Carlo Curti (May 6, 1859 – 1926), also known as Carlos Curti, was an Italian musician, composer and bandleader. He moved to the United States whose most lasting contribution to American society was popularizing the
mandolin
A mandolin ( it, mandolino ; literally "small mandola") is a stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally plucked with a pick. It most commonly has four courses of doubled strings tuned in unison, thus giving a total of 8 ...
in American music by starting a national "grass-roots mandolin orchestra craze" (that lasted from 1880 until the 1920s).
He also contributed to Mexican society in 1884 by creating one of Mexico's oldest orchestras, the ''Mexican Typical Orchestra''. The orchestra under his leadership represented Mexico at the
New Orleans Cotton Exhibition.
As with his Spanish Students, Curti dressed his Mexican band in costumes, choosing the
charro
Charro has several meanings, but it generally refers to Mexican horse riders, who maintain traditional dress, such as some form of sombrero, which in Mexican Spanish are called ''sombrero de charro'' (a charro's hat). The charros could also ...
cowboy outfit.
The patriotic value of having Mexico represented on the international stage gave a boost to
mariachi
Mariachi (, , ) is a genre of regional Mexican music that dates back to at least the 18th century, evolving over time in the countryside of various regions of western Mexico. The usual mariachi group today consists of as many as eight violins, t ...
bands (which had normally been repressed by social elites); the mariachis began using charro outfits as Curti's orchestra had done, expressing pride in being Mexican.
[ Curti's ''Orquestra Típica Mexicana'' has been called the "predecessor of the Mariachi bands."]
He was an orchestra leader, composer, educator at the '' Conservatorio Nacional de Música'' (''Mexican National Conservatory of Music''), xylophonist, violin
The violin, sometimes known as a ''fiddle'', is a wooden chordophone (string instrument) in the violin family. Most violins have a hollow wooden body. It is the smallest and thus highest-pitched instrument (soprano) in the family in regular ...
ist, mandolinist and author of a mandolin method. He directed the orchestra
An orchestra (; ) is a large instrumental ensemble typical of classical music, which combines instruments from different families.
There are typically four main sections of instruments:
* bowed string instruments, such as the violin, viola, c ...
at the New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel
The Waldorf Astoria New York is a luxury hotel and condominium residence in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The structure, at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, is a 47-story Art Deco landmark designed by architects Schult ...
in his later career.
Also known as a composer of zarzuela
() is a Spanish lyric-dramatic genre that alternates between spoken and sung scenes, the latter incorporating operatic and popular songs, as well as dance. The etymology of the name is uncertain, but some propose it may derive from the name of ...
s and dance music, among his most noted tunes are "La Tipica" and "Flower of Mexico". His brother was harpist Giovanni (Juan or John) Curti, who also was a member of his orchestra.
Spanish Students (1880–1884)
Curti was born in Gallicchio
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, province of Potenza
The Province of Potenza ( it, Provincia di Potenza; Potentino: ) is a province in the Basilicata region of southern Italy. Its capital is the city of Potenza.
Geography
It has an area of and a total population of 369,538 (as of 2017). There ar ...
, Basilicata
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. About five years after he arrived in the United States (c.1875), Curti saw the opportunity to imitate one of the great acts of his day, the ''Estudiantina Figaro'', also known as the ''Estudiantina Figueroa'' or " Spanish Students" troupe, a costumed, dancing, bandurria
The bandurria is a plucked chordophone from Spain, similar to the mandolin and bandola, primarily used in Spanish folk music, but also found in former Spanish colonies.
Instrument development
Prior to the 18th century, the bandurria had a round ...
