Istituto Italiano di Cultura Toronto presents:

O Mare Canta
The Evolution of the Canzone Napoletana

June 16, 2017 @ 8:00pm

Heliconian Hall
Toronto

Vesuvius Ensemble With Special Guests:

Francesco Pellegrino – voice, guitar Romina di Gasbarro – voice
Marco Cera – mandolin, guitar Kirk Elliott – violin, mandolin, mandola,
Lucas Harris – lute, guitar bagpipes, accordion, double bass

Marco Cera’s grandfather and other musical family members

 From Vesuvius Ensemble
Cari amici,

We’re extremely excited to present this new program to you.

We imagined that this program would be a fairly gradual “evolution” of song genres in Neapolitan dialect from the
medieval period all the way to the twentieth century. Ultimately you’ll see that we enter the ottocento (nineteenth
century) well before intermission! There are a few reasons for this.

First, Francesco began our research by making a long list of incredible nineteenth and twentieth century songs. Each
song was so beautiful that we simply couldn’t bring ourselves to make more cuts than we did. Then, Lucas was
eager to play his 1831 Gaetano Guadagnini guitar whose three-year restoration by Toronto luthier Michael Schreiner
was completed this past fall. Marco began to do some research into nineteenth century repertoire for mandolin(s)
and guitar, and he was keen to have a chance to present some of it for you. We were able to engage the help of the
incredible multi-instrumentalist Kirk Elliott (who owns well over fifty different instruments). Kirk’s ability to switch
between violin, mandolin/mandola, accordion, double bass etc. helped us complete the sound of a typical
nineteenth/twentieth century Italian ensemble. Finally, exploring music closer to the present day seemed to connect
us to our own family ancestry in a more intense way, and we welcomed the chance to explore that connection.

We hope you enjoy listening to this program as much as we enjoyed preparing it.

We offer heartfelt thanks to all of you for making our first concert season a success. We’re very pleased to announce
that the series will be continuing and expanding next season, so please stay tuned for more information (see the back
of this program for dates).

As always, we gratefully acknowledge the support of our generous season sponsors:

Istitituto Italiano di Cultura Paul and Rebecca Elia
Empire Communities John and Angela Caliendo

In pace,

Francesco, Lucas, & Marco

Il mandolino music periodical, 1898 Lucas’s grandfather (left) in a military band Sergio Bruni
 Program
Ritornello delle lavandaie del Vomero Anon 13c

Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato Anon. (Naples, 1537)

‘Sto Core Mio Orlando di Lasso (c1530-1594)

So’ le sorbe e le nespole amare Leonardo Vinci (1690-1730)

from Lo cecato fauzo (1719)

Fenesta vascia Anon. 18c

Graziella Anon. 18c

Mazurka, Op. 141 Raffaele Calace (1863-1934)

Te voglio bene assaje (c1839) Attr. Filippo Campanella or Gaetano Donizetti

Words by Raffaele Sacco (1787-1872)

Lo Rialo (1872) Anon. 18c

Arr. Giacobbe di Capua

Lo Guarracino Anon. 18c

— Intermission —

Lu Cardillo Attr. Pietro Labriola (c1849)

Amor marinaro. Canzonetta napoletana Gaetano Donizetti (1797 - 1848)

(Me voglio fa ‘na casa)
from Soirées d'automne à l'Infrascata (Naples, 1837)

“Sposi felici” (1898) Ettore Carosio

Introduzzione – Polka – Trio

Carmela (1976) Sergio Bruni

Words by Salvatore Palomba (b1933)

‘Na bruna (1971) Sergio Bruni (1921-2003)

Words by Aniello Langella (1919-1995)

