Index Fronimo N° 106, April 1999 |
Editorial
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Pasquale Taraffo,
also known as O Rêua (The Wheel), is generally recognized as the major representative of
the Genoese guitar school of the current century. Born 14 November 1887, he enjoyed a
muscial education that is best described as improvised and instinctive. His father Pippo,
a well-known blacksmith, was an amateur guitarist whose four sons were rapidly infected by
his passion for music. All of them had a musical sideline in addition to their regular
occupations of stoker (Giovanni), ship¹s cook (Peo), and bartender (Rinaldo). The genius
of the family, however, was Pasquale; from a very young age onwards he performed in
restaurants and other public places and was the only one who could make a living just by
playing music. His musical apprenticeship consisted of numerous performances in theatres,
music halls, cinemas, cafés, and all possible other stages in the city of Genoa. His
collaboration with the luthier Settimio Gazzo resulted in the construction of a guitar
with 10 to 14 strings; with it he developed a highly varied repertoire ranging from
arrangements of opera pieces to dances, serenades, folk melodies, emigrants¹ songs, and
popular tunes. Successful symphonic and chamber music was arranged for guitar and thus
rendered even more popular, for example the Intermezzo of the Cavalleria Rusticana, the
quartet in Rigoletto, Boccherini¹s minuet, the Norma symphony; he did not neglect such
³classic² composers as Viñas and Tàrrega, and accompanied famous tenors of the period
like Beniamino Gigli, Giacomo Lauri Volpi and Tito Schipa.
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