When Agrigento was like Vienna and Sicily smelled of music and grease …
In the homes of the Sicilians of the last century both in Sicily, Belgium, Germany and in the cities of northern Italy Turin, Milan, Genoa it is easy to find a 78 rpm of the zither with songs by the Li Causi brothers. It should be remembered that the first recording of Vitti Na crozza after the success of the film The Walk of Hope which received the silver Oscar at the Berlin Film Festival in 1951 was recorded by Michelangelo Verso. The Li Causi Brothers brought the novelty, the connection with American, Argentine and other music. And don’t think that the Li Causi Brothers were songwriters, their beginnings were the classical music works Il Rigoletto, La Norma, La Cavalleria rusticana.
The Li Causi brothers have changed their musical choices over time to meet the tastes of the public. It must be said that in the CD 15 pieces are masterfully performed by Tom Sinatra and the work ends with a special interpretation by Antonio Zarcone with a special arrangement by Tom Sinatra. The book was published by the Sicilian publisher Pippo Bellone, a native of Sambuca who lives and works in Montescaglioso a stone’s throw from Matera and will be present at the Turin international festival from 14 to 18 October and in December at the Rome book fair.
An important recovery of memory was made by the two authors of this valuable work which aims to bring to mind two valuable musicians such as the Li Causi brothers.
Giuseppe Maurizio Piscopo and Antonio Zarcone, both natives of Favara, have combined their two artistic and professional destinies in recalling the precious work of these two great artists to whom we owe the composition of over two thousand pieces, an immense, varied and vast repertoire .
The two authors found themselves in the same city where they were born, where their cultural and human history began, when they first formed a duo and then the Favarese Popular Group.
Their music was recorded for the prestigious “Cetra” record company and made popular for radio broadcasting but then fell into oblivion. Their most famous song remains “Vitti ‘na crozza”, the soundtrack of the film “The journey of hope” of 1951, directed by Pietro Germi, shot in Favara. The Li Causi brothers have made Sicilian popular music great all over the world and revolutionized the way it is performed and it is undoubtedly meritorious to make known these authentic characters of music who have referred to ancient traditions.
Franco and Totò Li Causi, over time have made use of ancient instruments such as the mandolin and plectrum instruments and have always placed at the center of their artistic path, the search for the true and authentic essence of Sicilian popular music. And this through the evocation of images and suggestions closely linked to the native places which reveal the link with the earth, the light and the unique climate of a land. But their music also evokes the spirit of a music that has ancient roots over time, ancient cultures of a Mediterranean music that expresses the soul and identity of the Sicilian people.
Franco and Totò Li Causi were two great Sicilian and international musicians who made Agrigento like Vienna city of music. The two brothers who built their instruments with their own hands, have managed to bring Sicily to every part of the world. They have composed more than two thousand songs and have recorded for the Cetra. The radio and the tours made them famous. They are known for the song Vitti’Na Crozza, the soundtrack of Pietro Germi’s film Il Cammino della Speranza, shot in Favara in 1951 based on the book by Nino De Maria Cuore in the abysses. The book tells the exciting story of the two musicians from Porto Empedocle and contains a very refined CD with the music of the Li Causi brothers re-performed by Maestro Tom Sinatra, spiritual heir of the two great musicians and accompanied by Olga Bergeza on the accordion, Giuseppe Porretta on the violin, Mauro Cottone on the cello and ends with a particular interpretation of Vitti ‘Na Crozza sung by Antonio Zarcone with arrangements by Tom Sinatra. In the book there is a gallery of historical photos provided by the sons Davide and Franco Li Causi curated by the photographer Angelo Pitrone. The preface is by Marco Betta Composer and artistic director of the Massimo theater in Palermo, while the afterword is by Carlo Aonzo International Musician and Concert Player.
“It had been years – says Antonio Zarcone – that I dreamed of reviving the music of the Li Causi brothers who have left a great cultural heritage to humanity and their history could not remain damned in oblivion, it would have been a real injustice for all Sicilians and not only! Through the story of Tom Sinatra his childhood lived at the Li Causi house is told, with a veil of emotion. In the recording room he created a real magic: he revived the atmosphere and the style of those years and he performed 15 pieces in an impeccable way that will amaze the listeners and will remain in the history of music “.
“Franco and Totò Li Causi – underlines Tom Sinatra – were two great musicians of the international audience who have exported the Sicilian tradition around the world. Especially in the post-war period they brought modernity to Italy that was almost non-existent here. Only those who know at Radio London knew the existence of certain music… With this work we want to promote Culture and put the Brothers in their right place together with their Great Music. The Li Causi brothers are the mentors of my music and my artistic path “”
Maurizio Piscopo
In the seventies we worked with Antonio Zarcone in Milan. Here we met Virgilio Savona of the Cetra quartet, Michele Straniero and Dario Fo. From these great Masters we have learned what it means to do research. The years have made us mature and rediscover more and more our roots that must not be canceled but protected and returned to the new generations to grow and improve our society that has a thousand-year history “.