L’incanto d’una sera Giulio Monni

Marinaresca Traditional
Arr. Roberto de Simone (b1933)
 Texts & Translations
Ritornello delle lavandaie del Vomero
Tu m’aje prommiso quatto moccatora
io so’ benuto se se me lo vuo’ dare.
E si no quatto embe’, dammenne ddoje
chillo ch’è ‘ncuollo a tte nn’e’ rroba toja
me lo vuo’ dare.
Madonna tu mi fai lo scorrucciato
che t'aggio fatto che 'ngrifi la cera.
Anema mia, chesta n'è via
de contentar 'st'affannato core.
Me par che m'habbi in tutto abbandunato,
ca non t'affacci all'ora della sera.
Anema mia . . .
Va' figlia mia, che ci aggio 'ndivinato
ca saccio con chi giochi a covallera.
Anema mia . . .
Donna, caro mio ben, dolce signora
habbi pietà d'un chi te solo adora.
Anema mia . . .
'Sto core mio, si fosse de diamante,
sarria spezzato per tanto dolore!
Quanto ne prova e sento a tutte ll'ore.
So’ le sorbe e le nespole amare,
ma lo tiempo le fa maturare
e chi aspetta se ll’adda magnà,
Accussì so’ le femmene toste,
che s’arrangiano quanno t’accuoste,
tiempo e purchie le fanno ammullà.
Fenesta vascia 'e padrona crudele,
Quanta sospire mm'haje fatto jettare!
Mm'arde 'sto core comm'a 'na cannela,
Bella, quanno te sento annommenare!
Oje piglia la sperienza de la neve!
La neve è fredda e se fa maniare.
E tu comme sì tant'aspra e crudele?
Muorto mme vide e non mme vuò ajutare?
Vorria arreventare 'no picciotto,
Co 'na langella a ghire vennenn'acqua,
Pe' mme nne jì da chiste palazzuotte:
Belle ffemmene meje! Ah! Chi vò acqua?
Se vota 'na nennella da llà 'ncoppa:
"Chi è 'sto ninno ca va vennenno acqua?"
E io responno co parole accorte:
"Sò lagreme d'ammore e non è acqua!"
Song of the washerwomen from Vomero
You promised me four handkerchiefs,
I have come here, now give them to me.
If you can’t give me four, give me two.
The one you are wearing is not yours –
now give it to me!
My lady, you are wounding me!
What did I do to deserve that mean look?
My dear, this is not the way
to cheer up my sad heart
It seems that you’ve completely forgotten me,
since you no longer show yourself in the evening.
My dear . . .
Go ahead, my daughter, for I’ve figured it all out,
and I know who you’re teasing me with.
My dear . . .
Woman, dear my dear, sweet lady,
forgive a man who loves only you.
My dear . . .
This my heart, if it were made of diamonds
would break apart from so much pain.
How much of it do I feel all the time!
Rowanberries and loquats are bitter,
but time will ripen them
and he who waits will enjoy them!
Thus are stubborn women
who get angry when you approach them –
though time and riches will soften them.
Lower window of my cruel mistress,
how many sighs have you made me release!
My heart burns like a candle
when I hear your name, my beauty!
Oh, please be more like the snow!
The snow is cold but you can still touch it.
And you, how can you be so bitter and so cruel?
You see me dying but don't want to help me?
I wish I could become a boy
who sells water on the street,
So that I could go to those big houses and say:
“Beautiful ladies! Ah! Who wants some water?”
If any girl asked from her balcony:
"Who is this little guy who goes around selling water?"
I'd answer with careful words:
"These are my tears of love, not just water!"
Graziella
A core, a core co Graziella mia
stevo assettato a chillo pizzo là.
Lo padre asceva e schitto c'era 'a zia
ma zitto, zitto nce se potea parlà.
La zia filava e poco nce senteva,
ca pe lo suonno la capa le pennea,
io la manella de nenna mia pigliavo
che nun voleva ma se facea vasà.
Essa cantava co chella bella voce,
lo mandolino i' me mettea a sonà.
Essa dicea cantanno doce doce
"Aniello mio, i' sempre t'aggio amato".
La zia filava e poco nce senteva,
ca pe lo suonno la capa le pennea,
ma si intrasatte essa maje se scetava
o' lacco subbeto i' me mettea a fa.
Ma chillo tempo comme priesto è passato,
darria lo sango pe farlo tornà.
Tann'ero allero e mo' so sventurato,
schitto t'arraggia 'e chiante aggià campà.
Graziella mia, Graziella me 'ngannaie,
mentre d'occhiate e squase m'abbuttaie,
ohi disperato tanto me so arredutto
ca o moro acciso o m'aggia vendecà.
Te voglio bene assaje
Pecché quanno mme vide,
te 'ngrife comm'a gatto?
