Adalgiso Ferraris
{{short description|Italian composer}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Adalgiso Ferraris
| image = AdalgisoFerrarisRussia1912b.jpg
| imagesize =
| caption = Ferraris in 1912, Russia
| birth_name = Adalgiso Ferraris
| birth_date = {{birth date|df=y|1890|02|16}}
| birth_place = Novara, Piedmont, Italy.{{cite web|url=http://search.ancestry.it/cgi-bin/sse.dll?rank=1&gsfn=Adele&gsln=Brunelli&gss=angs-c&pcat=BMD_MARRIAGE&h=2300&recoff=54+55&db=VerbanoMarriageR&indiv=1&frasubs=524288&fra=398ad1378eed2a203caaf2553ea279de&ml_rpos=5&nreg=1|title=Crea un account gratuito|website=search.ancestry.it|access-date=24 November 2018}}
| death_date = {{death date and age|df=y|1968|12|31|1890|02|16}}
| death_place = Woolwich, London, U.K.
| education = Regia Accademia Filarmonica, Bologna, Italy
| alma_mater =
| years_active = 1910–68
| other_names =
| occupation = Musical composer, pianist
| website =
| spouse = Adele Brunelli, married 1920
| parents = Carlo Ferraris
Cristina Cerri
| relatives = Luigi Ferraris
Carlo Ferraris
Gisella Ferraris
}}
Adalgiso Ferraris (16 February 1890 – 31 December 1968) was an Italian-born British composer and pianist. Ferraris' arrangements and compositions were based on classical and popular genres, with a particular flavour of gypsy, Hungarian and Russian traditionals. Among his best known songs are the romantic Russian song "Dark Eyes", "Calinerie", "Souvenir d'Ukraine", "the Russian Pedlar", "Two guitars"{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ga_meU_U0JM|title=Zoltán Mága: Two guitars - Két gitár (Adalgiso Ferraris)|last=Maga Zoltan|date=22 May 2015|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}} and "A Balalaika"{{cite web|url=http://www.unicat.be/uniCat?func=search&query=author:%22Ferraris,+A.%22&formQuery=author:%22Ferraris,+A.%22|title=UniCat-Search|website=www.unicat.be|access-date=24 November 2018}}{{Cite web |url=http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/ricercaExpansion.jsp?q=&searchType=avanzato&channel__creator=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&channel__contributor=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&opCha__contributor=OR&opCha__creator=OR |title=Risultati ricerca |access-date=2015-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210165114/http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/ricercaExpansion.jsp?q=&searchType=avanzato&channel__creator=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&channel__contributor=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&opCha__contributor=OR&opCha__creator=OR |archive-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=dead }}
Biography
=Early life=
Ferraris was born in Novara, Piedmont, Italy. He went on to study at the Regia Accademia Filarmonica in Bologna, and studied piano and music composition with Manfredi and Crescentino."Rhythm" Magazine, number 43, March 1931
=Russian experience=
In 1910 Ferraris travelled to Russia to study with Tchevnioroshy in St. Petersburg. Here he supported his studies playing during the capital's last years of the "belle Epoque" nightlife.
He developed his skills particularly in the piccolo concerto and especially in Tzigane music. In 1912 he became pianist in an orchestra which also played at Tsarskoye Selo.
AdalgisoFerrarisRussia1912a.jpg|Ferraris in Petersburg, Russia, 1912
AdalgisoFerrarisBandPetersburg1913.jpg|Ferraris' Salon Orchestra at the Grand Hotel du Nord, Saint Petersburg
One of his most famous song is the Russian styled "Dark Eyes", published around 1910 as Schwarze Augen with German editor Otto Kuhl.{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/315785698|title=Schwarze Augen = Occhi neri = Black eyes|date=24 November 2018| oclc=315785698 |access-date=24 November 2018|via=Open WorldCat}} Ferraris then published it again in 1931 by Paris Editions Salabert, as "Tes yeux noirs (impression russe) " and with Jacques Liber, on Oct 9th, 1931, as "Dark Eyes".{{cite web|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=YzBjAAAAIAAJ&q=liber+%22black+eyes%22+ferraris&pg=PA1110|title=Catalog of Copyright Entries: Musical compositions|date=24 November 2018|publisher=Library of Congress, Copyright Office.|access-date=24 November 2018|via=Google Books}}
The song was a success of the 1930s, with artists such as Albert Sandler, filmed by British Pathe in 1932 {{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/albert-sandler-the-celebrated-violinist|title=Albert Sandler - The Celebrated Violinist|first=British|last=Pathé|website=www.britishpathe.com|access-date=24 November 2018}} and Leslie Jeffries, filmed by British Pathe in 1939 {{cite web|url=http://www.britishpathe.com/video/leslie-jeffries/query/turns|title=Leslie Jeffries|first=British|last=Pathé|website=www.britishpathe.com|access-date=24 November 2018}} or sung by Al Bowlly, with words of Albert Mellor.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FD4uJa8N2eo|title=Al Bowlly - Dark Eyes|last=bigmanio|date=5 March 2008|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}}
Ferraris himself can be seen in a British Pathé film from 1934 of Alfredo and his Gypsy band, sitting in the orchestra behind the lead Alfredo.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=57c5utLEyyU|title=Alfredo And His Famous Gypsy Band (1934)|last=British Pathé|date=13 April 2014|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}} They sometimes played together, as showed in this picture below at the Alexandria Palace in London.
