[PDF] Core 'ngrato / Salvatore Cardillo, arr. Cosimo Bombardieri [Concert Band (Wind Band)]

Lyric by Riccardo Cordiferro
Music by Salvatore Cardillo
Arranged by Cosimo Bombardieri

Duration：3'40"

Publisher：Golden Hearts Publications（ONSA）

Program notes:

Riccardo Cordiferro, the pseudonym of Antonio Scarfoglio, was an Italian-American poet, journalist, and playwright, born in 1878 in Castelmezzano, Basilicata, and passed away in 1940. Cordiferro is a significant figure in the history of Italian-American literature and the Italian immigrant theater in the United States.

In his works, Cordiferro addressed social issues such as discrimination, economic hardship, and nostalgia for Italy. He was known for his satirical and dramatic style. He wrote poetry and plays that depicted the struggles of the working class, the lives of immigrants, and social injustices.

A notable example of his civic engagement is his opposition to the exploitation of immigrant labor, a theme that surfaces in many of his works.

Riccardo Cordiferro is remembered for giving a voice to a generation of Italian immigrants who sought to build new lives in a country often hostile to them, making a significant contribution to Italian-American culture.

Salvatore Cardillo was born in Naples in 1874 and passed away in New York in 1947. He is primarily known for composing the famous Neapolitan song "Core 'ngrato" (Ungrateful Heart), which has become one of the most celebrated and beloved pieces in the Neapolitan song repertoire.

He studied at the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples, where he received a solid classical music education.

He began his career as a composer of Neapolitan songs, a genre that was very popular at the time.

"Core 'ngrato": This song, written in 1911 with lyrics by Riccardo Cordiferro, quickly became an international success. It was made famous by the tenor Enrico Caruso, who performed it in many of his concerts.

Neapolitan song represents an important chapter in the history of Italian and world music. This musical genre, born and developed in Naples, has a rich tradition that has its roots in the 18th century, but reached its peak of popularity between the late 19th and early 20th centuries.
The origins of Neapolitan song date back to the popular arias and villanelles of the 16th and 17th centuries. The lyrics are in Neapolitan dialect, contributing to their uniqueness and cultural identity with recurring themes that include love, nostalgia, the beauty of Naples and its gulf, and everyday life.

From Golden Hearts Publications:

The “Core 'ngrato” is a Neapolitan song composed by Salvatore Cardillo and lyrics by Riccardo Cordiferro.

It was also sung by Jose Carreras in the “Three Great Tenors of the Century,” in which world-famous tenors Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo, and Luciano Pavarotti performed it. It is a famous song sung by many tenors.

This time, it is arranged for “vocal and wind band” by Italian conductor and composer Cosimo Bombardieri, and the parts are included so that the vocal part (in Italian) can be substituted for “in Bb”, “in Eb”, and “in C (B.C.)” instruments.

We hope you will take it up in your concert.

Reference music：

Score Sample：

Instrumentation：
Piccolo
Flute 1
Flute 2
Oboe 1
Oboe 2
Bassoon 1
Bassoon 2
Clarinet (E Flat)
Clarinet (B Flat) 1
Clarinet (B Flat) 2
Clarinet (B Flat) 3
Bass Clarinet (B Flat)
Alto Saxophone 1
Alto Saxophone 2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Horn (F) 1
Horn (F) 2
Horn (F) 3
Horn (F) 4
Trumpet (B Flat) 1
Trumpet (B Flat) 2
Trumpet (B Flat) 3
Trombone 1
Trombone 2
Trombone 3
Euphonium (C) 
Bass Tuba
Double Bass
Timpani
Glockenspiel
Percussion
Voice 
Soloist in Bb (opt.)
Soloist in Eb (opt.)
Soloist in C Bass Key (opt.)