Liscio

Liscio or ballo liscio ("smooth" or "smooth dance" respectively in Italian) is a genre of music originating in the 19th century in the northern Italian region of Romagna under the influence of Viennese ballroom dances including the mazurka, waltz, polka, schottische, march. It later became popular and spread to the rest of the country. The accordion, which was also a 19th-century invention, features prominently. The tradition contrasts with older Italian folk dances in which the fiddle was the primary instrument.[1]

Ballo liscio in California

Italian immigrants to San Francisco, California brought the liscio tradition to California in the early 1900s. Central to the California tradition are mandolin, accordion, and guitar, sometimes supplemented by violin and double bass. The ballroom music of Italian immigrants underwent a strong Latin American influence by the 1950s.[2] The repertoire of California ballo liscio musicians is diverse, including uniquely Italian dances like the tarantella; pan-European round dance forms; the American foxtrot; the Spanish jota and paso doble; the Latin American rhumba; and the Caribbean beguine.[3][4]

Several bands continue to play ballo liscio repertoire in California, including the bands Zighi Baci & Mazurka Madness which both play regularly at Caffe Trieste in North Beach,[5][6] Caffe Acustico,[7] Paul & Emily,[8] the Hot Frittatas,[9] the Graventsein Mandolin Ensemble,[10] and Gus Garelick.[11]

See also

References
  1. Falconi, Bernardo; Grasso, Giuliano; Venier, Giulio (2007). How to Play Italian Fiddle (English ed.). Milano: Associazione Violinstica Italiana. pp. 3–4, 30.
  2. "Mattinata di Mandolini". Caffe Trieste. Caffe Trieste. Retrieved 14 September 2018.
  3. Mignano Crawford, Sheri F. (2008). Mandolin Melodies (3rd ed.). Petaluma: Zighi Baci. pp. 1–16. ISBN 978-0976372233.
  4. Mignano Crawford, Sheri F (2005). Mandolins, Like Salami. Petaluma: Zighi Baci. ISBN 978-0976372202.
  5. "The Music of Caffe Trieste". Caffe Trieste. Caffe Trieste. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  6. "Mazurka Madness". Mazurka Madness. Mazurka Madness. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  7. "Welcome to Bruce Zweig's Web Site". Bruce Zweig. Bruce Zweig. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  8. "Paul & Emily". RHYTHM RANGELLERS. RHYTHM RANGELLERS. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  9. "Hot Frittatas". Bay Music & Entertainment. Bay Music & Entertainment. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  10. "March | Do Dates Calendar". SonomaWest.com. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
  11. "Gus Garelick". Gus Garelick. LinkedIn. Retrieved 24 August 2018.

Category:Italian music Category:Music of California Category:Music of the San Francisco Bay Area


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