Gerardo Iasilli (November 10, 1880 – May 10, 1969) was an Italian-American saxophonist, conductor, and

composer A composer is a person who writes music. The term is especially used to indicate composers of Western classical music, or those who are composers by occupation. Many composers are, or were, also skilled performers of music. Etymology and Defi ...

. He was born in

Muro Lucano Muro Lucano formerly Muro (until 1863) is a city and ''comune'' in the province of Potenza, in the northern part of the region of Basilicata, southern Italy. History The city is situated on the site of the ancient Numistri, at the foot of the A ...

, Italy, and immigrated to the United States in 1904. He first joined the Silvio Mancini Band, where he eventually became assistant conductor and arranger. He later joined the Giuseppe Creatore Orchestra. He then formed and led his own band Orchestrina Italiana Gerardo Iasilli. He composed and arranged mostly brass and band music. He composed a number of marches, including the "American Army", "America", and "Blue Eagle" marches. He entered a composition into the

1932 Summer Olympics The 1932 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the X Olympiad and also known as Los Angeles 1932) were an international multi-sport event held from July 30 to August 14, 1932 in Los Angeles, California, United States. The Games were held duri ...

mixed music art competition. He wrote many books of etudes and exercises for saxophone, and published many arrangements for band and for saxophone.

Compositions

* ''American Army March'' * ''America March'' * ''Andrea Doria'' * ''Blue Eagle March'' * ''Generale Umberto Nobile'' * ''Do re mi'' * ''Amor perduto valzer (''Lost Love Waltz) * ''Passione'' * ''La Bella Mazurka'' * ''Dolce Ricordo'' * ''The New Italy March'' * ''Nicoletta'' * ''Triplin Sax'' * ''Marcia Zingaresca'' * ''Marcia Palermitana'' * ''Creatore's Band March'' * ''Piccoli Bersaglieri'' (Little Italian Riflemen) * ''Furore d'Una Banda'' (Furor of the Band) * ''Liberta dei prigionieri Italiani'' Many of these compositions were recorded on early Victor and Columbia phonographs, where he is credited variously as Iasilli, Issilli, and Jasilli.

References

1880 births 1969 deaths American male composers Olympic competitors in art competitions People from Muro Lucano 20th-century American male musicians {{US-composer-stub