Gervasio Marcosignori (1927 – 2013)
by Rob Howard
B&F May 2013
The
accordion world mourns the passing of Gervasio Marcosignori, probably the most
admired and loved accordionist of his generation.
Gervasio Marcosignori, sometimes referred to as the ‘Poet of the Accordion’ was born in Castelfiderdo, Ancona, Italy on December 3rd 1927. As a young child he was taught the accordion by his father, Giovanni, and was soon making public appearances. In 1934 he performed in the presence of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who was much impressed and urged the young Gervasio to “keep up the good work.” Although the war years greatly restricted accordion activity everywhere, in 1943 Gervasio won his first contest, and was on the road to becoming an outstanding competitor in post-war competitions as well as emerging as a top level concert artiste. The 1950s saw Marcosignori emerge as an international artiste, and he traveled extensively around Europe and beyond, making a huge impression wherever he went. He also served as an adjudicator at many festivals. In these years he played acoustically and, although he used many instruments, he was particularly associated with the Settimio Soprani ‘Artist VI’.
Gervasio Marcosignori has long occupied a special place in the affections of British accordionists, and his high level of virtuosity and expressive playing has been admired in this country since his first visit here in 1951. Marcosignori made his first public appearance in Great Britain on November 10th 1951 at the newly opened Royal Festival Hall, London, in the evening concert at the first CMA (confederation Mondiale de l’Accordeon) World Accordion championships (won by Louis Corchia of France). In this concert Marcosignori performed ‘Preludio’, a recent composition by Adamo Volpi, for which a British journalist acclaimed him to be the ‘Poet of the Accordion’. The competition was an event in the Festival of Britain, and the organizers were Adrian Dante and Desmond A. Harte, founders of the British Association of Accordionists (BAA).
Over the years Marcosignori made frequent trips to Britain, where he performed with distinction at many festivals, including the BAA British Championships in London (where in the 1950s and 60s he performed many times and also adjudicated), Bill Wilkie’s All Scotland Championships at Perth, Accordion Day in Wales at Swansea, the 2001 London Accordion Festival, accordion festivals at Blackpool, Bridlington and Morecambe, and the Wyre Accordion Festival in Fleetwood. At the lattermost festival, in 1992, he memorably shared the evening concert with the late, great Dermot O’Brien, an occasion when these two amazing accordion artistes thrilled a capacity audience with their respective talents. He was also the guest at numerous accordion clubs. In the 1950s and 60s his visits were organised by Adrian Dante, whose show business connections enable the maestro to perform many times on radio and TV, including appearances on the Rolf Harris and Val Doonican shows.
In 1959 Marcosignori was awarded the ‘World Oscar’ by the CMA for his international contribution to the accordion.
In 1962 Marcosignori collaborated with the Farfisa company technical team, led by Gianfelice Fugazza, in the design of the ‘Cordovox’, an electronic accordion operating via transistors. He was the first to publicly demonstrate it, then an innovative and revolutionary instrument. From the 1960s Marcosignori became ever more closely associated with the electronic accordion and he made many international visits demonstrating the Farfisa Transicord and Syntaccordion. In the 1980s Marcosignori also promoted Elka Orla’s Elkavox electronic accordion. Although he has always performed classical music, in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, he performed a wide range of Continental and Latin music – and this was the basis of his popularity with many people. The 1970s also saw him become inclined towards performing much more classical music than previously.
Marcosignori performed in front of many famous dignitaries such as past Italian President Sandro Pertini, Pope John Paul 11, Queen Elizabeth and others.
Marcosignori wrote ‘Tecnica della fisarmonica’, a three-volume series of tutor books for accordion technique, published by Berben Editions of Ancona. Considering the length of his career and his fame, Marcosignori made surprisingly few recordings, and his albums, recorded by Decca (UK) and Cetra (Italy), include ‘Accordion Travelogue’ (1959), ‘Dancing Continental’ (1961), ‘Record of the Century’ (1962), ‘Accordion showpieces’ (1972), ‘The Poet of the Accordion’(1991) and ‘Encore!’ (1995).
Gervasio Marcosignori was widowed some years ago when his wife Lucia died from cancer, causing him to suffer with depression. Nobody in the accordion world had more friends, but the loss of his wife was something he never fully came to terms with. More recently he had also developed signs of dementia and was unable to play the accordion to his usual high standard. On 8th March Italian news reports stated that Marcosignori had attempted suicide, and he died in Cesena Hospital, at the age of 85, on 9th March 2013. The funeral of Gervasio Marcosignori took place at the church of San Bendedetto, Castelfidardo, on March 16th. The Town Hall national flag was displayed at half-mast, and shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect for this great maestro, whose sad passing has caused great shock throughout the accordion world.
