My Aunt Esther de Filippis was married to and played with Carlo.
My Aunt Esther de Filippis was married to and played with Carlo.
My Aunt Esther de Filippis was married and played either mandolin or guitar with Carlo.
Charles E., Carlo de Filippis was my Great Uncle
There are also some ca. late teens–early '20s 78-rpm records by Alessios–De Filippis Mandolin Orchestra (always with a dash on the records' labels implying "and") and the associated chamber group, the Athenian Mandolin Quartet, that involved a "De Filippis" or "Defilippis." However, I can't find anything to really confirm that the "De Filippis" to associate with Elias Alessios in these projects was Carlo (1890–1966). Does anybody know; was it?
Last edited by Eugene; Nov-03-2020 at 4:42pm.
The were collaborators. Alessios was of Greek birth and composed one dance (in the ballo liscio Dropbox miscellaneous folder)
here're 2 articles, one dated 1934, on Maestro Carlo De Filippis. He played in the Athenian Mandolin Quartet, and I believe Alessios was a member. can't find specific notes at this moment.
If anyone is interested, I could post the post the two LPs that I have in their entirety here in the future. Provided it does not violate posting guidelines.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
There are four recordings (78s) you can stream from the Library of Congress's National Jukebox here.
Joe
There are also 78s of the intro and waltz "A Walk in the Forest" (Edison Blue Amberol 3193) and song "That Dreamy Dreamy Lullaby" (Edison Blue Amberol 3653) by the Alessios–De Filippis Mandolin Orchestra in circulation. I'm not certain from what archive I downloaded them now, but do know that they were downloaded from some PD-recording site.
Last edited by Eugene; Nov-04-2020 at 4:18pm.
Eugene mentioned to me that he saw Carlo De Filippis's mandolin for sale in the past...
https://www.millrivermusic.com/listi...-case/35218362
I wonder how long ago that was and where it is now?
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
I’ll jump back in. My last post, some 10 years ago, I wrote about the Bernstein Vivaldi Mandolin Lp with Mr. Vicari & Mr. de Filippis. & there was a photo on Mr. Vicari’s wall. I recently acquired a copy. It was personal, so I’ll keep that private. You’ll see Bernstein, deep in thought & smoking, with our Mandolin heroes looking on. Vicari is holding the Lyre-Mandolin & de Filippis holding a Martin.
This is a historic photo. I thought I should attach it to this thread.
Joe B
A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All
Joe, what a fabulous intersection of talent! I'm trying to think about where Bernstein's scores use mandolins. early 50s photo? illuminate us, please.
I believe the recording date is 1960(?). It is the Vivaldi Concerto in C for diverse instruments with Mandolins. I still have the vinyl Lp. I found a photo of the back credits, saves me the trouble of taking mine out of its frame. I talked about this at the beginning of this thread on the first page, some 10 years ago.
Fabulous intersection of talent, indeed. Well put, Sheri,
Joe B
A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All
That photo is super-cool, Joe.
I certainly appreciate Bernstein's recording in its era, but it is just a little bizarre by today's standards. Of course, the giant-romantic-orchestra-as-a-vehicle-to-highlight-star-conductors approach to Vivaldi is a bit antiquated. Where most modern performances substitute classical guitars for the theorbo (big, harp-guitar-like bass lute) parts, Bernstein used harps.
Yep, 1960. I wish I could get my local KDFC to play more classical music that features or at least includes mandolins. This would be a perfect request. Alas, I can't seem to get them to even play Frances Poulenc. What is interesting about the personnel. I grew up playing John Wummer flute editions and when Lazlo Vargo taught at SFSU, I was in his orchestra. Gosh, I almost feel as though it's six degrees of separation! but I also am starting to feel old(er)!
Thanks for this, Mandophile. I never realized that Casella was the arranger of this version. I'm actually a fan of Casella's symphonies, especially opp.5 and 12 that showed some influence from Mahler et al. In similar vein to the Vivaldi, Casella's five-movement orchestral suite Scarlattiana, op.44 might be of interest (although it doesn't feature mandolins).
Yes, Eugene, very cool photo. Interesting perspective on the various instrumentation. The recording is unusual sounding. Not Mandolin dominated, but an ensemble with Mandolin solo passages. I rather like it.
Sheri, leave it to you to find that info. I didn’t know it was recorded at the St George Hotel. I lived in a studio apartment in Brooklyn Heights in the late seventies. I would sometimes walk past that hotel. I had no idea the Mandolin history inside. Funny you mention the 5 decrees of separation. I recently told my wife I have a 1 degree of separation from both Leonard Bernstein & Spike Jones. Mr Vicari, my New York Mandolin teacher, recorded Vivaldi with Bernstein & Jethro, my Chicago Mandolin teacher, recorded Pal-Yat-Chee with Spike Jones. It won’t score points at the local Bluegrass jam, but it makes me proud.
Joe B
A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All
For the curious, beginning at 1:33, here's a good period-instrument performance of RV 558 complete with baroque mandolini (tuned g, b, e', a', d", g") and theorbos.
- - - Updated - - -
PS: And I'm a huge fan of Spike Jones.
. . . and Jethro Burns, of course.
. . . And, for comparison's sake (and to bring the conversation back to subject-line relevance), here is Bernstein's direction of Casella's arrangement of the concerto feauturing Vicari and de Filippis on modern mandolins.
Too bad De Fillippis and Vicari didn't record a performance of Vivaldi's Double Mandolin Concerto in C. That would have been spectacular, I think.
Last edited by Eugene; Nov-09-2020 at 3:29pm.
Never thought about it, but the Vivaldi Double Mandolin with the 2 gentlemen would have been a landmark. They were among the last (if not the last) of their generation of Italian-American Mandolin players still active.
Joe B
A Splendid Time is Guaranteed for All
I just realized I never posted pics of the LP jackets I have...
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
Interesting to note that the mandolin depicted on the MGM (blue) Lp appears to be the one that was for sale at Mill River Music (post #35) and the one depicted in the photo from Mandopops (post #36) is on the cover of the RCA LP.
Charley
A bunch of stuff with four strings
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