Gentil Pensiero (O. Di Bella, 1913)

[Martin Jonas]

This is an Italian-American waltz written and published in 1913 by Onofrio Di Bella in New York City. The original sheet music arranged for two mandolins and guitar was uploaded in Sheri's Dropbox thread.

I have recorded all three original parts, plus a mandocello bass line.

This is a lovely contemplative tune, evoking its title of "Happy Thoughts". It's also in Sheri's book, with a tempo marking of "Andante - 96 bpm". That felt too slow to me and I've taken it at 115bpm instead. The version in Sheri's book is based on a 1921 arrangement by Luigi Canoro, which differs somewhat from the 1913 Di Bella original that I have recorded.

1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin
1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin
Ozark tenor guitar
Suzuki MC-815 mandocello



Martin

[Mandophile]

That's #1! Top of the charts! Doesn't get better than this!