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The
Bologna Convention of last December 5th -
hastily arranged to coincide with the
fortunate presence of Andrés Segovia - gained
so much in importance, to hint at the numerous
people there convened, that the convention
would become a true Congress, under the name
of Tenth Italian Guitar Convention and Second
International Guitar Convention.
Among
those who were present we noticed, besides
Prof. Romolo Ferrari, President of the Unione
Chitarristica Italiana (U.C.I.), Bčrben the
publisher, Maestro Guidi and Prof. Barbieri
from Modena; Dr. Murtula from Fratta Polesine;
Mr. Pini and Orsolino from Genova; Romani,
Cigarini, Dr. Orlich and Prof. Piccinini from
Reggio Emilia; Rossi and Mr. Rigacci from
Siena; Volpini from Prato; Ferracin and
Salomon from Rovigo; Speciale from Naples;
Cabassi and Miss Padovani from Parma; Prof.
Squarzoni from Ferrara; Mr. Roveri from Milan.
Of course, besides many others and the large
group from Bologna: Prof. Rezio and Alessandro
Buscaroli, Maestro Pignocchi, Mr. Suzzi, Prof.
Salvi, Mr. Sonnino, Mr. Bassi, Esq., Mrs. Sara
Stegani Forti, the Pezzolis, Rizzolis, Mr.
Visani, Luthier Gamberini, etc..
Particularly welcome was the presence of Mrs.
Vaccari, the widow of the unforgettable
master.
The day
began at 9.30 A.M. at the
Circolo delle Cinque Arti
in Indipendenza Road,
with a brief welcome Prof. Ferrari gave to the
multitude convened. Sitting at the table of
the Presidency, besides Prof. Ferrari, were
Mr. Jahier, Esq.,
Prof. Rezio Buscaroli, Maestro Murtula and
secretaries Guidi and Sassoli.
The
Chairman then opens up the debate on the
opportunities to create new methods for
teaching the guitar, and proposes to send to
press a method conceived by him, supplemented
by various excerpts and pieces by well-known
authors, renouncing to give his name to the
work.
Then
take the word Prof. Buscaroli, Maestro Murtula,
Mr. Orsolino and others, expressing their
opinions on the matter. We will summarize them
briefly.
Prof.
Buscaroli is in favour of adopting the method
compiled by Prof. Ferrari, accompanied by an
appendix of pieces from the best authors, as
he considers as fundamental the creation of a
common programme of study which would
constitute the basis of guitar teaching. Each
teacher may then, if desired, integrate this
method with all the additions deemed
necessary.
In
contrast, Mr. Orsolino's opinion is that it is
not possible to standardize the method of
teaching, because every guitar player,
especially in Italy, has its own, personal
technique. He would rather prefer a method
exclusively consisting of exercises and
studies drawn from different authors. Even Dr.
Murtula agrees with the opinion of the Mr.
Orsolino, and he remarks that in fact every
teacher uses his own method.
Then
takes the word Pietro Jahier, Lawyer. First of
all, he gives the public Maestro Segovia's
greetings and thanks for being offered the
appointment of Honorary President of the U.C.I..
He adds that the Master, sorry not to be able
to attend the meeting in the morning, hopes to
be present in the evening.
Mr.
Jahier continues by outlining a crucial
problem that needs to be answered: that of
making the art of the guitar known, in Italy.
In our Country the Guitar is virtually ignored
by the public; the concerts are rare, and
there exists not even one chair for its
teaching, in any conservatory. It is therefore
necessary to feed interest with frequent
meetings and exchange of ideas, so as to
achieve concrete results.
As for
the methodological discussion, Mr. Jahier
agrees in part with the views expressed by
Prof. Buscaroli, while not withholding the
adoption of a single teaching method as
totally advisable.
At 11,
Professor Ferrari leaves the convention to go
and pay homage to Maestro Segovia, and the
presidency is assumed by Prof. Buscaroli,
while the discussion about the methods is
momentarily suspended.
Mr.
Orsolino, after deprecating the oblivion, a
fact utterly undeserved, in which the Italian
music for guitar is nowadays abandoned,
invites the public to enhance its value and to
make it known.
Dr.
Murtula then pronounces a few words to
commemorate Umberto Giordano, who recently
passed away, and two great masters of the
guitar, Mozzani and Vaccari, whose loss so
deeply saddened the guitarists of Italy and of
the world.
He then
urges the participants to contribute actively
to the propaganda and to the wider spread of
our Journal, which proved a highly
effective tool in order to establish closer
and more cordial relations among all lovers of
our instrument.
Mr.
Orsolino then performs some music on his
seven-stringed guitar, to show the
participants the more harmonic possibilities
deriving from the addition of the seventh
string. He plays a Preludio by
Giuliani, Pensiero melanconico, Studio
tremolo and Nostalgie sarde by
Murtula.
