The Key West citizen. [volume] (Key West, Fla.) 1879-current, 1953-03-31
CONCH
CHOWDER
BY RAYMER


Society section of the Times-Her-
aid, Washington, D. c., paper
about the "chic chatelaine" of a
Cuban estate, the Princess di Can
driano who sometimes comes to
Key West in her yacht. Her full
name / learned from Eugene de
Berrayarza who is working on the
new decor at Rauls. 1t is Maria
Margherita di Candriano Ruspoli,
the latter a family surname dating
back to 1900 in Italy. The Princess
has kept her husbands music
alive. He died in 1949 in Havana.
During his span of life, none of
his work was published, but his
widow has faithfully carried on
the introduction of his music and
recognition.
Not long ago, Princess di Can
driano sent a record via de Berra-
yarza to Sheriff John Spottswood.
Yesterday we were courteouSly
permitted the use of the studio at
the radio station to hear the music
of talented di Candriano. First was
a spritely, lively composition LA
Polonesa." then the ''Valza Wen
nese," with pronounced Continen-
tai waltz tempo which reminded
me strongly of Strauss. The gay
Italian moods the Prince must
have known in his youth are re
Elected in when Naples Laugh
ed" bright carnival spirited
music, the Tarantille dance bring
ing up images of parading crowds,
garlands, native costumes, girls
with tambourines. and laughter.
Excerpts of other suites and Of
ballet, Festival of the Gnomes"
is played by Les Bakers or
cheStra on a Capitol record trans
cription. The album records of the
ballet of the gnomes has a pixie
touch, and as you listen you think
of some of Disney'S better ANNA
ton: elves and fey folk prancing
in the woods with the gnomeS
marching in with a touch of grotes-
que humor to martial music with
| tubas in the background. AT the
close. of the festival there is a
wisful farewell theme.
| In the Festival composition, di
Candriano, makes use of chime
like tones as well as trumpetS. In
the waltz selections, there is a
predominant but delicate handling
of violins over all the other strings.
The woodwinds fill in with strength
but there is a dreamy quality
which tones them down. And that
is as it should be. It is a tragedy
that Camille di Candriano did not
live to hear his music introduced
to the world. '@h
The composer was born IN
Rome, became a politico. volun'
teer in the 3rd Italian army of the
Duke d'Acosta in World War l.
After the war, he returned to gov
eminent service but found thai
events were changing. His wife
daughter of Albert Blanc, former
Italian ambassador to the United
States and Senior de Blanc who wa,
the former Natalie Terry of Cuba
and the Prince left the Mediter
ranean and made their home neal
Camaguey, Cuba, where they hat
a 500 acre orange grove. He in
troduced modern methods inelud
ing irrigation and proved himself
genius at this type OF work Al
well as in music. After the death d
their son Emanuele in 1929 wher
| he was only q years of age, thu
couple seldom Travelled. But sun
my Italy lived again in the com
lposer's music.
Donna Marguerite who wal
born in Madrid, educated in Paris
speaks with a French accent. How
ever, she likes and wears Ameri
can clothes. After her presentation
of her late husbands music, IL
/ Washington with Col George S
Howard, Z. S. A. r. directing th'
y Boiling Air Force Base band al
il played, she was presented viii
membership in the National AS
sociation for American Composer
and Conductors. This was OF
March "A. Friends Of the Princes,
di Candriano win be happy d
know that she is giving her gifteC
husbands music 10 posterity.