Three little compositions inspired by my recent visits to Italy: Track 1. Tu sei bella Aci Catena: Tom Salvatori - Guitar Leroy Bocchieri - Mandolin Massimo di Nocera - Guest Vocals My parents rented a villa in Sicily for two months at the end of 2008, and my wife and I went to visit and celebrate our anniversary in Italy. It soon became evident that the only way to navigate in the little towns was to drive there and then ask the locals for directions. And for some reason, one Italian talking to a driver through a car window seemed irresistible to others...we always attracted a few to render their opinion. They'd point in different directions, shrug their shoulders, wave their arms and ultimately start an argument among themselves. We would still see the assembled group continuing the discussion in our rear view mirror even after we'd start on our way. The smartest of all direction-givers was a woman in a small town we had a hard time finding - called Aci Catena. When we stopped, she came out her front door (which was about one yard away from the street) in a bright pink bathrobe, largely pregnant; with kids hanging on her from all sides. She smiled and said “go four streets straight ahead and when you get there...stop again and ask someone else!” Anyway...having a composer riding shotgun alongside an Italian crooner at the wheel who fancies himself Mario Lanza, we eventually began to sing a little melody to the beautiful words of directions as we drove about. Our music and lyrics have now become the testament to this wonderful Sicilian experience. Song Lyrics: In Italian: English translation: Tu sei bella Aci Catena You are beautiful Aci Catena Aci Catena buon giorno Aci Catena good day! Benvenuti ‘la nostra citta Welcome to our city Dove il centro il mercato Where is the central market? Noi stiam’ guidando in cerchio... We are driving in circles… Prima ‘vanti, gira la sinistra First go ahead, then turn left Quindi si va, ‘la chiesa Then you go on from church Quindi destra, quindi la sinistra Then right, then left Gira l’ang’lo, la chiesa Turn the corner, at the church Aci Catena aiuto mi Aci Catena…help me! Aci Catena aiuto mi Aci Catena…help me! Dove il centro il mercato Where is the central market? Noi stiam’ guidando in cerchio... We are driving in circles… ‘ndare l'ang’lo, gira la sinistra Go to the corner, turn left Quindi destra, ‘la chiesa Then right, at the church Gira destra, gira sinistra Turn right, turn left Gira l'ang’lo, ‘la chiesa Turn the corner, at the church Aci Caten’ arrivederci Aci Catena goodbye! Non abbiamo mai trovat’ il centro We never found the center Preferisco perso in Sicilia I prefer to be lost in Sicily ‘nvece trovat’ altrove Instead of being found elsewhere Aci Catena tu sei bella Aci Catena you are beautiful Guitar: Tom Salvatori Mandolins: Leroy Bocchieri Guest Vocalist: Marcello di Nocera Composed by: Tom "Tomasso' Salvatori Lyrics by Charles 'Carlo 'Salvatori 2009 © Salvatori Productions, Inc., ASCAP Track 2. Dissonanza: Tom Salvatori - Solo Guitar Here’s a piece that dances into a little dissonance before it arrives at a great resolve at the end, thank goodness! Composed by: Tom Salvatori 2009 © Salvatori Productions, Inc., ASCAP Track 3. Andiamo: Tom Salvatori - Solo Guitar A few years before our Sicily trip, our entire family took a private tour of Italy. The score was Salvatoris: 30, Tour Guide: 1. Our skills at re-boarding the bus at the end of each of our side trips in Italy was becoming scrutinized as strikingly similar to the herding of wild cats. If you can picture Cousin Larry running back to the bus with his arms full of provolone and capicolla ten minutes late, you might understand a tour guide dilemma. After several occurrences of tardiness, push finally came to shove. Our lovely captive tour guide, Veruska, stood up, grew three heads, turned bright red, and shouted … “ANNDDIAMMMMO!” This piece of music is dedicated to the lovely but deadly Veruska Mune, the first woman I have ever met who could cut a swath of carnage with the mere tongue lashing use of a single word. It was during this tour of Italy that I fell in love with Lucca (o.k….and Veruska)…and hope someday to gain the key to the beautiful walled city and get myself a statue right next to Puccini! Composed by: Tom Salvatori 2009 © Salvatori Productions, Inc., ASCAP Track 4. Tu sei bella Aci Catena - Instrumental (Bonus Track...available as a Digital download only) Guitar: Tom Salvatori Mandolins: Leroy Bocchieri Composed by: Tom Salvatori 2015 © Salvatori Productions, Inc., ASCAP