Quinteto Pirincho

Quinteto Pirincho was an Argentine tango chamber ensemble founded in October 1940 by the renowned bandoneón virtuoso and composer Francisco Canaro in Buenos Aires. The quintet’s name derives from Canaro’s nickname, “Pirincho.” Created specifically to record instrumental tango discs, it succeeded the earlier Quinteto Don Pancho (1937–1940). The original lineup included Canaro (director), violinists Juan José Gallastegui and Octavio J. Scaglione, pianist Luis Riccardi, and bassist Olindo Sinibaldi, complemented over decades by musicians such as Minotto Di Cicco, Mariano Mores, and Alfredo De Franco.

The ensemble recorded approximately 1,032 tracks across multiple genres—primarily tango (340 tracks), milonga (74), and vals (55)—for the ODEON label. Its interpretive approach deliberately evoked pre-1920 stylistic conventions, and commercial success reportedly exceeded that of Canaro’s full orchestra. The original ensemble performed until Canaro’s death in December 1964. It was revived in 1970 under Oscar Bassil’s direction (lasting until 1980) and again from 2001 under Jorge Dragone’s stewardship. The Quinteto Pirincho remains a landmark exemplar of the intimate, string-based tango sound that defined Argentine chamber music in the mid-twentieth century.

Sources note: Founding date discrepancy: some sources cite October 14, 1940 as the ensemble’s first recording session, while others cite October 28, 1940. This confusion stems from the transition from the predecessor ensemble Quinteto Don Pancho; sources disagree on which date marks the official rename to Quinteto Pirincho.