Nenné', che t'aggio fatto,
ca nun mme puó' vedé?!
Io t'aggio amato tanto . . .
Si t'amo tu lo ssaje!
Io te voglio bene assaje . . .
e tu non pienze a me!
La notte tutti dormono,
ma io che vuó' durmire?!
Penzanno a nénna mia,
mme sento ascevolí!
Li quarte d'ora sonano
a uno, a duje, a tre . . .
Io te voglio . . .
Recòrdate lo juorno
ca stive a me becino,
e te scorréano, 'nzino,
le llacreme, accossí!...
Deciste a me: "Non chiagnere,
ca tu lo mio sarraje..."
Io te voglio . . .
Graziella
Heart to heart with Graziella
I was sitting right there.
Her father was out and only her aunt was home
so she was able to talk.
Her aunt was at the spinning wheel and couldn’t hear much
and the sound made her head fall down with sleep.
I took Graziella's hand,
but she did not want me to kiss her.
But then she sang with such a beautiful voice
and I started to play the mandolin.
Very softly in her song she said
“My Aniello, I have always loved you.”
Her aunt was at the spinning wheel and couldn’t hear much
and the sound made her head fall down with sleep.
If she were to suddenly wake up,
I’d pretend nothing was happening.
But how that time passed so quickly –
I would give my own blood to bring it back.
Back then I was happy and careless,
but now I’m filled only with anger.
My Graziella deceived me
even while she gave me her care and affection.
I'm been so deeply dishonored
that I must either die or take vengeance.
I Love You So Much
Why when you see me
do you get as angry as a cat?
What have I done to you
that you won’t see me any more?
I loved you so much . . .
yes, I love you, and you know it well!
I love you so much,
but you don’t even think about me.
At night everyone else is sleeping,
but I can’t sleep.
Thinking of my girl
I feel myself going crazy.
Every quarter of an hour rings,
at one, two, three, etc.
I love you so much . . .
I remember the day
when you were next to me,
your tears were
dripping onto your knees.
You said “Don’t cry,
you’ll always be mine!”
I love you so much . . .
Lo Rialo
Tiene 'na rosa 'nfronte
Ch'aggraziata è tanto,
Chiena d'addore e 'ncanto,
Che pace non me da.
Ma io saccio che t'è cara
'Sta rosa accussì bella.
Damme, damme, dammella,
Non me fà cchiù aspettà!
Pecchè ne sì gelosa,
Gelosa de 'sto sciore?
Non saje che vista e addore
Subeto se ne va?
Ma almeno, nenna mia,
Dammene 'na frunnella!
Damme, damme, dammella,
Non me fà cchiù penà!
Tu dire me potraje:
"Portame a fà la zita,
Tanno purzì la vita
'Sto core te darrà!"
Ma i' 'ncopp'a 'sta grillanna
Voglio 'sta rosa bella.
Damme, damme, dammella,
E po' jammo a sposà!
Lu Guarracino che jeva pe' mare
lle venne voglia de se 'nzorare:
Se facette nu bello vestito
de scarede de spine pulito pulito
co na perrucca tutta 'ngrifata
de ziarelle 'mbrasciolata.
Co lo sciabò de scolla e puzine
de ponta angrese fine fine.
Ddoje belle cateniglie
de premmone de conchiglie,
no cappiello aggallonato
de codarino d'aluzzo salato
tutto posema e steratiello,
jeva facenno lo sbafantiello,
gerava da ccà e da llà
la 'nnammorata pe' se trovà.
La sardella allo barcone
steva sonanno lo calascione,
e a suono de trommetta
jeva cantanno st'arietta:
"E llarè lo mare e lena
e la figlia d'a si' Lena
ha lassato lo 'nnammorato
pecchè niente l'ha rialato."
The Gift
You have a rose on your forehead
that is so pretty,
so full of perfume and charm
that it gives me no peace.
But I know that it’s dear to you,
this rose so beautiful.
Give it, give it to me,
don’t make me wait for it!
Why are you so jealous,
jealous of this flower?
Don’t you know that appearance and fragrance
vanish quickly?
But at least, my dear,
just give me one little petal!
Give it, give it to me,
don’t make me suffer any longer!
You could say to me:
"Take me to get married –
with all my life
I’ll give this heart to you! "
But even in this funeral garland
I want this beautiful rose.
Give it, give it to me,
And then let's get married!
The Guarracino [a type of fish] faring through the sea
one day felt ready to get married.
He made himself a beautiful suit
of scales and fishbones, nice and clean,
with a wig entwined
with rolled up ribbons
together with jabot, neck and cuffs
of very fine embroidery,
