José Ricardo, Gardel and Razzano's guitarist, hears him in Punta Alta; stays until 1921.1917Single source

Described as Joins Juan Carlos Cobián's sextet alongside Julio De Caro.1922Single source

Described as Plays in the Julio De Caro sextet until 1926, at venues including L'Aiglón, Café Colón, Palais de Glace, Chantecler and Select Lavalle, and on…1923Single source

Described as Makes his first record, "Julián", for Victor.1925-07Single source

Described as Leaves De Caro and debuts his own sextet, with Elvino Vardaro and Osvaldo Pugliese, at the Café Colón on Avenida de Mayo.1926-12-01Single source

Described as Expands the orchestra for the carnival dances at the Centro Eslavo and plays the Cine Electric on Lavalle.1927Single source

Described as Adds a cello and starts recording for Brunswick; plays the Cine Hindú and the carnival at the Teatro Nuevo.1929Single source

Described as Plays the Teatro San Martín, tours Córdoba and appears at the Cabaret Pelikán.1931Single source

Described as Appears in Tango, the first Argentine sound feature film.1933Single source

Described as Tours Chile and Peru with Homero Manzi.1935Single source

Described as Leads a quartet with Abel Fleury, Sebastián Piana and Alfredo Corleto on Radio Belgrano.1941Single source

Described as Forms a new orchestra at the prompting of singer Alberto Gómez and records with him.1959Single source

Described as Makes his last record, a duo with José Canet, premiering his last tango "Heliotropo".1965Single source

Described as Dies in Buenos Aires.1967-10-16Single source

Described as Composed “La mariposa” (1921).1921Single source

Led1

Pedro Maffia — led Pedro Maffia1929–1930Single source

Sang with2

Félix Gutiérrez — sang with Pedro Maffia1934-10-04Single source

Martin Podestá — sang with Pedro Maffia1935Single source

Born on1

Born on 1899-08-281899-08-28source

Listen

  1. RecoletaPedro Maffia1930
  2. LargaloPedro Maffia1930
  3. DominóPedro Maffia1931
  4. Una noche de amorPedro Maffia · Francisco Fiorentino1931
  5. Páginas muertasPedro Maffia · Pedro Lauga1931
  6. El pensamientoPedro Maffia · Rafael Cisca1931
  7. Juan ManuelPedro Maffia · Félix Gutiérrez1934
  8. MaipoPedro Maffia1936
  9. El marnePedro Maffia1959
  10. Orgullo tangueroPedro Maffia · Alberto Gómez1959
  11. Milonga que peina canasPedro Maffia · Alberto Gómez1959
  12. Nocturno a RosarioPedro Maffia · Alberto Gómez1959

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