Giovanni Gioviale was a famous Italian mandolin player during the beginning of the 20th century. A detailed biography of Giovanni Gioviale can be found on the site of the Federazione Mandolinistica Italiana.
Between 1926 and 1929 Gioviale stayed in New York, and during this stay he recorded many of his pieces. David Grisman has compiled a CD with recordings by Giovani Gioviale, mostly his own compositions, played on the mandolin and also on the banjo.
Gioviales compositions are popular until today, especially in Italy.
In the next video another trio plays the nice waltz “Ritorno da Vienna” by Giovanni Gioviale:
“Ritornando da Vienna”-Trio 18 Corde-Live
Another great waltz – L’ultimo Amore – played by the Trio Gioviale:
L’ultimo Amore- trio Gioviale
There are also some arrangements of pieces by Giovanni Gioviale for guitar, here is a great example played by Giuseppe Torisi who offers some free sheet music by Giovanni Giovali on his homepage (see below).
Biancuccia-Mazurka ( G. Gioviale )-Giuseppe Torrisi, guitarist
I have compiled many more videos with pieces by Giovanni Gioviale played with mandolin and guitar in my playlist:
One of the tunes in the long list of songs that I have downloaded from David Grismans Acoustic Oasis is John Stenson’s #2 played by the Aaron O’Rourke Trio.
Today I have listened to videos with this tune. I was lucky to find the following video with the Aaron O’Rourke Trio – played on mountain dulcimer, mandolin and bass:
John Stenson’s #2
Aaron O’Rourke Trio with Mickey Abraham and Mike Snelling
Killer mountain dulcimer, mandolin, & bass.
Progressive acoustic old time.
This tune is often played on a Appalachian (or mountain) dulcimer, but also on the hammered dulcimer as in the following video:
John Stenson’s #2 and Hangman’s Reel – Rockford, MI Concert
Rick Thum does a couple of his favorite tunes at the concert in Rockford, MI, November 2009. Ken Kaiser backed him up on guitar.
I have compiled the following playlist with many more videos of this tune, played on different instruments, solo or with a band, with mandolin and dulcimer, clawhammer banjo, or with fiddle and Irish bouzouki:
Playlist John Stensons
Sheet music:
You can find versions of John Stenson’s #2 on the following pages:
Robert Crumb who plays ocasionally with the East River String Band had his own band The Cheap Suit Serenaders. I have compiled a playlist with videos by Robert Crumb and his band, this includes a nice selection of pieces from the 20s and 30s and original compositions by Robert Crumb, with mandolin, banjo, guitar, kazoo, and other instruments.