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Carlos Curti

Carlo Curti (May 6, 1859 – 1922), also known as Carlos Curti, was an Italian musician, composer and bandleader. He moved to the United States whose most lasting contribution to American society was popularizing the mandolin in American music by starting a national "grass-roots mandolin orchestra craze" (that lasted from 1880 until the 1920s).

He also contributed to Mexican society in 1884 by creating one of Mexico's oldest orchestras, the Mexican Typical Orchestra. The orchestra under his leadership represented Mexico at the New Orleans Cotton Exhibition. As with his Spanish Students, Curti dressed his Mexican band in costumes, choosing the charro cowboy outfit. The patriotic value of having Mexico represented on the international stage gave a boost to mariachi bands (which had normally been repressed by social elites); the mariachis began using charro outfits as Curti's orchestra had done, expressing pride in being Mexican. Curti's Orquestra Típica Mexicana has been called the "predecessor of the Mariachi bands."

He was an orchestra leader, composer, educator at the Conservatorio Nacional de Música (Mexican National Conservatory of Music), xylophonist, violinist, mandolinist and author of a mandolin method. He directed the orchestra at the New York's Waldorf-Astoria hotel in his later career.

Also known as a composer of zarzuelas and dance music, among his most noted tunes are "La Tipica" and "Flower of Mexico". His brother was harpist Giovanni (Juan or John) Curti, who also was a member of his orchestra.

Birth and Death Data: Born May 6, 1859 (Gallicchio), Died May 8, 1922 (Mexico City)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1902 - 1948

Roles Represented in DAHR: leader, composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Columbia 5408 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Sonrisa de ángel Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5410 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Amor : Vals Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5412 10-in. 1904 or 1905 1 Diciembre 1904 Curti's Band Band leader  
Columbia 5413 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Vals poético Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble, with clarinet solo leader  
Columbia 5414 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Pantomima acuática : Polka campaña Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia 5415 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Las hijas de Eva Curti's Orchestra Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5416 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Cavatina F. Governale Instrumental ensemble, with violin solo leader  
Columbia 5417 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Tipical girl Columbia Mexican Band Band composer, leader  
Columbia 5419 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Himno nacional mexicano Banda de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5421 10-in. 1904 or 1905 El diablito : La flor de México (Polka) Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia 5423 10-in. 1904 or 1905 El bateo : Paso doble Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5441 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Te amo : Danza Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5444 10-in. 1904 or 1905 Himno nacional del Peru Curti's Band Band leader  
Columbia 5451 10-in. 1905 or 1906 Los cocineros : Jota Banda Española [Orquesta Mexicana de Curti] Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5452 10-in. 1905 or 1906 Los parranderos Banda Española [Orquesta Mexicana de Curti] Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5454 10-in. 1905 or 1906 Fuentes Banda Española [Orquesta Mexicana de Curti] Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5455 10-in. 1905 or 1906 A los toros Banda Española [Orquesta Mexicana de Curti] Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 5661 10-in. 1907 The good man Banda Española Band composer  
Columbia 5665 10-in. 1907 El gondolero Banda Española Band composer  
Columbia 5679 10-in. 1907 La matchicha (A la francesa) Banda Española [Orquesta Mexicana de Curti] Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 21579 10-in. approximately June 1912 Adiós, México : Danza Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia 21580 10-in. approximately June 1912 Carmelita : Polka de concierto Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia 21581 10-in. approximately June 1912 El novio de tacha : Gavota Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader  
Columbia 21582 10-in. approximately June 1912 En mi aldea : Serenata Trío Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
Columbia 21644 10-in. 1912 Los solterones : Marcha two-step Orquesta Mexicana de Curti Instrumental ensemble leader, composer  
(Results 26-50 of 52 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Curti, Carlos," accessed April 26, 2024, https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114033.

Curti, Carlos. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved April 26, 2024, from https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114033.

"Curti, Carlos." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 26 April 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adp.library.ucsb.edu/names/114033

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