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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

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  
Victor B-17527 10-in. 4/20/1916 Santa Lucia Emilio de Gogorza Baritone vocal solo, with vocal chorus and orchestra composer  
Victor B-23736 10-in. 2/12/1920 Angel's serenade Rosario Bourdon ; Howard Rattay Violin and cello duet, with orchestra composer  
Victor BVE-50796 10-in. 4/4/1929 Angel's serenade Alfredo San Malo Violin solo, with piano composer  
Victor BVE-59554 10-in. 3/26/1930 Serenata de los angeles Giulietta Morino Violin solo, with instrumental ensemble composer  
Victor BVE-59767 10-in. 4/28/1930 Angel's serenade Hulda Lashanska Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Victor CS-75594 12-in. 3/31/1933 La serenata Richard Crooks Tenor vocal solo, with orchestra and cello obbligato composer  
Victor [Vi cat 98737] 10-in. Nov. 1907 Catita Medina de Souza Female vocal solo composer  
Columbia 64 10-in. ca. 1901-1904 Angel's serenade Columbia Orchestra Piccolo and cornet duet, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 64 7-in. ca. 1901-Oct. 1905 Angel's serenade Columbia Orchestra Orchestra composer  
Columbia 99 10-in. ca. 1901 Angel's serenade Artists vary Clarinet solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 99 7-in. ca. 1901 Angel's serenade Artists vary Clarinet solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1395 7-in. ca. 1903-Oct. 1905 Santa Lucia Alberto De Bassini Baritone vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 1395 10-in. ca. 1903 Santa Lucia Alberto De Bassini Baritone vocal solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 38398 10-in. 11/7/1912 Angel's serenade Marshall P. Lufsky ; Charles Schuetze ; George Stehl Instrumental trio composer  
Columbia 47370 10-in. 2/13/1917 Santa Lucia Columbia Stellar Quartette Male vocal quartet, unaccompanied composer  
Columbia 79823 10-in. 5/5/1921 Angel's serenade Sascha Jacobsen Violin solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 80746 10-in. 12/26/1922 Old favorites waltz medley Columbia Dance Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia 30568 12-in. 11/2/1910 Angel's serenade Margaret Keyes Contralto vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 37324 12-in. 10/7/1915 Angel's serenade Corinne Rider-Kelsey Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 49143 12-in. 2/28/1917 The angel's serenade Lucy Gates ; Frank Gittelson Soprano vocal solo, with violin obbligato and piano composer  
Columbia 49282 12-in. 12/6/1917 Angel's serenade Paulo Gruppe Cello solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 49753 12-in. 2/17/1920 Angel's serenade Sascha Jacobsen Violin solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 49974 12-in. 6/21/1921 Angel's serenade Corinne Rider-Kelsey ; George Stehl Soprano vocal solo, with violin obbligato and orchestra composer  
Columbia 98046 12-in. 10/18/1922 Angel's serenade Francesco Longo ; Toscha Seidel Violin solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 142298 10-in. 6/15/1926 Angel's serenade Melody Waltz Orchestra Jazz/dance band composer  
Columbia W98605 12-in. 11/8/1928 Angel's serenade Anna Case Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Columbia 6066 12-in. approximately 1910 Angel's serenade Jean Schwiller Cello solo, with piano composer  
Columbia 10160 10-in. approximately 1903 to 1908 La serenata Francesco Daddi Tenor vocal solo composer  
Columbia 10873 10-in. approximately 1908 to 1914 Legenda Valacca Ines Vannini Mezzo-soprano vocal solo composer  
Columbia 40573 10-in. between 1903 and 1906 Der Engel Lied Adolf Sens ; Hedwig Zimmer Female vocal solo, with violin composer  
Columbia 75224 12-in. 11/12/1922 Angel's serenade Hubert Eisdell ; Frederick B. Kiddle ; Albert Sammons Male vocal solo, with violin and piano composer  
Columbia 76065 12-in. approximately 1917 Angel's serenade Hubert Eisdell ; Frederick B. Kiddle ; Albert Sammons Male vocal solo, with violin and piano composer  
OKeh 202 10-in. ca. June 1918 Angel's serenade Grace Kerns Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick 4023 10-in. approximately Aug. 1920 Angel's serenade Marie Tiffany Female vocal solo, with violin obbligato composer  
Brunswick 15310 10-in. 3/26/1925 Angel’s serenade Elisabeth Rethberg Soprano vocal solo, with piano, harp, and violin composer  
Brunswick 11732-11734 10-in. 10/25/1923 Angel's serenade Marie Tiffany Female vocal solo, with orchestra and violin obbligato composer  
Brunswick 15305-15306 10-in. 3/26/1925 Angel’s serenade Elisabeth Rethberg Soprano vocal solo, with string ensemble, harp, and violin obbligato composer  
Brunswick E28507 10-in. 10/1/1928 La serenata degli angeli Raoul Romito Male vocal solo, with violin and piano composer  
Brunswick E28809 10-in. 11/16/1928 Der Engel Lied Lia Karina ; Erna Pielke Female vocal duet, with orchestra composer  
Brunswick E19433-E19434 10-in. 6/2/1926 Angel’s serenade Frederic Persson ; Elisabeth Rethberg ; Max Rosen Soprano vocal solo, with violin obbligato and piano composer  
Edison 425 12-in. approximately Nov. 1910 Serenata di Braga Maria Farneti Soprano vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 698 Not documented approximately July 1911 Angel's serenade Venetian Instrumental Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Edison 3063 10-in. either May or June 1914 Angel's serenade Merle Alcock ; Clementine de Vere Vocal duet (soprano and contralto), with orchestra composer  
Edison 3634 10-in. 3/9/1915 Angel's serenade Venetian Instrumental Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Edison 3941 10-in. 7/6/1915 Angel's serenade Venetian Instrumental Quartet Instrumental quartet composer  
Edison 4757 10-in. 6/1/1916 The angel's serenade Walter Van Brunt Male vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 4892 10-in. 7/19/1916 Angel's serenade Ida Gardner Female vocal solo, with orchestra composer  
Edison 6771 10-in. 5/7/1919 Angel's serenade Robert Gayler ; Igor Sokoloff ; Madeleine MacGuigan Sokoloff Violin and cello duet, with piano composer  
Edison 7240 10-in. 3/24/1920 Angel's serenade Cherniavsky Trio Instrumental trio composer  
Edison 7891 10-in. 4/6/1921 The angel's serenade Vera Barstow ; Amy Ellerman ; Robert Gayler Contralto vocal solo and violin obliggato, with piano composer  
Edison 8005 10-in. 5/20/1921 The angel's serenade Robert Gayler ; Frieda Hempel ; Albert Spalding Soprano vocal solo, with piano and organ composer  
Edison 18431 10-in. 4/23/1928 Angel's serenade Rollo F. Maitland Pipe organ solo composer  
Gramophone 1011ah 10-in. 12/20/1910 Leggenda valacca Giuseppina Lufrano Soprano vocal solo, with piano and violin composer  

Citation

Discography of American Historical Recordings, s.v. "Braga, Gaetano," accessed November 24, 2024, https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041.

Braga, Gaetano. (2024). In Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved November 24, 2024, from https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041.

"Braga, Gaetano." Discography of American Historical Recordings. UC Santa Barbara Library, 2024. Web. 24 November 2024.

DAHR Persistent Identifier

URI: https://adpprod1.library.ucsb.edu/names/106041

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