Simone Mantia
Encyclopedia
Simone Mantia was an American baritone horn
/euphonium
virtuoso and also trombone
artist at the turn of the twentieth century. He was both a performer and administrator with many American band and orchestral ensembles. On baritone/euphonium he is often cited as the master of the instrument in his time.
, Sicily
. In 1890, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States
along with his family. He would spend much of his life in and around New York
, performing in many ensembles and also teaching privately. In later years, he resided with his wife in a very small New York
apartment. Simone Mantia died on 25 June 1951 in Flushing New York. He was survived by his wife.
Mantia is remembered by his students as “very kind, very modest, and very unassuming” as well as just generally having been a “nice guy” who rarely allowed any frustration or anger to enter into his demeanor. He suffered from a speech deficit, though what portion of that may have been merely accent is not well documented.
masters, playing alto horn
at the age of 9. At age 12, he started lessons on valve trombone and the larger baritone horn
. By the time he arrived in New York, he played with sufficient proficiency to earn a living in music. He jobbed initially with groups including the Jules Levy
and Schneider Bands on baritone
/euphonium
and the Brooklyn Opera on valve trombone – switching to slide trombone in only a week when so required to keep the gig.
In 1895, he replaced Josef Michele Rafayollo, with whom he had been studying, as soloist with the Sousa Band. This was the first nationally known ensemble he performed with, and one of only two in which he played euphonium
primarily. As a trombonist, he later took jobs with other nationally ranked ensembles including New York’s Metropolitan Opera
, which he joined in 1908 and remained involved with for 37 years. He also played trombone
with The New York Philharmonic
, The NBC Symphony, The Chicago Lyric Opera, The Philadelphia Grand Opera, Victor Herbert’s Orchestra, and the Arthur Pryor
Band in which he primarily served as baritone
/euphonium
soloist and assistant director (often referred to as Pryor’s “second in command”)
Mantia held many jobs in music beyond that of performer. He left the Sousa
band with Arthur Pryor
to help Pryor found and run his group. He served as manager for the Metropolitan Opera
for many years. Like all performers, he also took private students, though a student recalled him as “not very good at all” when it came to teaching those less gifted than himself.
Simone Mantia was the first master of euphonium
to work in the era of recorded sound. As a result, he left a legacy of recordings that have been reproduced into the twenty-first century. He recorded as euphonium
soloist on several Sousa and Pryor band recordings. He also soloed with the NBC Symphony on recordings as a trombonist. He recorded primarily on the Edison Records
and Victor Talking Machine labels. His recorded legacy extends even to YouTube
where a recording of Mantia playing a euphonium
solo titled Priscilla, which he wrote and dedicated to Sousa’s daughter of the same name, can be heard.
In addition to performing and managing, Mantia also composed and arranged. His solos include “The Southerner”, “Priscilla”, “Fantaisie Original”, and the oft-parodied by Loony Tunes “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms”.
His diversity of musical endeavor as well as his fame as a soloist lead to C.G. Conn Ltd., a maker of brass instruments, taking him on as a sponsored artist. Conn
built a number of American style euphonium
s, sold as baritone
s, that were structurally a mix of baritone
and euphonium
, one of which Mantia would continue to play for the rest of his life.
, in a land dominated by the continental baritone horn
instrument and style. Mantia crossed over between the continental sound and that of the classic British brass band
euphonium
. Unlike the next Italian Maestro on baritone to emigrate to the US, Leonard Falcone
, he did not care for the vibrato
and other aspects of this particular sound and rebelled, refusing to play with any vibrato
at all. Playing on an American baritone, and mixing the warmth and power of the sounds of his homeland with the clarity and lack of excess that he favored, Mantia was truly unique.
At times, Mantia would adjust the timbre
of his instrument to match the demands of the part. While with the Sousa and Pryor bands, Mantia had favored a double-bell euphonium, the lesser bell of which being on a much more cylindrical extension of the bore, produced a more baritone
-like, or even trombone
-like timbre
.
While not caring for vibrato
and other ornamentation of the sound, Mantia added fire and excitement to his performance through improvisation, adding notes and runs, jumping octave
s, and playing faster than anyone else. Arthur Lehman
described one section of Fantaisie Original as played by Mantia as consisting of “twice as many notes as I have written on the part”. He was able to articulate remarkably fast, and an apocryphal story survives that his widow later claimed that Mantia did not even know how to triple-tongue. This would make his high-speed antics challenging if not impossible.