Two fine chains
of seashell lungs,
and a hat, ornamented
with salted pike tails.
All poncy and tarted up,
He went showing off,
cruising here and there
looking for a sweetheart.
A sardine on her balcony
was playing the colascione
and with a trumpeting voice
was singing this arietta:
“Olarello o marellena,
and the daughter of signora Lena
left her boyfriend
when he didn’t give her any gift."
Lo Guarracino 'nche la guardaje
de la sardella s'annammoraje,
se ne jette da na vavosa
la cchiù vecchia maleziosa,
l'ebbe bona rialata
pe' mannarle la 'mmasciata,
la vavosa pisse pisse
chiatto e tunno 'nce li disse.
Si aje voglia de t’allocà
tanta smorfie non aje da fa,
fora le zeze e fora de scuorno
anema a e core e faccia de cuorno”.
Ciò sentenno la si’ sardella
s’affacciaje a la fenestella
fece n’uocchio a zennariello
a lo speruto ‘nnammuratiello.
Ma la patella che steva de posta
la chiammaje faccia tosta,
senza parola, male nata,
ch’avea ‘nchiantato l’alletterato
primmo e antico ‘nnammorato,
de carrera da chisto jette,
e ogne cosa le dicette.
Quanno lo ‘ntise lo poveriello,
se lo pigliaje farfariello,
jette a la casa, s’armaje a rasulose
carrecaje comm’ a nu mulo
de scoppette e de spingarde,
povere, palle, stoppa e scarde,
quattro pistole e tre bajonette
dint’ a la sacca se mettette.
‘Ncoppa a li spalle sittanta pistune,
ottanta bomme e novanta cannune,
e comm’ a guappo pallarino
jeva trovanno lo Guarracino,
la disgrazia a chisto portaje
che ‘nmiezo a la chiazza te lo ‘ncontraje
se l’afferra p’ o cravattino
po’ lle dice “ah malandrino!
tu mme lieve la ‘nnammorata
e pigliatella sta mazziata”
Tuffete taffete a miliunelle
deva pacchere e secazzune,
schiaffe, ponie e perepesse,
scoppolune, fecosse e connesse,
scerevecchiune e sicutennosse
e l’ammacca osse e pilosse.
The Guarracino took one look at
the sardine and fell in love.
He went to a vavosa [a slimy sort of fish],
the oldest and shrewdest,
and gave her a nice bribe
to send the sardine a message.
The vavosa psst psst
Told her loud and clear:
“If you want to find a husband
you can’t be so surly.
Enough aloofness and coyness –
have a tough spirit, heart and face!”
Hearing this, the sardella
showed herself at the window
and made eyes
at her hopeful little suitor.
But the watchful limpet
called her shameless,
a traitor and scoundrel,
for she had cheated the alletterato [another type of fish],
her first and ex-boyfriend.
She (the limpet) rushed to him
and told him everything.
When the poor thing heard this
the devil possessed him – he went berserk,
going home and arming himself up to his ears!
He loaded himself up like a mule
with gun and musket,
gunpowder, bullets, hemp and flint;
four pistols and three bayonets
he put in his pocket.
Upon his shoulders were seventy guns,
eighty bombs and ninety cannons;
and like a brave paladin
he went looking for the Guarracino.
As bad luck would have it,
he met him right in the middle of the square:
He grabbed him by his little tie
and said to him, “You scoundrel!
So you want to take my girlfriend?
You’ll take this beating instead!”
He hit him with all sorts of punches,
[untranslatable list of different kinds of blows]
. . . and bruised his bone and cartilage.
Venimmoncenne ch’ a lo rommore
pariente e amice ascettera fore,
chi co’ mazze, cortielle e cortelle,
chi co’ spate spatune e spatelle,
chiste co’ barre, chille co’ spite,
chi co’ ammennole e chi co’ antrite,
chi co’ tenaglie e chi co’ martielle,
chi co’ torrone e sosamielle.
Patre, figlie, marite e mogliere
s’azzuffajeno comm’ a fere.
A meliune correvano a strisce
de sto partito e de chille li pisce.
Che bediste de sarde e d’alose!
de palaje e raje petrose!
Sarache, dientece ed achiate,
scurme, tunne e alletterate!
Capitune sàure e anguille,
pisce gruosse e piccerille,
d’ogne ceto e nazione,
tantille, tante, cchiù tante e tantone!
Quanta botte, mamma mia!
Che se dèvano, arrassosia!
A centenare le barrate!
A meliune le petrate!
Ma de cantà so già stracquato,
e me manca mò lo sciato,
sicchè dateme licenzia,
graziosa e bella audienzia,
‘nfì che sorchio na meza de seje,
co’ salute de luje e de leje,
ca se secca lu cannarone
sbacantànnose lo premmone.
