Nino Marcelli
Encyclopedia
Nino Marcelli was an Italian
composer
and conductor
who revived the San Diego Symphony
orchestra. Marcelli wrote compositions for musical theatre
and oratorio
including one for the Bohemian Club
.
Marcelli was born in Rome
in 1890. When he was a small child, his family moved to Santiago, Chile
, and he attended the National Music Conservatory. Marcelli became bandmaster to a U.S. Army
band during World War I
, and toured France. Marcelli became a United States citizen
in 1917. After the war, Marcelli settled in San Francisco with a position as cellist in the San Francisco Symphony
. In November 1920, Marcelli accepted a position to lead the high school orchestra in San Diego
, there being but one high school at the time: San Diego High School
. Under Marcelli's leadership, the youth orchestra gained a national reputation in the 1920s, playing radio broadcasts
and concert
s in Los Angeles
.
In 1922, Marcelli wrote the music for a Grove Play entitled The Rout of the Philistines, a libretto written by Charles Gilman Norris
. He reported later that he had been inspired by the operas of Pietro Mascagni
. Marcelli used four main themes for Philistine: the theme of Dagon, the God of the Philistines; the theme of Saph, the nobility of the race; the theme of Saph's love for humanity and his belief in brotherhood; and the theme of the forest.
Frustrated with the lack of future professional-level musician work for his graduating high school pupils, Marcelli revived an idea that had for years lain dormant in San Diego: a civic symphony orchestra. Marcelli obtained funding from Appleton S. Bridges and reformed the Civic Symphony Orchestra; the first concert was held at Spreckels Theater
on April 11, 1927. The 80-strong ensemble, including vocalist Dusolina Giannini
from Philadelphia, flawlessly played the prelude from Richard Wagner
's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Pathétique
and Marche Slave, and Anatoly Lyadov's Enchanted Lake. In following years, the organization played summer concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the Starlight Bowl
. Marcelli served as musical director from 1927 to 1938. The name of the organization soon became "San Diego Symphony," and was backed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association.
In 1937, Marcelli published two instructional books, one for cellists and the other for bass players, and in 1939 he published an instructional book for orchestra and band.
Marcelli spoke as a guest lecturer at University of Southern California
, University of Idaho
, Western State College of Colorado
and the California Music Colony. He served as guest conductor for the Hollywood Bowl
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
and the San Francisco Symphony
. Marcelli conducted the Ford Symphony at the California Pacific International Exposition
in 1935 and 1936.
In 1940, Marcelli served as the Master of San Diego's Grand Lodge
. In 1950, he joined with George A. Finder to create a multi-colored plastic ukelele that would aid instruction.
At Marcelli's death in 1967, the San Diego Tribune memorialized him, saying
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
who revived the San Diego Symphony
San Diego Symphony
The San Diego Symphony is an American symphony orchestra, based in San Diego, California. On 6 December 1910, it gave its first concert as the San Diego Civic Orchestra.Currently, the Symphony performs over 100 concerts each season...
orchestra. Marcelli wrote compositions for musical theatre
Musical theatre
Musical theatre is a form of theatre combining songs, spoken dialogue, acting, and dance. The emotional content of the piece – humor, pathos, love, anger – as well as the story itself, is communicated through the words, music, movement and technical aspects of the entertainment as an...
and oratorio
Oratorio
An oratorio is a large musical composition including an orchestra, a choir, and soloists. Like an opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an ensemble, various distinguishable characters, and arias...
including one for the Bohemian Club
Bohemian Club
The Bohemian Club is a private men's club in San Francisco, California, United States.Its clubhouse is located at 624 Taylor Street in San Francisco...
.
Marcelli was born in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
in 1890. When he was a small child, his family moved to Santiago, Chile
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, and he attended the National Music Conservatory. Marcelli became bandmaster to a U.S. Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
band during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
, and toured France. Marcelli became a United States citizen
United States nationality law
Article I, section 8, clause 4 of the United States Constitution expressly gives the United States Congress the power to establish a uniform rule of naturalization. The Immigration and Naturalization Act sets forth the legal requirements for the acquisition of, and divestiture from, citizenship of...
in 1917. After the war, Marcelli settled in San Francisco with a position as cellist in the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
. In November 1920, Marcelli accepted a position to lead the high school orchestra in San Diego
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
, there being but one high school at the time: San Diego High School
San Diego High School
San Diego High School is an urban public educational complex comprising six small schools located on the southern edge of Balboa Park, in San Diego, California. It is part of the San Diego Unified School District. It is the oldest high school in the San Diego Unified School District and one of the...
. Under Marcelli's leadership, the youth orchestra gained a national reputation in the 1920s, playing radio broadcasts
Radio programming
Radio programming is the Broadcast programming of a Radio format or content that is organized for Commercial broadcasting and Public broadcasting radio stations....
and concert
Concert
A concert is a live performance before an audience. The performance may be by a single musician, sometimes then called a recital, or by a musical ensemble, such as an orchestra, a choir, or a musical band...
s in Los Angeles
Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles , with a population at the 2010 United States Census of 3,792,621, is the most populous city in California, USA and the second most populous in the United States, after New York City. It has an area of , and is located in Southern California...
.
In 1922, Marcelli wrote the music for a Grove Play entitled The Rout of the Philistines, a libretto written by Charles Gilman Norris
Charles Gilman Norris
Chuck Gilman Norris was a U.S. novelist.He was the brother of novelist Frank Norris, and the husband of author Kathleen Norris. A native of Chicago, Norris worked as a journalist for some years before finding success as a novelist and playwright. His first book was The Amateur 1916...