Many nineteenth century brass band
instruments without orchestral roles slipped into obscurity in the early to mid twentieth century, slide cornet, cornet
, alto horn
, tenor horn, and flugelhorn
among them. The baritone
and it’s dominant cousin the euphonium
are unique as non-orchestral brass that remain in the concert band
. Mantia’s role in popularizing the instrument as a virtuoso
, followed by Leonard Falcone
, Arthur W. Lehman
, Brian Bowman
, Toru Miura (Musician)
, Steven Mead
, and others is considered significant.
. Once Arthur Pryor
left the Sousa Band and started his own, Mantia became indispensable as a soloist. Pryor would often elect not to perform and it fell to Mantia to cover the solo responsibility in his stead. He continued in this role through at least 1917.
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
/euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
virtuoso and also trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
artist at the turn of the twentieth century. He was both a performer and administrator with many American band and orchestral ensembles. On baritone/euphonium he is often cited as the master of the instrument in his time.
Life
Simone Mantia was born on 6 February 1873 in PalermoPalermo
Palermo is a city in Southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Province of Palermo. The city is noted for its history, culture, architecture and gastronomy, playing an important role throughout much of its existence; it is over 2,700 years old...
, Sicily
Sicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
. In 1890, at the age of 17, he immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
along with his family. He would spend much of his life in and around New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
, performing in many ensembles and also teaching privately. In later years, he resided with his wife in a very small New York
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
apartment. Simone Mantia died on 25 June 1951 in Flushing New York. He was survived by his wife.
Mantia is remembered by his students as “very kind, very modest, and very unassuming” as well as just generally having been a “nice guy” who rarely allowed any frustration or anger to enter into his demeanor. He suffered from a speech deficit, though what portion of that may have been merely accent is not well documented.
Career in music
Simone Mantia began, like many Italian baritoneBaritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
masters, playing alto horn
Alto horn
The alto horn is a brass instrument pitched in E...
at the age of 9. At age 12, he started lessons on valve trombone and the larger baritone horn
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
. By the time he arrived in New York, he played with sufficient proficiency to earn a living in music. He jobbed initially with groups including the Jules Levy
Jules Levy
Jules Levy was a cornetist, teacher, and composer.Born in London, England, he reportedly began his study of the cornet with only its mouthpiece; his family could not afford the instrument itself. After immigrating to the United States, he began a significant musical career as a cornet soloist and...
and Schneider Bands on baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
/euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
and the Brooklyn Opera on valve trombone – switching to slide trombone in only a week when so required to keep the gig.
In 1895, he replaced Josef Michele Rafayollo, with whom he had been studying, as soloist with the Sousa Band. This was the first nationally known ensemble he performed with, and one of only two in which he played euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
primarily. As a trombonist, he later took jobs with other nationally ranked ensembles including New York’s Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
, which he joined in 1908 and remained involved with for 37 years. He also played trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
with The New York Philharmonic
New York Philharmonic
The New York Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra based in New York City in the United States. It is one of the American orchestras commonly referred to as the "Big Five"...
, The NBC Symphony, The Chicago Lyric Opera, The Philadelphia Grand Opera, Victor Herbert’s Orchestra, and the Arthur Pryor
Arthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
Band in which he primarily served as baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
/euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
soloist and assistant director (often referred to as Pryor’s “second in command”)
Mantia held many jobs in music beyond that of performer. He left the Sousa
John Philip Sousa
John Philip Sousa was an American composer and conductor of the late Romantic era, known particularly for American military and patriotic marches. Because of his mastery of march composition, he is known as "The March King" or the "American March King" due to his British counterpart Kenneth J....
band with Arthur Pryor
Arthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
to help Pryor found and run his group. He served as manager for the Metropolitan Opera
Metropolitan Opera
The Metropolitan Opera is an opera company, located in New York City. Originally founded in 1880, the company gave its first performance on October 22, 1883. The company is operated by the non-profit Metropolitan Opera Association, with Peter Gelb as general manager...
for many years. Like all performers, he also took private students, though a student recalled him as “not very good at all” when it came to teaching those less gifted than himself.