At
1 P.M. the meeting is adjourned.
After
many people have had the lunch in the rooms of
the same Circle of Artists, all guitar players
go to the theatre in order to attend to
Segovia's Concert.
At 9
P.M. the Guitarists gather again at the club
where, after some minutes' waiting, Maestro
Segovia comes on the scene. He is accompanied
by Mr. Jahier, by Mrs. Olga Coelho and Prof.
Ferrari, and his appearance is greeted by a
long, affectionate and enthusiastic ovation of
those present, who crowd around him. Having
regained silence, Prof. Ferrari reads the
letter of appointment with which the U.C.I.
appoints the Great Guitarist as Honorary
President. So it says, literally:
«The
Central Committee of the
Unione Chitarristica
Internazionale - surely
interpreting the great family of guitarists
from all over the world - in cheering Andrés
Segovia as the supreme virtuoso of the Art of
the Guitar, - grateful and proud that so great
a name brings prestige and wishes for the best
fortunes of the Society, - under suggestion of
the Italian Guitarists, appoints and
designates Maestro Andrés Segovia as Honorary
President of Unione
Chitarristica Internazionale».
Then,
Prof. Ferrari announces that Maestro Segovia
will soon return among us, probably next
April, thus giving us the joy to listen to his
inimitable art.
To the
Master is then shown at
Stradivarius guitar, to
which He, after having carefully examined it,
affixes his signature.
Then
begins a brief performance of some guitarists:
Mr. Orsolino plays, with his seven-stringed
guitar (Pensiero malinconico e Nostalgie
sarde by
Murtula); Giorgio Pezzoli (his own
Serenata nostalgica and Andante
armonioso); Giorgio Rizzoli (Tarantella by
Calvaruso) and Francesco Pini (Studio by
Sor, Danza
Mora by
Tárrega and Fifth
Andalusian Dance
by
Granados).
Then
speaks Mr. Jahier, on behalf of the Master,
expressing to the public the satisfaction of
Andrés Segovia for the fervent and passionate
enthusiasm displayed by the Italian guitarists
for the art of the guitar.
Then,
interpreting the feelings of all, he addresses
the Master warm thanks for the honour that He
graciously pleased to bestow on the guitar
players of Italy, giving them the joy of
spending some time with Him.
After
which, prompted by the vibrant applause of
those present, Mrs. Olga Coelho, the famous
Brazilian singer and guitarist, performs two
well-known and exquisite pieces from her
repertoire: a sparkling and witty comic song,
El sapo, and a Cancion de Cuna transcribed
by Maestro Segovia for her, and she sings with
grace and dreamy melancholy, beautifully
accompanying herself on the guitar.
There
are vivid applauses at the end of her
delightful interpretations, then we continue
to applaud while asking the Maestro, more by
the eyes than by the voice, to play. And the
Master graciously agrees.
On the
same guitar that was used by the Lady (an
excellent «Gallinotti» owned by Mr. Suzzi),
Segovia plays a Argentinian Folk Song,
embellishing the delicate texture with that
exquisite craftsmanship and unmistakable touch
that he alone knows. Eventually, the
enthusiastic ovations seem to wish never to
come to an end.
Guitarists are now huddling around the Master,
who signs autographs upon autographs, and they
wish not to break away from Him. But the hour
is now late, and Andrés Segovia, greeted by a
last standing ovation and revered by the
directors of the U.C.I., takes leave from all.
Before
going out, he stops a moment in the adjoining
room where he affixes his signature on a wall,
by drawing it with a thin brush dipped in red,
and so does Mrs. Coelho. The Club of the Five
Arts will thus keep an autograph of the
Master.
After
his departure, some guitar performances still
take place, by Mr. Orsolino, by Mr. Giorgio
Pezzoli and Mr. Francesco Pini. The
Serenade di Lindoro by Dr. Murtula is
then played (Orsolino playing); Feste
Lariane and Carmela by Mozzani (Pezzoli
playing); Gavotte by Bach and Chopin's
Nocturne (Pini).
At 1
A.M. at night the great event closes.
On
behalf of all guitar players, we are
particularly pleased to express our most
heartfelt applause and best thanks to Prof.
Rezio Buscaroli, to Mr. Suzzi and to Mr. Luigi
Sassoli who provided the organization for the
Day; to Prof. Vignoli, President of the
Circolo delle Cinque Arti, to the Management
and to the Secretary Prof. Dinamo Ferri who so
courteously offered themselves to provide the
beautiful place and make it as welcoming as
possible.
La X Giornata Chitarristica, in «L’Arte Chitarristica», II, n. 12, 1948, pp. 2-3.
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