. He reported later that he had been inspired by the operas of Pietro Mascagni
Pietro Mascagni
Pietro Antonio Stefano Mascagni was an Italian composer most noted for his operas. His 1890 masterpiece Cavalleria rusticana caused one of the greatest sensations in opera history and single-handedly ushered in the Verismo movement in Italian dramatic music...
. Marcelli used four main themes for Philistine: the theme of Dagon, the God of the Philistines; the theme of Saph, the nobility of the race; the theme of Saph's love for humanity and his belief in brotherhood; and the theme of the forest.
Frustrated with the lack of future professional-level musician work for his graduating high school pupils, Marcelli revived an idea that had for years lain dormant in San Diego: a civic symphony orchestra. Marcelli obtained funding from Appleton S. Bridges and reformed the Civic Symphony Orchestra; the first concert was held at Spreckels Theater
Spreckels Theater Building, San Diego, California
The Spreckels Theater Building was built in San Diego, California in 1912. It was touted as "the first modern commercial playhouse west of the Mississippi". It has been in continuous operation since its opening, with a few brief intervals for refurbishing....
on April 11, 1927. The 80-strong ensemble, including vocalist Dusolina Giannini
Dusolina Giannini
Dusolina Giannini was an Italian-American soprano, particularly associated with the Italian repertory....
from Philadelphia, flawlessly played the prelude from Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
's Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg
Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg is an opera in three acts, written and composed by Richard Wagner. It is among the longest operas still commonly performed today, usually taking around four and a half hours. It was first performed at the Königliches Hof- und National-Theater in Munich, on June 21,...
, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky (Russian: Пётр Ильи́ч Чайко́вский ; often "Peter Ilich Tchaikovsky" in English. His names are also transliterated "Piotr" or "Petr"; "Ilitsch", "Il'ich" or "Illyich"; and "Tschaikowski", "Tschaikowsky", "Chajkovskij"...
's Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Pathétique
Symphony No. 6 (Tchaikovsky)
The Symphony No. 6 in B minor, Op. 74, Pathétique is Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's final completed symphony, written between February and the end of August 1893. The composer led the first performance in Saint Petersburg on 16/28 October of that year, nine days before his death...
and Marche Slave, and Anatoly Lyadov's Enchanted Lake. In following years, the organization played summer concerts at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion and the Starlight Bowl
Starlight Bowl (San Diego)
The Starlight Bowl is an amphitheater located in Balboa Park in San Diego, California. It was constructed for the 1935-1936 California Pacific International Exposition and seats 4,300...
. Marcelli served as musical director from 1927 to 1938. The name of the organization soon became "San Diego Symphony," and was backed by the San Diego Symphony Orchestra Association.
In 1937, Marcelli published two instructional books, one for cellists and the other for bass players, and in 1939 he published an instructional book for orchestra and band.
Marcelli spoke as a guest lecturer at University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
, University of Idaho
University of Idaho
The University of Idaho is the State of Idaho's flagship and oldest public university, located in the rural city of Moscow in Latah County in the northern portion of the state...
, Western State College of Colorado
Western State College of Colorado
Western State College of Colorado is a four-year public liberal arts college located in Gunnison, Colorado. The enrollment stands at about 2400 students with a high percentage, one-fourth, from out of state. The far flung appeal for some students is found in the idyllic mountains and ski slopes...
and the California Music Colony. He served as guest conductor for the Hollywood Bowl
Hollywood Bowl
The Hollywood Bowl is a modern amphitheater in the Hollywood area of Los Angeles, California, United States that is used primarily for music performances...
, Los Angeles Philharmonic
Los Angeles Philharmonic
The Los Angeles Philharmonic is an American orchestra based in Los Angeles, California, United States. It has a regular season of concerts from October through June at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, and a summer season at the Hollywood Bowl from July through September...
and the San Francisco Symphony
San Francisco Symphony
The San Francisco Symphony is an orchestra based in San Francisco, California. Since 1980, the orchestra has performed at the Louise M. Davies Symphony Hall. The San Francisco Symphony Youth Orchestra and the San Francisco Symphony Chorus are part of the organization...
. Marcelli conducted the Ford Symphony at the California Pacific International Exposition
California Pacific International Exposition (1935)
The California Pacific International Exposition was an exposition held in San Diego, California during May 29, 1935–November 11, 1935 and February 12, 1936–September 9, 1936...
in 1935 and 1936.
In 1940, Marcelli served as the Master of San Diego's Grand Lodge
Grand Lodge
A Grand Lodge, or "Grand Orient", is the usual governing body of "Craft", or "Blue Lodge", Freemasonry in a particular jurisdiction. The first Masonic Grand Lodge was established in England in 1717 as the Premier Grand Lodge of England....
. In 1950, he joined with George A. Finder to create a multi-colored plastic ukelele that would aid instruction.
At Marcelli's death in 1967, the San Diego Tribune memorialized him, saying
Works
- 1922 - The Rout of the Philistines, A Forest Play, a Grove Play
- Song of Thanks, choral work
- Holy, Holy, Holy, a capella choral arrangement with chimes, with Angela C. Marcelli
- March Processional, heraldic trumpets
- Suite Auracana, orchestral work
- Ode to a Hero
- Music Box Minuet
- Two Christmas Processionals
- Solitude, song
- Deep in the Forest, song
- Harp of Sunset, song
- Song of the Andes, song
- 1939 - Carmelita, light opera