Eduardo Mezzacapo (1832–1898) was an Italian

mandolin A mandolin (, ; literally "small mandola") is a Chordophone, stringed musical instrument in the lute family and is generally Plucked string instrument, plucked with a plectrum, pick. It most commonly has four Course (music), courses of doubled St ...

ist, recognized as a virtuoso. He was also a composer, and a performer, organizing and playing in a mandolin quartet in France. Although he died before recording technology, his quartet did get recorded between 1905 and 1910. He was also the founder of ''l'Ecole de mandoline française'' (The French Mandolin School).Fred Gouin, on Jimdo, "La famille Mezzacapo"
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At the time that he was teaching in France and at the school, the mandolin was regaining popularity. There had been a decline since the early 19th century, but around the beginning of the 20th century from the 1880s to the 1920s there was a mandolin "craze" in which the instrument enjoyed new popularity.Salvador Léonardi, ''Méthode pour Banjoline ou Mandoline-Banjo'', Paris, 1921
The movement in France was enough to found a movement of French mandolin artists, including Gabriel Leone,

Giovanni Fouchetti Giovanni Fouchetti (, fl.1757-1789) published one of the earliest method books for the mandolin, c. 1771. According to Philip J. Bone, Fouchetti was also known as Fouquet, and he lived in Paris during the 18th Century. He was a professor there in 17 ...

and Gervasio. Mezzacapo "became the most important exponent of his time," through his performing and organizing and teaching.Orchestra a Pletto, ''Napoli - Eduardo Mezzacapo''
Mezzacapo studied the mandolin in

Naples Naples ( ; ; ) is the Regions of Italy, regional capital of Campania and the third-largest city of Italy, after Rome and Milan, with a population of 908,082 within the city's administrative limits as of 2025, while its Metropolitan City of N ...

, but went to France before he was 20. He performed with his family there, and their success was such that they performed

Verdi's Giuseppe Fortunino Francesco Verdi ( ; ; 9 or 10 October 1813 – 27 January 1901) was an Italian composer best known for his operas. He was born near Busseto, a small town in the province of Parma, to a family of moderate means, receiv ...

Othello ''The Tragedy of Othello, the Moor of Venice'', often shortened to ''Othello'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare around 1603. Set in Venice and Cyprus, the play depicts the Moorish military commander Othello as he is manipulat ...

in the Opéra Garnier. He also directed the Casino of Cannes orchestra, in the lounge of the Grand Duke of Mecklenburg. His work led him to be given credit for adding to the mandolin's successful rise as an orchestral instrument. He was also given the honor of having an orchestral work dedicated to him, the Enrico Marucelli work ''Valtzer Fantastico''.

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There is some confusion as to when Eduardo Mezzacapo died. His death date is given as 1898 and 1947. The later date may refer to a son.

Works

* ''Aubade for Mandolin, Violin and Guitar'' * ''Tarantella “Napoli”'' (1) * ''Le Chant du Gondolier'' (Barcarolle) Mandolinata Mannheim 1920, ''Jahreskonzert am 20.11.2011''
/ref> * ''Marche des Mandolinistes'' * ''Souvenir de Russie (Valse)'' (1) * ''Souvenir de Naples (Valse)'' (1) * ''Souvenir de Blois(Valse)'' (1) * ''Bébé savant (Polka)'' (1) * ''Regret (Romance sans paroles)'' (1) * ''Petite Mignonne (Air de gavotte)'' (1) * ''Élégance (Mazurka de salon)'' (1) * ''Beaux yeux (Schottisch)'' (1) * ''Paris (Marche)'' (1) Dedicated to "his pupil (prince) Robert de Broglie" * ''Amitié (Polka)'' (1) * ''Très jolie (Polka)'' (1) * ''Princesse (Gavotte)'' (1) * ''Duchesse (Gavotte)'' (1) * ''Miniature (petite valse)'' (1) * ''Tristesse (romance sans paroles)'' (1) * ''Sérénade Barcarolle'' (1) * ''Tolède Boléro (Gavotte)'' (1) * ''Mandoline Polka'' (1) * ''Mina (Gavotte)'' (1) * ''Violettes (Polka)'' (1) * ''Menuet Louis XV'' (1) * ''Gavotte Pompadour'' (1) * ''Sympathie (Valse)'' (1) * ''Vision mélodie'' (1) * ''Chez la marquise (Canzonetta)'' (1) * ''Charme d'Espagne (Habanera)'' (1) * ''Invocation (romance sans paroles)'' (1) * ''Idéal (valse)'' (1) * ''Bonita (sérénade-boléro)'' (1) * ''Etincelles (galop)'' (1) * ''Réponse (au rêve amoureux), mazurka'' (1) (1) Work mentioned in a series of pieces for mandoline and piano (or guitar) entitled "Oeuvres pour mandoline par E. Mezzacapo" (Works form mandoline by E. Mezzacapo) at the back of "Paris, marche", published in Paris, s.d.

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Works

References

See also