-playing group from Spain that was touring in the United States (as well as the United Kingdom and parts of South America in the early 1880s).[Carlos Curti in the 1910 United States Federal Census Year: 1910; Census Place: Manhattan Ward 12, New York, New York; Roll: T624_1027; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 1420; FHL microfilm: 1375040](_blank)
/ref> Curti had experience in show business, working with a small traveling opera, along with his brother John.[ He took advantage, figuring that people wouldn't see the difference when he (an Italian) pretended to be Spanish.][ He even started using Carlos, instead of Carlo.][
He established a group similar to the Spanish Students, but made up of Italians playing mandolins (because of the similarity to violins, which they knew). The group blatantly used the Spanish Students' name while touring the United States.][ He later admitted what he had done, and started another group or changed his groups' name to the "Roman Students".][
The imitators' use of mandolins helped to generate enormous public interest in an instrument previously relatively unknown in the United States.] They left an impression on the people who saw them, and the mandolin, rather than the bandurria became established in the United States and Europe.[
]
Mexican Typical Orchestra (1884–1887)
Beginning in 1884
Curti took his knowledge of the elaborate costumed performances he had participated in and organized since coming to the United States, and created a new show in Mexico, what became the ''Orquesta Típica Mexicana'' (''Mexican Typical Orchestra''). The Mexican Typical Orchestra was originally conceived by the salterio player Encarnación García and bandolón
A bandolón is a musical instrument from Mexico. It is a guitar sized instrument, resembling a flatback mandolin with 18 strings, arranged in 6 courses, three strings per course, and played with a pick. It is associated with the típica orques ...
ist Andrés Díaz de la Vega but its creation was consolidated in the hands of its director and founder, xylophone player and composer Carlos Curti, in August 1884.[
It initially consisted of 19 musicians, most of them from the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (Mexican National Conservatory of Music) and distributed as follows:]
*Flute. Anastasio Meneses.
*Harp. Juan Curti.
* Salterios. Maria Encarnación García and Mariano Aburto. Garcia played a 99 string Salterio that resembled a dulcimer.
*First Bandolón
A bandolón is a musical instrument from Mexico. It is a guitar sized instrument, resembling a flatback mandolin with 18 strings, arranged in 6 courses, three strings per course, and played with a pick. It is associated with the típica orques ...
s. Andrés Díaz de la Vega. Pedro Zariñana, Mariano Pagani y Apolonio Domínguez. Bandolóns were shaped like a cittern or bouzouki with 18 strings (6 courses of 3 strings).
*Second Bandolóns. Vidal Ordaz, Vicente Solís y José Borbolla.
*Guitars. Pantaleón Dávila and Pedro Dávila.
*Violins. Antonio Figueroa and Enrique Palacios.
*Viola: Buenaventura Herrera.
*Cellos. Rafale Galindo and Eduardo Gabrielli.
*Xylophone. Carlos Curti.
First concert
The orchestra debuted Saturday night September 20, 1884 at a private concert, held at the Conservatory Orchestra's Theatre and alternated in the concert with the Conservatory Orchestra. The Mexican Typical Orchestra played the following five works during the third part of programming:[
*1. Obertura of the Opera "Raymond" by ]Ambroise Thomas
Charles Louis Ambroise Thomas (; 5 August 1811 – 12 February 1896) was a French composer and teacher, best known for his operas ''Mignon'' (1866) and ''Hamlet'' (1868).
Born into a musical family, Thomas was a student at the Conservatoire de ...
*2. Mazurca "Los Ecos" para solo de Salterio by Encarnación García
*3. Fantasía sobre la Opera "Norma" by Vincenzo Bellini
Vincenzo Salvatore Carmelo Francesco Bellini (; 3 November 1801 – 23 September 1835) was a Sicilian opera composer, who was known for his long-flowing melodic lines for which he was named "the Swan of Catania".
Many years later, in 1898, Gi ...
*4. Marcha de la Opera "Tanhäuser" by Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, polemicist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...
*5. Aires Nacionales Mexicanos by Carlos Curti.
Presidential endorsement
This concert was attended by the president of Mexico, General Porfirio Díaz
José de la Cruz Porfirio Díaz Mori ( or ; ; 15 September 1830 – 2 July 1915), known as Porfirio Díaz, was a Mexican general and politician who served seven terms as President of Mexico, a total of 31 years, from 28 November 1876 to 6 Decem ...
