Welcome to the Zighi Baci home page! I'm delighted that you're interested in finding out more about the old Ballo Liscio dance music and the Neapolitan ariettas of yesteryear. These treasured tunes are difficult to come by; that's why I decided to create my own arrangements and to transcribe the facsimiles of very old handwritten manuscripts, old tapes and audio recordings, and my own more recent video recordings. I collected these songs so that more people can share in the joy and passion of the Italian and Sicilian repertoire.

What you will find at the ZighiBaci website:

• How to order the books I wrote on the history and the anthology of sheet music: Mandolins, Like Salami and Mandolin Melodies (now in its third edition, in PDF files on a CD).
• How and where you can hear this kind of music performed.

Mandolins, Like Salami was launched in December 2005 at City Lights Bookstore, in North Beach. 200 pages, 8 1/2 x 11 inches, with more than 40 photographs. It is available for sale at Caffe Trieste's Annex (609 Vallejo) in North Beach, at Elderly Instruments on line music catalog in Michigan, Tall Toad Music, Petaluma, DownHome Music, El Cerrito, and Fine Fretted, San Jose, and other venues. The book represents a social history (the only one of its kind) that covers the mandolin orchestras, ensembles, and Italian American mandolin players of the 20th century.

Mandolin Melodies (now in its 3rd edition, as printable PDF files) contains 125+ lead sheets for C instruments, and dozens of arrangements for two instruments. Chords, suggested harmony, photographs, and analysis accompany the music. Sibelius 3 was used as the music software program.

Example: Click to download (Mio Dolce Sogno).

WHERE CAN I HEAR THIS MUSIC?

Live music is the only way to hear this kind of music. However, try these sources:

• Caffè Trieste in North Beach: check out their website for our schedule of venues
• some of our sessions on YouTube : Zighi Baci, Mattinata di Matteo, I Gondolieri, and
  Marcello and Mizzica

All my ensembles perform throughout the bay area. Zighi Baci does mainly Neapolitan canzone sung by a tenore robusto, with accordion and an acoustic guitar. All the groups are acoustic but can be fully amplified upon request.

The "Zighi Baci Song Book" contains easy-to-read Italian lyrics that can be sung by anyone, even if you don't know the Italian language. It's fun! and keeps the party going!

Carlo Solivan, Sheri Mignano, Gianni Dolce

"Mattinata di Matteo" performs mainly at Caffe Trieste. The groups have performed for San Francisco bay area mandolin and accordion festivals, in local caffes, private house concerts, weddings, wineries and public-sponsored events. Zighi Baci has performed for San Francisco's Mayor Gavin Newsom, and Mattinata di Matteo (usually 4 mandolins plus accordion and guitar) has performed on Sedge Thompson's live radio show "West Coast Live"; and for the annual Columbus Day parades in San Francisco. Our regular venues include Caffè Trieste, North Beach, San Francisco, in the old Italian neighborhood.

EMAIL me for a concert schedule, rate card, brochure, or contract for details:

"I Gondolieri" is my newly formed mandolin trio (mandolin, accordion and guitar); we mainly play in the North Bay and Wine Country.

Booking information:

• A minimum of 2 hours
• Travel and transportation are usually factored into the cost, depending on distance and venue.
• Musicians must be canopied for performance.

Thank you for your interest in my music. I look forward to hearing from you.

Zighi Baci Publishing
Sheri Mignano Crawford
P.O. Box 2704
Petaluma, CA 94953-2704
zighi@sonic.net
Click to order books and CD's