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Gaetano Braga

Gaetano Braga (June 9, 1829 – November 21, 1907) was an Italian composer and cellist.

He was born in Giulianova in Abruzzi and died in Milan.

Braga's works include compositions for the cello (two concertos, a quintet, a quartet, works for cello and piano) and the operas:

  • Alina or La spregiata (1853, Naples)
  • Estella di San Germano (1857, Vienna)
  • Il ritratto (1858, Naples)
  • Margherita la mendicante (1859, Paris)
  • Mormile (1862, Milan)
  • Ruy Blas (1868)
  • Reginella (1871, Lecco)
  • Caligola (1873, Lisbon)

A "Serenata" (serenade) by Braga, sometimes called "Angel's Serenade" or "Légende valaque" (Wallachian Legend), is a dialogue (comparable to that in "Erlkönig") between a worried mother and a girl who hears an angel's voice calling her; in the end the girl follows the voice ("O mamma buona notte, io seguo il suon, io seguo il suon!"). It is mentioned in Anton Chekhov's short story "The Black Monk," as well as in other Russian works of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As composed, the narrator sings the voice of the mother and girl, while the angel's voice is portrayed through the violin or cello. In the original print, the string player was instructed to play from an adjoining room from the pianist and singer, in order to create the effect of a distant angelic voice. Braga's "Angel's Serenade" has been recorded notably by tenor John McCormack and violinist Fritz Kreisler (in English), Jan Peerce and Mischa Elman (in English), Christian Ketter and Cara Schlecker (in Italian), Richard Tauber and Dajos Bela (in German).

Birth and Death Data: Born June 9, 1829 (Giulianova), Died November 21, 1907 (Milan)

Date Range of DAHR Recordings: 1900 - 1933

Roles Represented in DAHR: composer

= Recordings are available for online listening.
= Recordings were issued from this master. No recordings issued from other masters.

Recordings (Results 1-25 of 78 records)

Company Matrix No. Size First Recording Date Title Primary Performer Description Role Audio
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]548 7-in. 12/4/1900 Angel's serenade Rosalia Chalia Soprano vocal solo, with flute obbligato composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1279 10-in. 2/21/1902 Angel's serenade Alexander Heindl Cello solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1279 7-in. 2/21/1902 Angel's serenade Alexander Heindl Cello solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1896 10-in. 1/14/1903 Angel's serenade Alexander Heindl Cello solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1896 7-in. 1/14/1903 Angel's serenade Alexander Heindl Cello solo composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix B-]1991 10-in. 2/26/1903 Angel's serenade Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor [Pre-matrix A-]1991 7-in. 2/26/1903 Angel's serenade Metropolitan Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-2241 12-in. 2/14/1905 The angel's serenade Florence Hayward Female vocal solo, with orchestra and violin obbligato composer  
Victor B-2242 10-in. 2/14/1905 The angel's serenade Florence Hayward Female vocal solo, with flute composer  
Victor B-2581 10-in. 5/29/1905 Angel's serenade Valentine Abt Mandolin solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-3032 10-in. 1/24/1906 Angel's serenade Victor Orchestra Violin and viola duet, with orchestra (takes 1 and 2); violin and flute duet, with orchestra (take 3) composer  
Victor B-3780 10-in. 9/6/1906 Angel's serenade Sousa's Band Band composer  
Victor B-5063 10-in. 2/6/1908 Angel's serenade Victor E. Sorlin Cello solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-6520 10-in. 10/8/1908 Angel's serenade Louis Heine ; Howard Rattay Violin and cello duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor B-8121 10-in. 7/26/1911 Angel's serenade Elizabeth Wheeler Female vocal solo, with orchestra and violin obbligato composer  
Victor C-8121 12-in. 7/19/1909 Angel's serenade Elizabeth Wheeler Female vocal solo, with orchestra and violin obbligato composer  
Victor B-8797 10-in. 4/5/1910 Angel's serenade Walter Anderton Male vocal solo, with orchestra and flute obbligato composer  
Victor B-10674 10-in. 7/5/1911 Angel's serenade Charles Schuetze Harp solo composer  
Victor B-11015 10-in. 9/27/1911 Angel's serenade Neapolitan Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Victor C-11792 12-in. 3/26/1912 The angel's serenade Elsie Baker Female vocal solo, with violin obbligato and orchestra composer  
Victor C-12995 12-in. 3/13/1913 Angel's serenade Alma Gluck Soprano vocal solo, with piano and violin obbligato composer  
Victor C-13335 12-in. 5/19/1913 Angel's serenade Victor Herbert's Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Victor C-14623 12-in. 3/25/1914 Angel's serenade John McCormack Tenor vocal solo, with violin obbligato and piano composer  
Victor C-15795 12-in. 3/15/1915 Angel's serenade Frances Alda Soprano vocal solo, with violin and piano composer  
Victor C-16334 12-in. 8/6/1915 Angel's dream Conway's Band Band composer  
(Results 1-25 of 78 records)

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Braga, Gaetano," accessed October 13, 2024, https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041.

Braga, Gaetano. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved October 13, 2024, from https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041.

"Braga, Gaetano." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 13 October 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod2.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041

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