Lu Cardillo
Stó' criscenno no bello cardillo,
quanta cose ca ll'aggi''a 'mpará:
Ha da ire da chisto e da chillo,
li 'mmasciate isso mm'ha da portá!
Siente ccá bello mio: llòco 'nnante,
nc'è na casa, na nénna nce sta,
tu la vide ca nun è distante:
chella nénna haje da ire a trová!
Si la truove ca stace dormenno,
pe' na fata, gué, non la pigliá.
No rommore non fá co' li ppenne
gué, cardí', tu ll'aviss''a scetá!?
Si affacciata po' sta a lo barcone,
pe' na rosa ll'aviss''a pigliá?
Gué, cardí', vi' ca llá tu te stuone,
va' vatténne cardí', nn''addurá!
Now it happened that this noise
made relatives and friends come outside.
Some had clubs and knives,
Some had daggers, some had swords,
[a list of more weapons,
including harmless kitchen implements]
. . . some with anything at all!
Fathers, daughters, husbands, and wives
fighting like wild beasts!
By the millions, darting bands
of fish from one side and the other!
How many types of fish you could see!
From sardines to . . .
[a long list of fish species]
…. eels,
small and large fish,
of every state and nation,
a few, more, many more, tons!
How many blows – mamma mia –
they gave one another far away from us!
Stick thumps by the hundred!
Stone bashes by the million!
But I am tired of singing
and I’m getting short of breath
so please give me leave,
gracious and handsome audience,
so that I can slosh down a measure
to his and her health,
for the throat gets dry
as the lungs get empty!
The Goldfinch
I have a little goldfinch, and
I'm teaching him so many things.
It must go here and there
to deliver my messages!
Listen to me, little goldfinch,
over there is a house with a woman inside.
You can see it’s not far.
That’s the woman you have to go and find!
If you find her sleeping,
don’t take her for a fairy.
Don’t make noise with
your feathers and wake her up!
But, if she’s on her balcony
would you take her for a rose?
Stay away and don’t inhale the scent.
Get out of there without breathing her in!
Si te vasa o t'afferra cianciósa,
tanno tu ll'haje da dire accossí:
"Lo patrone pe' te non reposa,
poveriello, pecché ha da morí?"
T'accarezza, te vasa...ah, viato
cchiù de me tu si' certo cardí'
Si co' tico cagnarme mm'è dato,
voglio, doppo, davvero morí!
Me voglio fa 'na casa miez' 'o mare
Fravecata de penne de pavune,
Tralla la le la...
D'oro e d'argiento li scaline fare
E de prete preziuse li barcune,
Tralla la le la...
Quanno Nennella mia se va a facciare
Ognuno dice "mò sponta lu sole",
Tralla la le la...
Carmela
Stu vico niro nun fernesce maje
e pure 'o sole passa e se ne fuje.
Ma tu stai llà, tu rosa preta 'e stella,
Carmela Carmè !
Tu chiagne sulo si nisciuno vede
e strille sulo si nisciuno sente,
ma nun' è acqua 'o sanghe dint' 'e vvene,
Carmela Carmè !
Si ll' ammore è 'o cuntrario d' 'a morte,
e tu 'o ssaje.
Si dimane è surlanto speranza,
e tu 'o ssaje.
Nun me può fà aspettà fin' a dimane,
astrigneme 'int' 'e braccia pe' stasera,
Carmela Carmè!
If she kisses you and flirts
you’ll have to tell her this:
“My master does not sleep because of you!
Poor guy, why does he have to die this way?”
She’ll caress and kiss you,
and you'll be luckier than I am.
But if she replaces me with you
then I’ll really want to die!
I'd like to build a house in the middle of the sea
plastered with peacock feathers,
Tralla la le la...
With stairs of gold and silver
and balconies of precious stones,
Tralla la le la...
When my Nennella shows herself
everyone will say "Look, the sun is rising!"
Tralla la le la...
Carmela
This dark road has no end
and the sun will not come out.
And you're there, a rose made of stone and a star.
Carmela, Carmè!
You cry only when nobody sees you
and you scream when nobody hears.
But my veins are full of blood, not water.
Carmela, Carmè!
If love is the opposite of death
and you know it;
if tomorrow is the only hope
and you know it,
don’t make me wait for tomorrow –
Hold me in your arms tonight,
Carmela, Carmè!
‘Na bruna A Brunette
Venètte da tanto luntano nu furastiero, A tourist came from far away
Restaje 'ncantato d''o mare, and fell in love with the sea,
d''o sole e 'a luna, nu furastiero... the sun, and the moon.

