Our story left off on Day 2, and now it’s evening.
After dinner (every meal was 5-6 courses – I had to learn not to fill up on the delicious 1st course, or 2nd or…), Franco presented me with a copy of this book, which I had been hoping to get. Edited by Simona Boni and featuring a host of experts on various Italian guitarists, it offers (in Italian only, unfortunately) a wealth of priceless information on the historical Italian classical guitar movement (much of it harp guitars, of course) – spearheaded by Romolo Ferrari, President of the International Union of Guitarists (himself also a harp guitarist).
Once back at our hotel, I went to bed drooling over the many new photos, including:
Ferrari in 1930 with his Mozzani harp guitar with 4, rather than the usual 3, basses
This early mandolin orchestra photo includes 4 harp guitarists, including Ferrari with a different dual-arm Mozzani
Ferrari in 1959 with the 4-bass instrument
Ferrari’s son, Ivano, with Dad’s harp guitar
Federico Galimberti, from a record catalog
Note he is not playing his known Mozzani harp guitar, but instead an early Maccaferri
And a young Maccaferri himself, with his very cool “practice harp guitar”
A beautiful and distinctive harp guitar built Luigi Digiuni, a new luthier for the list
Cesare Lutzemberger, with his Mozzani harp guitar
This is Ugo Mori, with a very small terz Mozzani
Guerriero Spataffi, with 2 Mozzani’s lurking in the shop of ?, waiting to be finished and strung.
Mozzani, himself, later in life
Mozzani’s pupil, Sara Stegnani
This instrument is now owned by the book’s editor, Simona Boni
Needless to say, during my first night in this magical city, I had the most amazing dreams!
