La Montanara (L. Canoro), Italian mazurka

[Martin Jonas]

This is an Italian-American mazurka written in 1920 by Luigi Canoro, who also wrote the famous "Tra Veglia E Sonno", and published for two mandolins and guitar by Di Bella Music in New York City. It is unrelated to the famous Italian song of the same name (which was written seven years later, in 1927).

My recording uses the original arrangement from the Di Bella score, as uploaded by Sheri in her Dropbox thread.

1915 Luigi Embergher mandolin
1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin
Ozark tenor guitar



Martin

[Mandophile]

This is so lovely! La Montanara is named after a mountain and a town that's located within the Alessandria province (in Piedmonte) which was Luigi Canora's birthplace. I briefly mentioned this in the Salami book. (He changed the spelling of his name after he arrived in NY to Canoro. And just to add to the excitement of hearing this, just last week I talked with Canoro's 83-year old son who lives in northern California. He will be thrilled to hear this. He is Luigi Canoro's last surviving son (Luigi was 43 when he was born).

[Mandophile]

Update: just an FYI~Alessandria turns out to be the vicinity where he was stationed at the barracks in Torino while in the military. He was born in Naples.

[brunello97]

Wonderful nugget, Sheri. Thanks.

An enjoyable read for those interested in the Alessandria area (fact and fiction) is Umberto Eco's Baudolino. Alessandria, is, of course, Eco's hometown.

It's kind of a rough città autostrada these days....or maybe that's my unfair impression perché sono un cattivo piloto.

Any recollections on your conversation with il figlio di Luigi?

Mick

[Mandophile]

discussions with his son, grandkids etc will be in my upcoming book. trying to get it all to the book designer in the next 1-2 weeks. wish me luck. at the CMSA convention, I will be available for off-the-record chats as long as there's a bottle of vino nero.

[DavidKOS]

at the CMSA convention, I will be available for off-the-record chats as long as there's a bottle of vino nero.

I'll be waiting for you.