Ciribiribin
Encyclopedia
"Ciribiribin" is a merry Italian ballad in three quarter time, composed by Alberto Pestalozza
in 1898 with lyrics by Carlo Tiochet. . It quickly became popular and has come to be recorded by many artists. The distinguishing feature of the song is repeated use of the five note phrase that forms the song name. In the lyrics the name is always given the pronunciation “chiribiribee”. This allows singers to hold the vowel at the end as long as they like, giving their performance great flair and drama.
In the same way the song is a spectacular natural for the trumpet. By the 1920s it had become such a solo piece for that instrument that if a boy was invited to play in a variety show in those days it was a safe bet this would be the song he played.
It was the favorite song of Harry James
, who grew up in that period. He studied trumpet rigorously from the age of ten under his father, the band leader for a circus, and no doubt knew every trumpet piece in the book. When he arrived at the peak of the swing music world in the Benny Goodman
band and had a chance to display his virtuosity as a soloist, it was this tune that he chose. His lyrical expression, his mastery of the triple-tongue and his ability to reach high notes set his performance apart from anything the public had heard out of a trumpet until then. The fame arising from the record he cut of Ciribiribin with Goodman gave him the courage to launch his own band in February 1939, and he naturally chose it as his theme song.
Shortly after starting his band James found Frank Sinatra
singing in a local night club in New Jersey and hired him as a singer. They recorded 10 songs on the Brunswick label (remastered and reissued by Columbia in 1995) before Tommy Dorsey
lured Sinatra away. One of those songs was “Ciribiribin.”
It is said that when James hired Sinatra he urged him to assume the name "Frank Satin", which did not divulge the singer's Italian heritage, but that Sinatra refused. (He must surely have known that the word is usually sung “chiribiribee” in English, but on their recording of Ciribiribin, Sinatra pronounced the final “n” in the song name, following the spelling in the text.)
Grace Moore
famously recorded the song with Willem Mengelberg
and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1936.
Artists who have recorded the song in Italian include Mario Lanza
, Claudio Villa
, and Renato Carosone
.
The song is that which Warren Beatty
's character essays on the clarinet in the 1978 motion picture Heaven Can Wait
.
Alberto Pestalozza
Alberto Pestalozza composed and published a popular Italian song, "Ciribiribin", in 1898.Born and died in Turin.-References:* *...
in 1898 with lyrics by Carlo Tiochet. . It quickly became popular and has come to be recorded by many artists. The distinguishing feature of the song is repeated use of the five note phrase that forms the song name. In the lyrics the name is always given the pronunciation “chiribiribee”. This allows singers to hold the vowel at the end as long as they like, giving their performance great flair and drama.
In the same way the song is a spectacular natural for the trumpet. By the 1920s it had become such a solo piece for that instrument that if a boy was invited to play in a variety show in those days it was a safe bet this would be the song he played.
It was the favorite song of Harry James
Harry James
Henry Haag “Harry” James was a trumpeter who led a jazz swing band during the Big Band Era of the 1930s and 1940s. He was especially known among musicians for his astonishing technical proficiency as well as his superior tone.-Biography:He was born in Albany, Georgia, the son of a bandleader of a...
, who grew up in that period. He studied trumpet rigorously from the age of ten under his father, the band leader for a circus, and no doubt knew every trumpet piece in the book. When he arrived at the peak of the swing music world in the Benny Goodman
Benny Goodman
Benjamin David “Benny” Goodman was an American jazz and swing musician, clarinetist and bandleader; widely known as the "King of Swing".In the mid-1930s, Benny Goodman led one of the most popular musical groups in America...
band and had a chance to display his virtuosity as a soloist, it was this tune that he chose. His lyrical expression, his mastery of the triple-tongue and his ability to reach high notes set his performance apart from anything the public had heard out of a trumpet until then. The fame arising from the record he cut of Ciribiribin with Goodman gave him the courage to launch his own band in February 1939, and he naturally chose it as his theme song.
Shortly after starting his band James found Frank Sinatra
Frank Sinatra
Francis Albert "Frank" Sinatra was an American singer and actor.Beginning his musical career in the swing era with Harry James and Tommy Dorsey, Sinatra became an unprecedentedly successful solo artist in the early to mid-1940s, after being signed to Columbia Records in 1943. Being the idol of the...
singing in a local night club in New Jersey and hired him as a singer. They recorded 10 songs on the Brunswick label (remastered and reissued by Columbia in 1995) before Tommy Dorsey
Tommy Dorsey
Thomas Francis "Tommy" Dorsey, Jr. was an American jazz trombonist, trumpeter, composer, and bandleader of the Big Band era. He was known as "The Sentimental Gentleman of Swing", due to his smooth-toned trombone playing. He was the younger brother of bandleader Jimmy Dorsey...
lured Sinatra away. One of those songs was “Ciribiribin.”
It is said that when James hired Sinatra he urged him to assume the name "Frank Satin", which did not divulge the singer's Italian heritage, but that Sinatra refused. (He must surely have known that the word is usually sung “chiribiribee” in English, but on their recording of Ciribiribin, Sinatra pronounced the final “n” in the song name, following the spelling in the text.)
Grace Moore
Grace Moore
Grace Moore was an American operatic soprano and actress in musical theatre and film. She was nicknamed the "Tennessee Nightingale." Her films helped to popularize opera by bringing it to a larger audience.-Early life:...
famously recorded the song with Willem Mengelberg
Willem Mengelberg
Joseph Willem Mengelberg was a Dutch conductor, famous for his performances of Mahler and Strauss with the Concertgebouw Orchestra.- Biography :...
and the Concertgebouw Orchestra in 1936.
Artists who have recorded the song in Italian include Mario Lanza
Mario Lanza
right|thumb|[[MGM]] still, circa 1949Mario Lanza was an American tenor and Hollywood movie star of the late 1940s and the 1950s. The son of Italian emigrants, he began studying to be a professional singer at the age of 16....
, Claudio Villa
Claudio Villa (singer)
Claudio Villa, byname of Claudio Pica , was an Italian singer.-Biography:Tenor Claudio Villa was born Claudio Pica in the Trastevere quarter of Rome in 1926. He recorded over 3000 songs, sold 45 million records, and appeared in 25 musicals during his career...
, and Renato Carosone
Renato Carosone
Renato Carosone , born Renato Carusone, was among the greatest figures of Italian music scene in the second half of the 20th century. He was also a modern performer of the so-called canzone napoletana, Naples' song tradition.-Beginnings:Carosone was born in Naples...
.
The song is that which Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty
Warren Beatty born March 30, 1937) is an American actor, producer, screenwriter and director. He has received a total of fourteen Academy Award nominations, winning one for Best Director in 1982. He has also won four Golden Globe Awards including the Cecil B. DeMille Award.-Early life and...
's character essays on the clarinet in the 1978 motion picture Heaven Can Wait
Heaven Can Wait (1978 film)
Heaven Can Wait is a 1978 American comedy film directed by Warren Beatty and Buck Henry. It is the second film adaptation of Harry Segall's stageplay of the same name, preceded by Here Comes Mr. Jordan and followed by Down to Earth...
.