, who at the time named the group "Orquesta Típica Mexicana".[ The president was interested in supporting the group, because he had issues during his election campaign in which his opponents used folk music as propaganda against him.] The president wanted to bring order and stability and modernity to Mexico, and music was one of the tools he used. The "Aires Nacionales Mexicanos" (Mexican National Tunes) put together by Curti along with ethnic instruments like the salterio impressed the General.[
The orchestra toured Mexico, the United States and Europe.][ They gave performances in several places in the Mexican capital.][ The orchestra performed at the Arbeu Theater in a performance dedicated to the Honorable Foreign Colonies and to the Mexican students; this was also an audition, performed on December 3, 1884, and of Carlos Curti's arrangement of "Mexican National Tunes" was endorsed.][ As a result, the orchestra was invited to perform at the New Orleans Universal Expo.][ Over the next three years the band made several tours; the first to the United States, starting for the Universal Exhibition in New Orleans and continuing to New York and several cities in the US. The second tour started in January 1886, visiting Zacatecas on January 8, and then again the US, Canada and Cuba returning to the City Mexico in July 1887.][ The band disintegrated abruptly in the city of Puebla, and little is known of its fate after so sudden dissolution.][ It was understood that the musicians who should return to their academic activities at the National Conservatory of Music that had been abandoned during the touring.][ Among these was Mr. Curti, who later dedicated himself to conduct the orchestra ''Circo Orrín''.
]
The orchestra after Carlo Curti
The Mexican typical orchestra would continue in 1901 with conductor Juan Velázquez, who was with the orchestra and Carlos Curti during his second tour.[ The third lead was ]Miguel Lerdo de Tejada
Miguel Lerdo de Tejada (July 6, 1812 – March 22, 1861) was a Mexican statesman, a leader of the Revolution of Ayutla, and author of the Lerdo Law, extinguishing the right of corporations, including the Roman Catholic Church and indigenou ...
who organized it as the ''Orquesta Típica Lerdo'' in 1901. The orchestra is still in existence, after 120 years, and was declared a "Intangible Cultural Heritage of the Capital" (of Mexico) on May 31, 2011.
Last years
After fourteen years in Mexico, Curti returned to New York in 1897. At the beginning of the 1900s, he was conductor of the Waldorf–Astoria Orchestra
The Waldorf–Astoria Orchestra was an orchestra that played primarily at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, both the old and new locations. In addition to providing dinner music at the famous hotel, the orchestra made over 300 recordingsRust, Brian, ...
for several years. He also formed another group called "Orquesta Mexicana Curti" with whom made recordings for Columbia Records
Columbia Records is an American record label owned by Sony Music, Sony Music Entertainment, a subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America, the North American division of Japanese Conglomerate (company), conglomerate Sony. It was founded on Janua ...
in 1905, 1906 and 1912. His later life was marked by tragic events: he suffered financial difficulties and his wife Carmen shot herself on January 28, 1914, after he had lost his job at the Waldorf-Astoria
The Waldorf Astoria New York is a luxury hotel and condominium residence in Midtown Manhattan in New York City. The structure, at 301 Park Avenue between 49th and 50th Streets, is a 47-story Art Deco landmark designed by architects Schu ...
. Then Curti came back to Mexico City, where he committed suicide in 1926.
Works
Not merely an imitator, Curti was a multi-instrumental musician and a composer as well. He published sheet music as early as 1880 in New York, but also published extensively in Mexico.
