| Gervasio Born in 1927 in Castelfidardo, on
3rd November, into a profound accordion family, his mother of the great
Busilacchio family, died 1999 on Christmas Eve, aged over 100 years, she
knew every word of any Opera in its entirety, what an amazing mind.
On a visit to her home a few years ago, she told me the entire story of both her
husbands life and her own, in great detail, it was an honor to have met this
great lady with an extraordinary sense of humor.
Gervasio's father, an extraordinary man of
great forward thinking in accordion manufacture, being responsible for innovative
historical design of the accordion, and from a prolific accordion background
himself, his father went to USA to forward the interest of the accordion in this
new country. He became a friend of Frosini, bringing back to Italy, not
only his music, we have all got to know and love, but pieces never yet put into
print of Frosini. His innovation in the accordion, was set to be the soul
of Gervasio Marcosignori, a true son, who, from childhood was dedicated to the
accordion, his father made him practice scales and exercises constantly to
develop this young accordionist, and he was very strict in enforcing this
structure.
As a young man Gervasio played for many
dignitaries and statesmen, he played for Mussolini, at just 15
he won his first major Music Festival, revealing his virtuosity on this
instrument. He won National Music Festival, in the presence of the Italian
composer Franco Alfano, who even then predicted a great international future for
Gervasio Marcosignori. That prediction had great insight, he has in fact
won numerous awards, appeared with Symphony Orchestras, on television, in
concert and has recorded many memorable Albums. Appearing at the Royal Festival
Hall, and concert venues all over the world
But he has been responsible for much more in
his incredible life, he has developed, like his father, new conceptions for the
accordion, in design, in its free bass system, and registration formats that
have proved to be perfect for the classical musician, he has sustained an
interest in the development of the accordion, and has introduced to the world,the electronic accordion.
This combination of sheer artistry of
the acoustic accordion, and the orchestration which has evolved in such a
symphonic manner, has revealed, yet another side to this wonderful musician.
He has inspired composers to write for the
instrument, because they have heard the possibilities in the inspirational style
and musicianship of Gervasio Marcosignori. His friend Adamo Volpi, Chapel
director at the Basilica of the Holy House in Loreto, who collaborated
with Gervasio on harmony, and wrote music especially for him. When Adamo
wrote Fileuse, whilst recording it, it was found not to be long enough, and
whilst Gervasio sat there, he wrote on manuscript an extra part to lengthen this
piece for him. When Gervasio was recording Fileuse, he used the
manuscript. On returning from the studio, he had his brief case stolen in
London, which contained the manuscript, and in Gervasio's own words, nothing was
dearer to him in that case than that manuscript, written by his very dear
friend.
Since being introduced to him at the age of
11, I have spent many hours in the company of Gervasio Marcosignori and his
family, we have remained friends, and compatriots, our families have integrated
like one. Every time I see this wonderful man play in the privacy of our homes,
it is a sheer privilege, and a true inspiration, this charismatic man, has
introduced me to the music of composers like Luigi Ferrari Trecate, Felice
Lattuada, Fuggazza, Eugene Ettore, Pozzoli, Adamo Volpi, Bio Boccosi, he
has played their pieces, not only promoting the accordion, but the Italian
Composers, the new pieces written especially for the accordion. Also he
introduced me to the industry, the history and the area of Italy I feel most at
home in, Ancona and Castelfidardo.
His continuous appearances, promotion, and
evolvement with the accordion won him the Golden Master Award, in the mid 90s,
to add to his World Championship status. He continually arranges music for his
free bass system, and his interpretations of the great masters works are truly a
treat for the accordionist, he effectually incurs great difficulty by using
unusual stradella moves, and innovative fingering, take the Gazza LLadra, his
arrangement of Air on a G String, Flight of the Bumblebee, and numerous other
transcriptions. Also great value in learning his Professional Excercise and
Scale Manuals specially written to develop fingering, technique, you can see by
these works his own very roots of learning, his fathers indoctrination of the
ritual of scales.
This quiet, unassuming character, has given
to the accordion world, an extraordinary wealth, his profound knowledge of the
accordion, his sheer musicianship, and his love of both the industry, his roots,
his fellow artistes and his audiences all over the world makes this Maestro very
special indeed. A Royal Ambassador for his instrument and his country.
This has been a pleasure to
recall. Gina.
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Our families have spent many happy hours in
the Company of Gervasio and Lucia Marcosignori and their family, and those hours
have been the most special in all our lives.
Gina, Norman, Flo and Jack
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