The Godfather Tarantella - The Godfather’s Family Wedding Album - Mandolin lesson
Track no. 1 on side 1 Italo-American Wedding: The Godfather Tarantella. Composed, arranged & conducted by Carmine Coppola for 1972’s The Godfather’s Family Wedding Album, released independently of the movie’s OST. When I transcribed Connie’s Wedding from the movie’s score last year, I noted my displeasure at it being a straight audio rip from the movie scene, not a proper field or studio recording. Nino Rota composed the majority of the release and Coppola co-composed, while Carlo Savina conducted. Connie’s Wedding opens with The Godfather Tarentella and then merges into The Godfather Mazurka. I had not been able to find official full length recordings or performances of either composition. By unaffiliated bands and orchestras, sure, but no release by Coppola or Paramount. When I got my copy of The Godfather’s Family Wedding Album last year, a vinyl exclusive release, I was glad to finally find both tracks represented. Transcript of the mandolin tracks as they were recorded, done by ear. Other instruments featured are a tambourine, drums, accordion, piano & a brass section. This composition consists of three segments, of which the first takes up the bulk in very many small, but different variations. It’s tempo also sets the tone for the rest of the album. And as if this dance didn’t begin fast enough already, it picks up towards the end. The back of the sleeve notes that Coppola’s orchestra recorded the album in Naples and consists of the musicians who provided the entertainment during the wedding scene. The mandolinist in the movie was Sicilian immigrant and child prodigy Giovanni Vicari, a virtuoso on not just the mandolin, but also the violin, guitar and banjo, as well as a beloved teacher. But many people have pointed to Italian-American Al Viola, session musician and long-time guitarist of Frank Sinatra, being the recording mandolinist on the first album’s score. I have found no way of confirming either way and so I sadly cannot say who recorded these tracks.
Track no. 1 on side 1 Italo-American Wedding: The Godfather Tarantella. Composed, arranged & conducted by Carmine Coppola for 1972’s The Godfather’s Family Wedding Album, released independently of the movie’s OST. When I transcribed Connie’s Wedding from the movie’s score last year, I noted my displeasure at it being a straight audio rip from the movie scene, not a proper field or studio recording. Nino Rota composed the majority of the release and Coppola co-composed, while Carlo Savina conducted. Connie’s Wedding opens with The Godfather Tarentella and then merges into The Godfather Mazurka. I had not been able to find official full length recordings or performances of either composition. By unaffiliated bands and orchestras, sure, but no release by Coppola or Paramount. When I got my copy of The Godfather’s Family Wedding Album last year, a vinyl exclusive release, I was glad to finally find both tracks represented. Transcript of the mandolin tracks as they were recorded, done by ear. Other instruments featured are a tambourine, drums, accordion, piano & a brass section. This composition consists of three segments, of which the first takes up the bulk in very many small, but different variations. It’s tempo also sets the tone for the rest of the album. And as if this dance didn’t begin fast enough already, it picks up towards the end. The back of the sleeve notes that Coppola’s orchestra recorded the album in Naples and consists of the musicians who provided the entertainment during the wedding scene. The mandolinist in the movie was Sicilian immigrant and child prodigy Giovanni Vicari, a virtuoso on not just the mandolin, but also the violin, guitar and banjo, as well as a beloved teacher. But many people have pointed to Italian-American Al Viola, session musician and long-time guitarist of Frank Sinatra, being the recording mandolinist on the first album’s score. I have found no way of confirming either way and so I sadly cannot say who recorded these tracks.