*''My Irish Home''. Words by Joe A. Burgess. (August, 1892)
*''La Tipica''. Polka. (1895)
*''Florera''. Polka. (1891)
*''Nueva Espana''. (1894)
*''Una boda en Santa Lucia''. (1894)
*''La patria''. Military march. (1895)
*''Merci''. Gavotte. (1896)
*''El Gondolero''. Waltz, (1896)
*''Serenate''. (1897)
*''Siempre alegre''. Polka, (1897)
*''Il n'y a pas de quoi''. Welcome. Schottische. (1897)
*''La cuarta plana''. (1899)
*''Los de abajo''. (1899)
*''El novio de Tacha''. (1900)
*''Benedictina, en "La cuarta plana"''. Gavota. (1901)
*''Bolero, en "La cuarta plana"''. (1901)
*''Diablito''. Polka. (1901)
*''Nemrod, rey de Babilonia''. Operetta. Sala Wagner, (1901)
*''Saravia'', danza en la zarzuela La cuarta plana. (1901)
*''Tango'', danza en la zarzuela "La cuarta plana". (1901)
*''Under the Bamboo Tree''. Mandolin duo. Arranged by Carlo Curti (1902)
*''While the Convent Bells Were Wringing''. Mandolin duo. Arranged by Carlo Curti (1902)[
*''Queen of the ball''. Waltz. (1905)
*''Flower of Mexiko''. Intermezzo. (1904)
*''Maesmawr''. Valse lente. (1905)
*''The matador''. March and two-step, (1905)
*''Blue ribbon''. Two-step patrol. (1906)
*''Rosita''. Valse romantique. (1907)
*''Notturno in D''. Violin and piano. (1908)
*''Petit bijou'' (''Little jewel''). Gavotte. (1908)
*''Chimes of old Cornell''. (1917)
*''Visions of love'' (''Visione d'amore''). Waltz. (1928)
*''Angela''. Schottische.
*''Bogando''. Barcarola, en la pantomima acuatica "Una boda en Santa Lucia".
*''Brisa''. Valse.
*''Champagne''. Polka en la pantomima Una boda en Santa Lucia.
*''Constanza''. Mazurka.
*''Dias felices''. Schottische.
*''Entre amigos''. Polka.
*''Fregoli''. Polka.
*''Gondolero''. Vals.
*''Ilusiones''. Vals.
*''Juego hidraulico''. Vals
*''Lamentos''.
*''Lluvia de rosas. Vals.
*''Lola''. Polka.
*''Maria Enriqueta''. Danza.
*''Merci!'' Schottische.
*''Momna''. Mazurka..
*''Monica''. Mazurka.
*''Mundo ilustrado, en la zarzuela La cuarta plana)''. Vals.
*''Nueva Espana''. Pasa-calle.
*''Otilia''. Polka.
*''Pan American-Marsch''.
*''Pas de quoi!'' Schottische.
*''Polka militar''.
*''Predilecta''. Vals.
*''Recuerdos''. Mazurka.
*''Teresa''. Gavotta.
*''Tus ojos''. Schottische.
*''Xylosono''. Polka.
*''lbum de Mexico. Coleccion de 10 piezas celebres para mandolina y piano con 2''.
]
Recordings
Victor
His compositions were recorded 10 times on Victor Records. including:
*''Saravia'', Antonio Vargas, 1902
*''The flower of Mexico'', Arthur Pryor's Band, 1904
*''Tipica polka'', W. Eugene Page ; D. F. Ramseyer, 1909
*''Blue ribbon'', Conway's Band, 1914
*''La tipica'', Trio Romano i.e., Cibelli's Neapolitan Orchestra 1921
*''La cuarta plana'', Banda de Zapadores, 1905
*''La cuarta plana'', Trío Arriaga, 1905
*''Canción de la saravia'', Esperanza Iris, 1906
Columbia
*'' Estudiantina Walzer'' by Waldteufel with the Columbia Orchestra, with Kastagnetten; ''La tipica polka'' by Carlo Curti with the Orquesta Espanola
*''La Tipica'', F Lahoz; Carlos Curti; Curti's Band.; Banda Española, 1910
Zonophone
* ''Flower of Mexico'', Hager's Orchestra, 1906
Modern
Among modern reinterpretations are:
*''La Tipica'', Los Alegres de Terán
Los Alegres de Terán were a Mexican Norteño band. They were formed in Nuevo León when Eugenio Abrego and Tomas Ortiz met in a club in the mid-1940s focusing their activities around the area of Monterrey, Reynosa, and finally settling in McA ...
, 1961
*''La Tipica'', Mariachi Vargas de Tecalitlán, 1963
*''La Tipica'', Flaco Jiménez
Leonardo "Flaco" Jiménez (born March 11, 1939) is an American singer, songwriter and accordionist from San Antonio, Texas. He is known for playing Norteño, Tex Mex and Tejano music. Jiménez has been a solo performer and session musician, ...