Simone Mantia was the first master of euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
to work in the era of recorded sound. As a result, he left a legacy of recordings that have been reproduced into the twenty-first century. He recorded as euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
soloist on several Sousa and Pryor band recordings. He also soloed with the NBC Symphony on recordings as a trombonist. He recorded primarily on the Edison Records
Edison Records
Edison Records was one of the earliest record labels which pioneered recorded sound and was an important player in the early recording industry.- Early phonographs before commercial mass produced records :...
and Victor Talking Machine labels. His recorded legacy extends even to YouTube
YouTube
YouTube is a video-sharing website, created by three former PayPal employees in February 2005, on which users can upload, view and share videos....
where a recording of Mantia playing a euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
solo titled Priscilla, which he wrote and dedicated to Sousa’s daughter of the same name, can be heard.
In addition to performing and managing, Mantia also composed and arranged. His solos include “The Southerner”, “Priscilla”, “Fantaisie Original”, and the oft-parodied by Loony Tunes “Believe Me If All Those Endearing Young Charms”.
His diversity of musical endeavor as well as his fame as a soloist lead to C.G. Conn Ltd., a maker of brass instruments, taking him on as a sponsored artist. Conn
C. G. Conn
C.G. Conn Ltd., sometimes called Conn Instruments or commonly just Conn, was a United States manufacturer of musical instruments, especially brass instruments. In 1985 their Strobotuner division was bought by Peterson Electro-Musical Products, who continue to service their line of products.Assets...
built a number of American style euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
s, sold as baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
s, that were structurally a mix of baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
and euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
, one of which Mantia would continue to play for the rest of his life.
Baritone / Euphonium
Simone Mantia began his playing career in SicilySicily
Sicily is a region of Italy, and is the largest island in the Mediterranean Sea. Along with the surrounding minor islands, it constitutes an autonomous region of Italy, the Regione Autonoma Siciliana Sicily has a rich and unique culture, especially with regard to the arts, music, literature,...
, in a land dominated by the continental baritone horn
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
instrument and style. Mantia crossed over between the continental sound and that of the classic British brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
. Unlike the next Italian Maestro on baritone to emigrate to the US, Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone was best known as Professor of Baritone and Euphonium at Michigan State University where he also served from 1927 to 1967 as Director of Bands. The school's Spartan Marching Band transitioned from an ROTC auxiliary to a nationally known Big-10 conference marching band during his...
, he did not care for the vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
and other aspects of this particular sound and rebelled, refusing to play with any vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
at all. Playing on an American baritone, and mixing the warmth and power of the sounds of his homeland with the clarity and lack of excess that he favored, Mantia was truly unique.
At times, Mantia would adjust the timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
of his instrument to match the demands of the part. While with the Sousa and Pryor bands, Mantia had favored a double-bell euphonium, the lesser bell of which being on a much more cylindrical extension of the bore, produced a more baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
-like, or even trombone
Trombone
The trombone is a musical instrument in the brass family. Like all brass instruments, sound is produced when the player’s vibrating lips cause the air column inside the instrument to vibrate...
-like timbre
Timbre
In music, timbre is the quality of a musical note or sound or tone that distinguishes different types of sound production, such as voices and musical instruments, such as string instruments, wind instruments, and percussion instruments. The physical characteristics of sound that determine the...
.
While not caring for vibrato
Vibrato
Vibrato is a musical effect consisting of a regular, pulsating change of pitch. It is used to add expression to vocal and instrumental music. Vibrato is typically characterised in terms of two factors: the amount of pitch variation and the speed with which the pitch is varied .-Vibrato and...
and other ornamentation of the sound, Mantia added fire and excitement to his performance through improvisation, adding notes and runs, jumping octave
Octave
In music, an octave is the interval between one musical pitch and another with half or double its frequency. The octave relationship is a natural phenomenon that has been referred to as the "basic miracle of music", the use of which is "common in most musical systems"...
s, and playing faster than anyone else. Arthur Lehman
Arthur W. Lehman
Arthur W. 'Art' Lehman was a widely recorded American Euphonium virtuoso and soloist. He was noted for having radically changed the way the instrument was technically performed, and was a major influence on Euphonium soloists who followed him.Lehman retired as Euphonium soloist and section leader...
described one section of Fantaisie Original as played by Mantia as consisting of “twice as many notes as I have written on the part”. He was able to articulate remarkably fast, and an apocryphal story survives that his widow later claimed that Mantia did not even know how to triple-tongue. This would make his high-speed antics challenging if not impossible.
