Upcoming Events

Emilia Sammartino Nights at Bar Rizzi

Second Wednesday of the month from 6-11 p.m

OSIA September meeting at Rizzo's Malabar Inn

2008- 7PM

Learn Italian

 

The Toronto and the New York City Trips posted here are proposals. Dates are not set yet. Please contact Annie DeFabo if you are interested in these trips and the dates. After she gets a response dates will be set.

 

 

The Normandy Trip dates are set

Trip to Paris/Normandy

 

 

 

OSIA Pool Party

June 30, 2008 7:15- 9:15

FESTA ITALIANA
di Vandergrift

Sunday, August 17, 2008
Kennedy Park — Vandergrift, Pennsylvania

                                                               www.festaitaliana.us

St. Anthony of Padua Italian Festival :

THE ST ANTHONY OF PADUA ITALIAN FESTIVAL WILL TAKE PLACE JUNE 8TH TO THE 15TH
WITH THE 5TH ANNUAL GALA CONCERT ON OPENING DAY IN ST ANTHONY OF PADUA CHURCH ON
JUNE 8TH AT 3 PM IN WILMINGTON, DE.

THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL GALA CONCERT PRESENTS AN EXTRAORDINARY ARRAY OF THE AREA'S
HIGHLY ACCLAIMED INSTRUMENTALISTS AND SINGERS AND WILL FEATURE THE MUSIC OF THE
ITALIAN MASTER COMPOSERS PERFORMED THIS YEAR BY THE FOLLOWING INCREDIBLE MUSICAL
ARTISTS AND ENSEMBLES:

JOSEPH SOPRANI, ACCORDIONIST -- HAS PERFORMED WITH THE PHILADELPHIA ORCHESTRA,
PETER NERO AND THE PHILLY POPS, THE OPERA COMPANY OF PHILADELPHIA, FIVE TIMES
WITH PAVAROTTI, GOOD MORNING AMERICA AND MORE
YOUNG J ANG, SOPRAN0 -- RECENTLY PERFORMED "MADAME BUTTERFLY" WITH OPERA
DELAWARE
AURELIO DOMINGUEZ, TENOR -- THRILLED OPERA DELAWARE AUDIENCES IN "GONDOLIERS"
AUGUSTINE MERCANTE, COUNTERTENOR -- HAS ESTABLISHED HIMSELF IN CONCERT, RECITAL,
ORATORIO AND OPERA STAGES IN THIS COUNTRY AS WELL AS IN EUROPE
BARBARA PRUGH, TRUMPETER -- APPEARED AS GUEST SOLOIST WITH MANY TOP ENSEMBLES
HERE AND ABROAD
DAVID CHRDISTOPHER, GUEST CONDUCTOR -- IS SCHEDULED TO CONDUCT OPERA DELAWARE,
2008-09 SEASON
OPERA DELAWARE CHORUS -- TRAINED BY JEFFREY MILLER
ST ANTHONY OF PADUA CONCERT CHOIR AND THE ITALIAN FESTIVAL ORCHESTRA

THE GRAND FINALE UNITES ALL THE MUSICIANS WITH THE STIRRING PERFORMANCE OF
"EASTER ANTHEM" FROM CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA AND "VA PENSIERO" FROM NABUCCO.

FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION CONTACT FESTIVAL COMMITTEE AT 302 421 3700. OR ST
ANTHONY OF PADUA WEBSITE.
THE CHURCH IS LOCATED AT 901 DUPONT ST. WILMINGTON, DE 19805

 

Annual Dues

Annual Dues due now.

OSIA Scholarship awarded to Vincent Dangelo

Vincent Danagelo, a member of our lodge, won the OSIA state scholarship for 2008-2009  school year for high school freshmen. He will be attending Greensburg Central Catholic High School. The state lodge awarded him a $ 500 scholarship.

Tarantella Day Plans Cancelled for May 16

The lodge is planning to have  an evening of fun  and music. Part of the evening will be spent teaching the Tarantella to OSIA members and guest. New date to be arranged.

The Legend of the Tarantella

by Anthony Parente

No Italian wedding or celebration would be complete without the rhythmic song and dance of the tarantella. It is the most popular of all the Italian songs and it is even considered by many as the song of Italy. The song is both lively and graceful and the dance is one of light and quick steps mixed with passionate gestures. Its origin dates back to the Middles Ages and traces of a similar song can even be found in Magna Graecia.

Legend states that between the 15th and 17th centuries an epidemic of tarantism swept through the town of Taranto in southern Italy. This was as a result of being bit by the poisonous tarantula spider. The victim, which is referred to as the tarantata, was almost always a woman but never a high ranking lady or one of an aristocratic upbringing. Once bitten the tarantata would fall into a trance that could only be cured by frenzied dancing. People would surround the victim while musicians would play mandolins, guitars and tambourines in search of the correct rhythm. Each beat would have a different effect on the tarantata causing various movements and gestures. Once the correct rhythm was found it was almost certain that the tarantata was cured.

As legends have it there always seems to be more than one version. Another version states that a woman who was depressed and frustrated from the subordinate lifestyle would fall into a trance that could only be cured by music and dance. This normally lasted three days and during that time the tarantata would be the center of attention, which in turn would cure them of their frustrations and depressions.

Of these two variations that most popular is the one in which the victim is bitten by the poisonous tarantula. This is why the tarantella is sometimes referred to as the dance of the spider.

References

  • Malpezzi, Frances M., William M. Clements. Italian-American Folklore. Little Rock: August House Pub., 1992.
  • Nicotra, Stefania. "Tarantulas, Tarantatas and Tarantellas." Italy Italy Year XIII, No. 1 (February/March 1995): 34-39.

Annual Christmas Dance Date Set

December 5, 2008 at Mt. View Inn. This year we will have an Italian Buffet and music by We Three

A Night with Sinatra ( in the planning stage)