Isle of Carpi on the Mandolin Video

Isle of Capri -- This is a lovely song that just kind of came back to me this morning. I remember singing it in high school chorus but this was back in another century. This version might not be exactly right but it is how I remember it.

FYI. The island of Capri lies off the Italian Sorrentine Peninsula, on the south side of the Gulf of Naples. It has been a resort since the time of the Roman Empire.
The song is about the island as was written by Wilhelm Grosz, an Austrian, in 1934. The words were penned by Jimmy Kennedy, an Irishman.

Many great American versions have been published including Freddy Martin's orchestra with vocal by Elmer Feldkamp recorded in 1934. Later a jazz version by Wingy Manone in 1944, and later by The Gaylords and by Jackie Lee in 1954. Frank Sinatra recorded it on October 1, 1957 for his album: Come Fly with Me, issued in 1958.

Wikipedia has an interesting note on the song Some suggest that there are two minor errors in the lyrics of the song: '...the shade of an old walnut tree' - there are no walnut trees on the Isle of Capri. And '...though we leave on the tide in the morning' - Capri is in the Mediterranean which is not tidal. Both of these claims are wrong. There are indeed walnut trees on Capri, and the Mediterranean does experience slight changes in sea level due to tides.

Im playing it in G-major on a 1919 Gibson F-2 mandolin.

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billkilpatrick: caro amico mio - great! ... funny how these old songs can suddenly appear from out of the mists of time and absolutely captivate you. well done ... 10 stars - 5 for the playing - 5 for the t-shirt.

Mandolin1944: Hey Bill thanks for watching and the kind remarks! Actually I found a very nice fiddle version on YT -- so now I actually know the right notes! I will be reposting this tune with tenor guitar back up in a bit. Funny thing it sounds a lot better on the F-5 than on the F-2 -- I had this one pegged for an oval hole mando -- but no.

sizefam4: You really got some feeling in this tune! Nicely done!

Mandolin1944: Thanks for stopping by Gary! Its funny how a tune from your past will suddenly come alive while you are doodling around! I don't have the middle section right on this but I have since learned it correctly -- nice old song.

1oldman4u2: Nice job on a beautiful old tune. very well done. Thank you.

Mandolin1944: Thanks for visiting and the kind remark -- I would like to learn a few more songs with an Italian flavour since it is the mandolin's country of origin.

Author: Mandolin1944; Uploaded: Nov 8, 2009; Duration: 1:31; Views: 111

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