, 1988
*''La Tipica'', Nashville Mandolin Ensemble
Jerome Henry "Butch" Baldassari (December 11, 1952 – January 10, 2009) was an American mandolinist, recording artist, composer, and music teacher.
Biography Early life
Baldassari played guitar in rock bands as a teen with his brother Buster, ...
, 1998
*''La Tipica'', Terry Waldo
Terry Waldo (born November 26, 1944) is an American pianist, composer, and historian of early jazz, blues, and stride music, and is best known for his contribution to ragtime and his role in reviving interest in this form, starting in the 1970s ...
, 2004
*''La Tipica'', Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, 2007
*''Flower of Mexico'', Milwaukee Mandolin Orchestra, 2015
See also
* List of mandolinists (sorted)
This is a list of mandolinists, people who have specifically furthered the mandolin by composing for it, by playing it, or by teaching it. They are identified by their affiliation to the instrument.
First generation mandolinists (c. 1744 - 1880 ...
References
*
External links
Modern reprint of Curti's ''Complete Method for the Mandolin''.
Document with portraits of Carlo Curti and his brother Giovanni Curti.
Spanish Students
These links are about two groups performing under the name "Spanish Students" that were identifiable by their promoter's name. The links are limited to those two groups, even though there were other groups using the name.
Abbey and Hickey, the first Spanish Students, and Humpty Dumpty
Newspapers.com clipping from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 30 Mar 1880, Tue, Page 3 about the first group to be called the Spanish Students (Abbey's and Hickey's) and the "Humpty Dumpty", a circus-style variety show of which the Spanish Students were a part. The newspapers called their bandurrias, "mandolins."
Newspapers.com clipping from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 30 Mar 1880, Tue, Page 1 The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 29 Mar 1880, Mon, Page 9 about Abbey's and Hickey's variety show, including the Spanish Students.
Newspapers.com clipping from The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 30 Mar 1880, Tue, Page 1, advertisement for the first group to be called the "Spanish Students".
Carlo Curti's Spanish Students
Newspapers.com newspaper clipping from Middlebury Register, 29 Oct 1880, Fri, First Edition, calling Curti's group "Curti's Original Spanish Students."
Carlo Curti's Roman Students
Newspapers.com clipping from April 1, 1881, advertising Carlo Curti's 9 "Roman Students"
Newspapers.com clipping from April 4, 1881, talking about variety show. The "Roman Students" were paired with "freaks of nature" (i.e. circus acts.)
Reappearance of Carlo Curti's version of the Spanish Students
Newspapers.com newspaper clipping from The Times, 9 Apr 1882, Sun, Page 5, showing the "Reappearance of the Famous Spanish Students" with Senor Carlo Curti as leader.
Newspapers.com clipping from 1914 detailing existence of bandurria playing Spanish Students and mandolin playing imitators, and a meeting between two groups.
Mexican Typical Orchestra
Newspapers.com clipping from ''The Daily Commonwealth'', 4 Aug 1885, Tue, Page 4 in Topeka, Kansas, giving some of the history of the Mexican Typical Orchestra.
Newspapers.com 1886 advertisement from Topeka, Kansas, talking about the Mexican Typical Orchestra and comparing them to the Spanish Students.
Newspapers.com clipping from Springfield Missouri, from the ''Springfield Daily Republic'', 6 Aug 1886, Fri, First Edition, mentions the Mexican Army band they were traveling with.
{{DEFAULTSORT:Curti, Carlo
1859 births
1926 deaths
19th-century Italian composers
19th-century Italian male musicians
20th-century Italian composers
20th-century Italian male musicians
Italian bandleaders
Italian conductors (music)
Italian emigrants to the United States
Italian male composers
Italian male conductors (music)
Italian male writers
Italian mandolinists
Italian violinists
Male violinists
People from New York (state)
People from the Province of Potenza
Xylophonists
1926 suicides
Suicides in Mexico