Pedro Maffia

Pedro Mario Maffia (August 28, 1899 – October 16, 1967) was an Argentine tango bandoneonist, bandleader, composer and teacher, as well as starring in several tango films.

Maffia had a hard upbringing, he was beaten with a chain by his father and lived in dire poverty. He eventually ran away from home to live in the town of Punta Alta in Buenos Aires Province, where he was discovered by Carlos Gardel and José Razzano.

Maffia is remembered as a pioneer of the bandoneon and a great stylist. He was one of the first to play the instrument a cappella. He had a relaxed playing style and an inventiveness for misplaced accents and nuances.

Maffia starred in a number of tango films including ¡Tango! (1933), Canillita (1936) and Fueye querido (1966). He also worked as a music teacher, and wrote an important method of teaching the bandoneon.

The bandoneonist Aníbal Troilo dedicated a song to him entitled A Pedro Maffia.

Birth and Death Data: Born August 28, 1899 (Buenos Aires), Died October 16, 1967 (Buenos Aires)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1923 - 1941

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer, leader, bandoneón

Notes: Brother of bandoneon player and composer Angel Maffia. Often listed on Victor disc labels as "P. M. Maffia."

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 51-56 of 56 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Brunswick BA795 10-in. 1930 Llorando la carta Orquesta Típica Pedro Maffia Instrumental ensemble leader  
Brunswick B14113 10-in. 10/4/1933 Berretines El Tango Romantico Instrumental ensemble composer  
Brunswick B14186 10-in. 10/20/1933 Cuando el mundo te arrincone : Tango canción Orquesta Típica Don Alberto Instrumental ensemble composer  
Odeon Ki 6915 10-in. approximately 1934 Taconeando Carlos Gardel Male vocal solo, with guitars composer  
Columbia (U.K.) L26 10-in. between May 1923 and December 1925 La preciosa Orchestre Tano Genaro Instrumental ensemble composer  
Columbia (U.K.) L38 10-in. between May 1923 and December 1925 Pobre gallo bataraz Orchestre Tano Genaro Instrumental ensemble composer  
(Results 51-56 of 56 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Maffia, Pedro," accessed May 28, 2023, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

Maffia, Pedro. (2023). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved May 28, 2023, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414.

"Maffia, Pedro." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2023. Web. 28 May 2023.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/112414

External Sources

Wikipedia: Pedro Maffia

Discogs: Pedro Maffia

Linked Open Data Sources

LCNAR: Maffia, Pedro, 1899-1967 - http://id.loc.gov/authorities/names/no2004050936

Wikidata: Pedro Maffia - http://www.wikidata.org/entity/Q369514

VIAF: http://viaf.org/viaf/66181713

MusicBrainz: Pedro Maffia - https://musicbrainz.org/artist/0c7e5e60-7db8-4fa9-beea-ea7dc197ddde

Wikipedia content provided under the terms of the Creative Commons BY-SA license

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