Tango refers to a style of dance and music that was born in the Rio de la Plata region between the cities of Buenos Aires and Montevideo. Its beginnings are unclear, but they date back to mid 19th century. Unlike many other genres, Tango was born as a dance and not as music. As we know it today there are three elements that form the essence of this dance: el abrazo (the embrace), slow and intertwined movements between the couple and improvisation. The moves happen by listening to the other person’s body creating a flexible dance with spontaneous creativity. These elements are all translated into the music emulating the steps, the movements, and the pauses of the dance. Tango was influenced by many different styles of music that came from Africa and Europe and the instruments used were simply whatever was available. The first instruments used were flute, harp and violin and at times percussion instruments of African origins or even mandolins and harmonicas. Eventually the guitar replaced the harp making violin, flute and guitar the most popular combination of instruments in the early stages of Tango. In the late 19th century the bandoneón replaced the flute and piano was added and by 1910 the bandoneón was the clear protagonist of the ensemble. This type of ensemble is referred as Orquesta Típica and although it continued to morph, it eventually developed into a combination of bandoneóns, violins, piano and bass. Along with the voice, this instrumentation became the medium to express the emotions and the lives of immigrants; their memories, their problems, and the routine of the common man. Many elements of tango, both dance and music, apply directly to how the string quartet works. The intertwining connection between the instruments and the need to react spontaneously to one another is almost the same. Playing through the embrace and following the pace of slow, steady walking with those occasional pauses, the movements, the breaks, the breaths; they all work together to create the essence and character of the solemn and rich melodies that make tango such an intense and passionate genre.