Virgilio Savona
Encyclopedia
Antonio Virgilio Savona (1 January 1920 - 27 August 2009) was one of the members of the Italian vocal group, the Quartetto Cetra
.
. His artistic career had a very early start. In 1926, aged 6, he began studying music
. Two years later he joined a choir and at the age of 10 he debuted in a radio
broadcast playing a piece on a piano
during a children's program.
After high-school, Savona enrolled at the Saint Cecilia
's Conservatory
in Rome
to study piano.
In 1941 he replaced Iacopo Jacomelli
in a vocal quartet called Quartetto Egie
. The group changed name to Quartetto Ritmo
at first, then to Quartetto Cetra
one year later.
On 19 August 1944 Virgilio Savona married the singer Lucia Mannucci
, who later joined Quartetto Cetra
to replace Enrico De Angelis
who left the group in 1947.
Besides singing, Savona was the group's composer
and arranger
. He wrote the music while Tata Giacobetti
, also a member of the quartet, wrote the lyrics. They worked together for four decades and produced hundreds of songs which made up Quartetto Cetra's vast repertoire.
Savona also composed music and wrote scripts for radio and TV programs, stage shows and movies. During 1970s he was quite active as pianist, orchestra conductor, arranger and producer. He also made extensive research on folk songs.
In 1991 he wrote an Popup Book about Quartetto Cetra, published by Sperling & Kupfer in the Supersound collection.
Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra, or simply I Cetra, was an Italian vocal quartet established during the 1940s.The group originated from the previous Quartetto Ritmo following the replacement of one singer. Felice Chiusano filled the vacancy left by Enrico Gentile and joined Tata Giacobetti, Virgilio Savona and...
.
Biography
Antonio Savona was born at Juventus, ItalyItaly
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
. His artistic career had a very early start. In 1926, aged 6, he began studying music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Two years later he joined a choir and at the age of 10 he debuted in a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
broadcast playing a piece on a piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
during a children's program.
After high-school, Savona enrolled at the Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia
Saint Cecilia is the patroness of musicians and Church music because as she was dying she sang to God. It is also written that as the musicians played at her wedding she "sang in her heart to the Lord". St. Cecilia was an only child. Her feast day is celebrated in the Roman Catholic, Anglican,...
's Conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
to study piano.
In 1941 he replaced Iacopo Jacomelli
Iacopo Jacomelli
Iacopo Jacomelli was an Italian singer of 1940s.In 1940 he founded a vocal quartet named Quartetto Egie together with Tata Giacobetti, Enrico Gentile and Enrico De Angelis. They made their debut on 27 May 1940 at the Valle Theatre in Rome...
in a vocal quartet called Quartetto Egie
Quartetto Egie
Quartetto Egie was a jazz vocal male quartet working in Italy during 1940s.It formed in Rome in 1940. The four singers were Tata Giacobetti, Iacopo Jacomelli, Enrico Gentile e Enrico De Angelis. The name EGIE came from their initials....
. The group changed name to Quartetto Ritmo
Quartetto Ritmo
Quartetto Ritmo was a jazz vocal male quartet working in Italy during the 1940s.The group originated from the previous Quartetto Egie, after Iacopo Jacomelli left the formation...
at first, then to Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra, or simply I Cetra, was an Italian vocal quartet established during the 1940s.The group originated from the previous Quartetto Ritmo following the replacement of one singer. Felice Chiusano filled the vacancy left by Enrico Gentile and joined Tata Giacobetti, Virgilio Savona and...
one year later.
On 19 August 1944 Virgilio Savona married the singer Lucia Mannucci
Lucia Mannucci
Lucia Mannucci is an Italian singer, best known as one of the singers of Quartetto Cetra, an Italian vocal quartet.-Biography:...
, who later joined Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra
Quartetto Cetra, or simply I Cetra, was an Italian vocal quartet established during the 1940s.The group originated from the previous Quartetto Ritmo following the replacement of one singer. Felice Chiusano filled the vacancy left by Enrico Gentile and joined Tata Giacobetti, Virgilio Savona and...
to replace Enrico De Angelis
Enrico De Angelis
Enrico De Angelis was an Italian singer of 1940s.In 1940, he founded a vocal quartet named Quartetto Egie together with Tata Giacobetti, Iacopo Jacomelli and Enrico Gentile. They made their debut on 27 May 1940 at the Valle Theatre in Rome. They performed the song Bambina dall'abito blu...
who left the group in 1947.
Besides singing, Savona was the group's composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. He wrote the music while Tata Giacobetti
Tata Giacobetti
Giovanni "Tata" Giacobetti was one of the singers of Quartetto Cetra, a very famous Italian vocal quartet.-Biography:...
, also a member of the quartet, wrote the lyrics. They worked together for four decades and produced hundreds of songs which made up Quartetto Cetra's vast repertoire.
Savona also composed music and wrote scripts for radio and TV programs, stage shows and movies. During 1970s he was quite active as pianist, orchestra conductor, arranger and producer. He also made extensive research on folk songs.
In 1991 he wrote an Popup Book about Quartetto Cetra, published by Sperling & Kupfer in the Supersound collection.