AlexandriaAlfredoOct1935.jpg|Ferraris at the Alexandria Palace in London, 1935, with Alfredo and his Orchestra
Among other versions, a 1941 recording of Dark Eyes (by Ferraris) played by Harry Parry and his radio sextet was a hit during the war,{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vL2GEMXmA3c|title=Black Eyes (Ferraris) 1941|last=João Távora|date=4 March 2013|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}} and a very original interpretation for electric guitar, played by Chet Atkins.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ydpwxVJw8xc&list=RDydpwxVJw8xc&index=1|title=Chet Atkins "Ochi Chornya" (Dark Eyes)|last=daffydoug|date=18 June 2008|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}} Ferraris version is still played today by many artists such as the Trio Artemis {{cite web|url=http://www.napster.de/artist/trio-artemis/album/voyage-nostalgique-nostalgic-journey/track/schwarze-augen-black-eyes-for-violin-cello-and-piano|title=Schwarze Augen (Black Eyes) for Violin, Cello & Piano|date=16 February 2010|access-date=24 November 2018}} and Hristo Kardjiev.{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmanweb.com/music/VM3Track03s.mp3|title=Hristo Kardjiev|access-date=24 November 2018}}{{cite web|url=http://www.musicmanweb.com/samples.html|title=CDs and Music for wedding reception or corporate event in Durban|first=Hristo Kardjiev - The Music|last=Man|website=www.musicmanweb.com|access-date=24 November 2018}} The song was recorded in Italy by Nino Impallomeni and his orchestra,{{cite web|url=http://opac.dds.it/opac/media/play.do?service=infos&mediatype=1&quality=0&id=IT-DDS0000054294000100&bib=DS&firma=302C0214455A1A74D7CD99B7A26335FEDABF275062C8D55702146B707CEC153D1636328FC0B373F7C91CD0AF02C2302D0215008849378F7525DD076D2CFD6AC4405C8CB3914DB8021452E72B75F2646AFB8897AEA00379A46C1555516A|title=Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori ed Audiovisivi|website=opac.dds.it|access-date=24 November 2018}} and by Don Rico and his Orchestra.{{cite web|url=http://opac.dds.it/opac/media/play.do?service=infos&mediatype=1&quality=0&id=IT-DDS0000060066000100&bib=DS&firma=302D021500814131FCA92552BC17F2769AA885F305AA3DE5F702144F5A2CCBB01CD364F34248EE9F628844A9024EC4302C0214666EB5736560AFFFE7AE1339A0A4751C353FAD660214107B0466F2212E3D440B3A4BBFC142E6AC2BAB20|title=Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori ed Audiovisivi|website=opac.dds.it|access-date=24 November 2018}}
=The Great War=
Ferraris was caught by the war in Russia, and travelled via Finland through England to get back to Italy and join the Italian Army.
