Tin Pan Opera

Speranza

For the record, this new book, by Larry Hamberlin,

Tin Pan Opera: Operatic Novelty Songs in the Ragtime Era

(Oxford University Press), expands on the Caruso song -- and many more besides!

 

1905. Charles Daniels/James O’Dea. Song: "Niccolini". Good-a-by Jock I kiss you de farewell/Instead of us going to play/Cavalier Rusticana I sell the banana

1909. Strawberries. Pietro Mascagni as character.

1909. My Irish Caruso.

1909. My Cousin Caruso. Song written by Gus Edwards, lyrics by Edward Madden, published by Gus Edwards Music Co., NYC. The cover features a drawing of Enrico Caruso by Enrico Caruso and a facsimile autograph.

1909. :Good-Bye Mister Caruso" (Dunham; Piantadosi): comic song about Caruso's lost voice. Drawing of Caruso on a ship. Italian-dialect novelty song about Caruso losing his voice and returning to Italy. My head is goin’ dip/I think I got the pip/Since I read about Caruso/Ev’rything I was a-stop/No more work the barber shop/when I hear his voice he los-a

1910. Al Piantadosi/Thomas J. Gray. "Rusty-Can-O Rag": There’s one sweet melody/It sounds so good to me/From sunny Italy./Oh wop don’t stop/Playing the rusty can-o rag.

1910. Irving Berlin/Ted Snyder, That Opera Rag.

1912. Edwards/Madden. "Mister Pagliatch": Pagliatch he’s short and the fat/And when he walk he shake like dis a-like dat/He look a like one great big clown/But when he sing he knock you down. Vesti la giubba e la faccia infarina

1914. Felix Arndt. Operatic Nightmare: Desecration No. 2