Gervasio Marcosignori, sometimes referred to as the ‘Poet of the Accordion’ was born in Castelfiderdo, Ancona, Italy on December 3rd 1927. As a young child he was taught the accordion by his father, Giovanni, and was soon making public appearances. In 1934 he performed in the presence of Italian dictator Benito Mussolini, who was much impressed and urged the young Gervasio to “keep up the good work.” Although the war years greatly restricted accordion activity everywhere, in 1943 Gervasio won his first contest, and was on the road to becoming an outstanding competitor in post-war competitions as well as emerging as a top level concert artiste. The 1950s saw Marcosignori emerge as an international artiste, and he traveled extensively around Europe and beyond, making a huge impression wherever he went. He also served as an adjudicator at many festivals. In these years he played acoustically and, although he used many instruments, he was particularly associated with the Settimio Soprani ‘Artist VI’.
Gervasio Marcosignori has long occupied a special place in the affections of British accordionists, and his high level of virtuosity and expressive playing has been admired in this country since his first visit here in 1951. Marcosignori made his first public appearance in Great Britain on November 10th 1951 at the newly opened Royal Festival Hall, London, in the evening concert at the first CMA (confederation Mondiale de l’Accordeon) World Accordion championships (won by Louis Corchia of France). In this concert Marcosignori performed ‘Preludio’, a recent composition by Adamo Volpi, for which a British journalist acclaimed him to be the ‘Poet of the Accordion’. The competition was an event in the Festival of Britain, and the organizers were Adrian Dante and Desmond A. Harte, founders of the British Association of Accordionists (BAA).
Over the years Marcosignori made frequent trips to Britain, where he performed with distinction at many festivals, including the BAA British Championships in London (where in the 1950s and 60s he performed many times and also adjudicated), Bill Wilkie’s All Scotland Championships at Perth, Accordion Day in Wales at Swansea, the 2001 London Accordion Festival, accordion festivals at Blackpool, Bridlington and Morecambe, and the Wyre Accordion Festival in Fleetwood. At the lattermost festival, in 1992, he memorably shared the evening concert with the late, great Dermot O’Brien, an occasion when these two amazing accordion artistes thrilled a capacity audience with their respective talents. He was also the guest at numerous accordion clubs. In the 1950s and 60s his visits were organised by Adrian Dante, whose show business connections enable the maestro to perform many times on radio and TV, including appearances on the Rolf Harris and Val Doonican shows.
In 1959 Marcosignori was awarded the ‘World Oscar’ by the CMA for his international contribution to the accordion.
In 1962 Marcosignori collaborated with the Farfisa company technical team, led by Gianfelice Fugazza, in the design of the ‘Cordovox’, an electronic accordion operating via transistors. He was the first to publicly demonstrate it, then an innovative and revolutionary instrument. From the 1960s Marcosignori became ever more closely associated with the electronic accordion and he made many international visits demonstrating the Farfisa Transicord and Syntaccordion. In the 1980s Marcosignori also promoted Elka Orla’s Elkavox electronic accordion. Although he has always performed classical music, in the 1950s, 60s and 70s, he performed a wide range of Continental and Latin music – and this was the basis of his popularity with many people. The 1970s also saw him become inclined towards performing much more classical music than previously.
Marcosignori performed in front of many famous dignitaries such as past Italian President Sandro Pertini, Pope John Paul 11, Queen Elizabeth and others.
Marcosignori wrote ‘Tecnica della fisarmonica’, a three-volume series of tutor books for accordion technique, published by Berben Editions of Ancona. Considering the length of his career and his fame, Marcosignori made surprisingly few recordings, and his albums, recorded by Decca (UK) and Cetra (Italy), include ‘Accordion Travelogue’ (1959), ‘Dancing Continental’ (1961), ‘Record of the Century’ (1962), ‘Accordion showpieces’ (1972), ‘The Poet of the Accordion’(1991) and ‘Encore!’ (1995).
Gervasio Marcosignori was widowed some years ago when his wife Lucia died from cancer, causing him to suffer with depression. Nobody in the accordion world had more friends, but the loss of his wife was something he never fully came to terms with. More recently he had also developed signs of dementia and was unable to play the accordion to his usual high standard. On 8th March Italian news reports stated that Marcosignori had attempted suicide, and he died in Cesena Hospital, at the age of 85, on 9th March 2013. The funeral of Gervasio Marcosignori took place at the church of San Bendedetto, Castelfidardo, on March 16th. The Town Hall national flag was displayed at half-mast, and shops and businesses were closed as a mark of respect for this great maestro, whose sad passing has caused great shock throughout the accordion world.