=Success in England=
After the first War and his marriage in 1920 with Adele Brunelli, Ferraris went to London, where he played with his band, the Novarese Band, and composed and published many well known songs.{{Cite web |url=http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/publication/50013425 |title=Paling's Army Navy Air Force album (85 / 301) |access-date=2014-11-27 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141205054154/http://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/publication/50013425 |archive-date=2014-12-05 |url-status=dead }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/opencms/it/ricercaExpansion.jsp?searchType=avanzato&channel__creator=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&opCha__creator=OR&opCha__contributor=OR&q=&channel__contributor=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&pag=2 |title=Risultati ricerca |access-date=2015-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210173947/http://www.internetculturale.it/opencms/opencms/it/ricercaExpansion.jsp?searchType=avanzato&channel__creator=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&opCha__creator=OR&opCha__contributor=OR&q=&channel__contributor=Ferraris%2C+A.+%3Cmusicista%3E&pag=2 |archive-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=dead }}
NovareseBand1.jpg|The Novarese Band in 1924
In London, Ferraris played in the Piccadilly Orchestra and other London orchestras and became acquainted with many musicians of that era who played his music, including violinists Al Bowlly, Albert Sandler and Leslie Jeffries. His collaboration with Max Jaffa was also very prolific, with many of Ferraris songs recorded by Jaffa, such as, again, Dark Eyes, "Souvenir d'Ukraine", Gipsy Idylle, and other songs.,{{cite web|url=http://www.45worlds.com/vinyl/album/sall863|title=Vinyl Album: Max Jaffa - Gypsy Magic (1967)|access-date=24 November 2018}} as shown in the Vocalion Broadcast of November 1932.
In 1932 Ferraris wrote "The Russian Pedlar", which became one of his major successes, played by bands such as The Commodore Grand Orchestra.{{cite web |url=http://opteron1.kbr.be/cgi-bin/opac.cgi?P0=GK&P6=1_510929 |title=Music reference for The Russian Pedlar |access-date=2015-02-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150210175526/http://opteron1.kbr.be/cgi-bin/opac.cgi?P0=GK&P6=1_510929 |archive-date=2015-02-10 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0VQBSJIFbU|title=The Commodore Grand Orchestra The Russian Pedlar|last=YJD67|date=30 January 2011|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}}
Vocalion Broadcast Nov 1932 cover.jpg|The Vocalion of November 1932
Vocalion_Broadcast_Nov_1932_page.jpg|The Commodore Grand Orchestra play Ferraris
In 1936 Mantovani and his band brings to success "A Balalaika"{{cite book|url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/857772493|title=A balalaika: tango|date=24 November 2018|oclc=857772493|access-date=24 November 2018|via=Open WorldCat}} a tango.
Another 1930s famous song of Ferraris is the orchestral and piano arrangements for Two Guitars, which is still a hit for touring bands, including the 100 Tagu Ciganyzenekar and the Gypsy Philharmonic Orchestra and others like Zoltan Maga.{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6c4PJbc4sKc|title=100 Gypsy Violins - Two Guitars|last=szevasztok|date=7 January 2013|access-date=24 November 2018|via=YouTube}}
In the late thirties, the Italian singer Dora Menichelli with the famous duo Bormioli-Semprini record, with Parlophon, a few Ferraris songs in Italian, including "la canzone che nome non ha" or the song without a name, currently preserved at the National Museum of audio, Museo dell'Audiovisivo.{{cite web|url=http://opac.dds.it/opac/media/play.do?service=infos&mediatype=1&quality=0&id=IT-DDS0000051330000200&bib=DS&firma=302C021437409A2EEF31C54E09C2925D7A3345569BD7FB8D0214241644B9E32A89A479B6989DA4334F4420BD832E302C02146BA205FFF369E6AF2F07F974E0D57BDDFFA263D9021405FC495F3B0D0A6B6E7BAEDBCA1B156AC2F46200|title=Istituto Centrale per i Beni Sonori ed Audiovisivi|website=opac.dds.it|access-date=24 November 2018}}
Here is a list of some of his less known songs:
- For you my love I'm waiting{{cite web|url=https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B5qknYkfxODxd3FYeE1IY0JDMG8/view|title=Ferraris_ForYouMusic.pdf|access-date=24 November 2018}}
- In a gipsy camp
- Rose of Spain
- Midnight follies
- Life is Beautiful (La vita e' bella)
- A fete in Santa Lucia, part of the suite "bella Napoli", and also played by Mantovani and his Orchestra
- Galanteria
=Late years=
At the outbreak of World War II, he went back to Italy as an Italian citizen and stayed until the end of the war. He then came back to England, becoming naturalised British. In the difficult times of post-war London he restarted his musical career and also formed a music publishing company.
AdalgisoFerrarisLondon1947.jpg|Musician and composer Adalgiso Ferraris in London, 1947
He continued to live in London, composing and playing music on his beloved antique "Pleyel", until his death on the last day of 1968, at his house in Woolwich.
References
{{reflist}}
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ferraris, Adalgiso}}
Category:20th-century Italian composers
Category:20th-century male composers
Category:20th-century Italian male musicians
Category:Italian emigrants to the United Kingdom
Category:Italian expatriates in the Russian Empire
Category:Italian light music composers