The bandoneon, so named by the German instrument dealer, Heinrich Band (1821–1860), was originally intended as an instrument for religious and popular music of the day, in contrast to its predecessor, the German concertina (or Konzertina), considered to be a folk instrument by some modern authors.
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With its arrival in Argentina around 1870, the bandoneon was adopted into the Milonga music of that time.
Eduardo Arolas (February 24, 1892 – September 29, 1924) was an Argentine tango Bandoneon player, leader and composer.
In 1954 he took part in a homage to Juan Carlos Cobián in a quintet comprising the tango musicians Aníbal Troilo on bandoneon, Roberto Grela on guitar, Kicho Díaz on double bass and Horacio Salgán on piano.
The venue was also well known for its variety of music recitals, hosting musicians from Argentine tango bandoneonist Aníbal Troilo to the Godfather of Soul, James Brown.
He works to spread knowledge about and teach the bandoneon in France and in 1999 founded the first bandoneon course in Europe at the conservatory of Gennevilliers.
Following his switch to Columbia Records in 1961, the Pontier orchestra incorporated a new bandoneonist, Leopoldo Federico, and the association helped make the group the most successful in its genre, at the time.
Tango, for example, has spawned an Easter Island style called tango Rapanui, characterized by a simple guitar accompaniment instead of the frenetic bandoneon.
He invented the Fratelli Crosio Bandoneon (Pablo Caliero single note chromatic key system), in Paris in the 1950s.
In 2011, Pablo Goldstein, together with poet Karina Galvez and painter Luis Burgos Flor, was one of the only three non-Mexican artists to be invited to conmemorate the 125th anniversary of the opening of the Consulate General of Mexico in Los Angeles, where he performed Franz Schubert's Ave Maria (Schubert) and several tango pieces for bandoneón.
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.