NORTHERN ITALIAN & TICINO REGION FOLK SONGS FOR MANDOLIN. Carlo Aonzo, Clara Ponzoni, Giorgio Borsani. CD TABLATURE
Ticino is a small area at the southernmost tip of Switzerland on the border with Italy. The Ticino region was actually part of Italy until a few centuries ago. The mandolin arrived in Ticino through immigrants and their music, and put down important cultural roots there. The mandolin style in Ticino is a link to the old Italian folk music tradition, which has been largely lost in Italy and throughout other parts of the world. This book is a collection of some of the most famous pieces from this vast historical repertoire. The collection includes lots of popular folk songs, virtuosic pieces by original mandolin composers, as well as an original Aonzo composition. The book is presented in English and in Italian while the music is in standard notation and mandolin tablature.
PREFACE
In a small area in the south of Switzerland, right on the border with Italy, there is the Ticino. This small territor)j until a few centuries ago was part of Italy, has therefore various shades of Italian culture, although part of Switzerland. Ticino (like the remaining part of the nation) had a great economic and industrial development since the end of 19th century. Then it was transformed from a land of emigrants (from Ticino to America) in a land of immigration. It's probably just due to immigration of many Italians that the mandolin arrived in Ticino, and took important roots, and become one of the main elements of the local cultural heritage. In Ticino, in fact there is a high density of musicians and mandolin orchestras. Mandolin music has a great tradition of aggregation and celebration. Even today it grows spontaneously among musicians and fans who are happy to spend some time together enriched with mandolins, guitars, bass, singing, accordion and other instruments. This way of playing that has been lost in Italy and in other parts of the world, but in Ticino still stands. Polkas, songs, waltzes, mazurkas, opera arias, serenades still resound until late in the meeting places. All accompanied by good traditional wine and food. In addition to spontaneous music, there are many mandolin orchestras, playing written repertoire for this kind of ensemble (which is not the aim of this book). The spontaneous repertoire is rather huge, and linked to the ability and knowledge of the individual musicians. It ranges from popular songs (many have unknown authors) to the original mandolin composers, through music handed down by oral tradition (many musicians could not read music) to the repertoire of great virtuosity. Significant sources were the magazines published in Italy by the end of 19th centur)j which were issued every two weeks and that subscribers waited anxiously ("II plettro", "II mandolino", and others ... ). The aim of this book is broadcasting to all the mandolin lovers worldwide the musical culture in Ticino and the joyful and kind liveliness characterizing the Italian Switzerland.
AUTHORS' NOTES
In popular music performer rarely plays with score; composition are learnt, arranged and performed by ear. This is the reason why the written notes are just a trace, and the interpretation is different each time.
CARLO AONZO
He performs regularly in Europe and the United States, where he has established himself as a principal proponent of the classical mandolin. He graduated with honors from the conservatory in Padova. He has played with several musical institutions like the Philharmonic Orchestra of La Scala in Milan and the Nashville Chamber Orchestra. Among his awards are the "Vivaldi" first prize in Venice, and first prize at the Walnut Valley National Mandolin Contest in Winfield Kansas. He has recorded a concert video on the mandolin repertory across the centuries for Mel Bay (Usa). His CDs include "Serenata" (Acoustic Music, Germany), "Traversata" (Acoustic Disc, USA), "Antonio Vivaldi - Concerti per Mandolino e Concerti per Orchestra" (EDT,Torino), in 2007 the acclaimed "Kaze", in 2008 "mandolino italiano nel Settecento", and in 2010 "Fantasia Poetica". He leads the "Manhattan Mandolin Workshop" in New York and in 2006 he began the International Italian Accademy for the Mandolin. As a researcher, he has worked on the origins of his instrument and has collaborated with the New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians. He edited several mandolin musical publications and gives presentations on the iconography of the mandolin, in institutions such as Boston University and the National Instrument Museum in Rome.
GIORGIO BORSANI
Born in Como (Northern Italy), he began studying classical guitar at the age of 12, graduating at the Conservatory "Giuseppe Nicolini" in Piacenza. Currently has partnerships with several ensembles, also as soloist, and is a member of some plucked orchestras in Switzerland and in Italy. Along with concert activity he supports the didactics, he taught in various music schools and is responsible for instrumental training in mandolin ensembles in Switzerland and works in the organization of national and international music courses. He's also involved the organization of concerts and musical events and degreed in Economics for Arts, Culture and Communication.
CLARA PONZONI BORSANI
Born and grown in Switzerland, she began studying mandolin orchestras when she was a child in the local plucked orchestras and pursued her studied with Carlo Aonzo. She plays in some mandolin orchestras, in duo with classical guitar (Duo Vivace) and as a soloist or chamber orchestras. The repertoire ranges from folk to contemporary music. He regularly gives concerts in Switzerland and abroad. In addition to the musical activity, deals with teaching and organization of national and international music courses as Maestro Aonzo' collaborator.
Al Grott del Fin - Remo Giambonini
Carnevale di Venezia - Arr. Carlo Munier
Cesarina - Cesare Pezzolo
Czardas - Vittorio Monti
Graziella - Pino Guerra
L’Alborela - Remo Giambonini
La Sisina - Traditional
Nina Pancha - José Garcia
Ninna nanna - Giuseppe Aonzo
Oh Katia! - Traditional
Polca del Dorin - Traditional
Scugnizza Remo - Giambonini
Speranze perdute - Alessandro Morelli
Tarantella - Raffaele Calace
Tra veglia e sonno - Luigi Canora
Vulcano - Mario Cavallari
Italiano
English
