Marche Pastorale (Shepherds' March)

Pietro Yon (1886-1943) was born in Settimo Vittone, (Piedmont, Italy), and studied at the conservatories of both Milan and Turin, also attending the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome; among his teachers in Milan was Polibio Fumagalli. He served for a time as an organist at the Vatican and at the Royal Church in Rome. He came to the United States in 1907 to serve at the Church of St. Francis Xavier in NYC, until his appointment as Assistant Organist at St. Patrick's Cathedral in 1926, and as Organist in 1928.

He was actually quite a significant composer, as is testified to on the Concert Hall by fine performances of his some of his larger works by Wolfram Syre.

"Marche Pastorale" (Shepherds' March) was published by Galaxy in 1942, and is bears the dedication: "To my dear niece, Margherita." Yon describes it as: "A humorous march, which depicts the rustic, happy life of the peasants," I guess that when Yon wrote this, he wasn't thinking about Mussolini and all the "happiness" he brought to the peasants...

This work and a number of others that I'll be uploading, was prepared, as an "incidental work" for the Wednesday weekly recitals. However, since I was fired on Monday morning, I guess that point is moot - as they say...

This piece would have been played tomorrow in a concert that welcomed the month of May, and sounds very similar to the sounds heard in this recording.

I am heartbroken to lose the Wirsching... :-(