Many nineteenth century brass band
Brass band
A brass band is a musical ensemble generally consisting entirely of brass instruments, most often with a percussion section. Ensembles that include brass and woodwind instruments can in certain traditions also be termed brass bands , but are usually more correctly termed military bands, concert...
instruments without orchestral roles slipped into obscurity in the early to mid twentieth century, slide cornet, cornet
Cornet
The cornet is a brass instrument very similar to the trumpet, distinguished by its conical bore, compact shape, and mellower tone quality. The most common cornet is a transposing instrument in B. It is not related to the renaissance and early baroque cornett or cornetto.-History:The cornet was...
, alto horn
Alto horn
The alto horn is a brass instrument pitched in E...
, tenor horn, and flugelhorn
Flugelhorn
The flugelhorn is a brass instrument resembling a trumpet but with a wider, conical bore. Some consider it to be a member of the saxhorn family developed by Adolphe Sax ; however, other historians assert that it derives from the valve bugle designed by Michael Saurle , Munich 1832 , thus...
among them. The baritone
Baritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
and it’s dominant cousin the euphonium
Euphonium
The euphonium is a conical-bore, tenor-voiced brass instrument. It derives its name from the Greek word euphonos, meaning "well-sounding" or "sweet-voiced"...
are unique as non-orchestral brass that remain in the concert band
Concert band
A concert band, also called wind band, symphonic band, symphonic winds, wind orchestra, wind symphony, wind ensemble, or symphonic wind ensemble, is a performing ensemble consisting of several members of the woodwind instrument family, brass instrument family, and percussion instrument family.A...
. Mantia’s role in popularizing the instrument as a virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
, followed by Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone
Leonard Falcone was best known as Professor of Baritone and Euphonium at Michigan State University where he also served from 1927 to 1967 as Director of Bands. The school's Spartan Marching Band transitioned from an ROTC auxiliary to a nationally known Big-10 conference marching band during his...
, Arthur W. Lehman
Arthur W. Lehman
Arthur W. 'Art' Lehman was a widely recorded American Euphonium virtuoso and soloist. He was noted for having radically changed the way the instrument was technically performed, and was a major influence on Euphonium soloists who followed him.Lehman retired as Euphonium soloist and section leader...
, Brian Bowman
Brian Bowman
Brian Bowman is a euphonium professor, performer and recording artist notable for having sat lead euphonium in the premier bands of both the United States Navy and the United States Air Force as well as having performed the first euphonium recital at Carnegie Hall.-Education:Brian Bowman was born...
, Toru Miura (Musician)
Toru Miura (musician)
is a euphonium player and professor at Kunitachi College of Music. He is a founding member of the International Tuba Euphonium Association , formerly named Tubist Universal Brotherhood Association .-Education:...
, Steven Mead
Steven Mead
Steven Mead is an English virtuoso euphonium soloist and teacher who has played an important role in achieving worldwide recognition of the instrument....
, and others is considered significant.
Trombone
Mantia learned to play a used slide trombone in place of valve in only 5 days to keep his job with the Brooklyn Opera. He found at least as much, if not more, work as a trombonist as he did playing baritoneBaritone horn
The baritone horn is a member of the brass instrument family. The baritone horn has a predominantly cylindrical bore as do the trumpet and trombone. A baritone horn uses a large mouthpiece much like those of a trombone or euphonium, although it is a bit smaller. Some baritone mouthpieces will sink...
. Once Arthur Pryor
Arthur Pryor
Arthur Willard Pryor was a trombone virtuoso, bandleader, and soloist with the Sousa Band. In later life, he was an American Democratic Party politician from New Jersey, who served on the Monmouth County, New Jersey Board of Chosen Freeholders during the 1930s.Pryor was born on the second floor of...
left the Sousa Band and started his own, Mantia became indispensable as a soloist. Pryor would often elect not to perform and it fell to Mantia to cover the solo responsibility in his stead. He continued in this role through at least 1917.