Se 'ncantaje 'e duje uocchie curvine He fell in love with two blue eyes –
'e na bruna, 'e vint'anne d'etá. she was a brunette, about twenty years old.

Chella vò' bene a n'ato e pe' chillo more, But she was in love with another,
Pe' nu bellu guaglione 'e piscatore. a handsome young fisherman

Furastiero, 'e denare che só'? “Oh tourist, your money is useless
Quanno 'o core fa chello che vò'. since my heart is already taken.”

Chella s'è fatta 'a croce cu ll'acqua 'e mare, She blessed her love with sea water
e po' ha giurato: "Io nun te lasso maje.” and swore to him “I’ll never leave you now.”

P''o mare na festa 'e lampáre nu piscatore, The sea is in celebration,

s'astregne 'int''e bbracce na bruna the fisherman takes in his arms his brunette
cu 'o velo 'e sposa, in her bridal dress.

Dice 'a gente: "Cu bona furtuna!... The people say: “Good luck!
pe' cient'anne, pe' sempe accussí." For a hundred years, may you be forever together like this!”

Marinaresca Sailors’ song

De primo ammore te vengo a salutare With the first love I'll come to greet you.
Di nuovo amanti belli stateme a sentire. Young lovers, listen to my advice.

Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera

De randa ‘ndera ‘ndera randa ‘nda De randa ‘ndera ‘ndera randa ‘nda

Damme lu vento ca pozzo navigare Give me the wind so that I’ll be able to navigate
Ca questa varca mia dal porto deve ascire. For my boat has to get out of this harbour.

Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera etc. Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera etc.

Quanno pe nante a te vengo a passare When I pass in front of you

Famme segno d’ammore e miettete a ridere. Make me a sign of love and start to laugh!

Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera etc. Randa ‘ndera ‘ndera etc.

Please save these dates for our 2017-2018 Heliconian Concert Series!
October 6: Tarantella program March 30: Easter concert
December 17 & 19: Christmas concert May 11: Twentieth century Naples