Ferdinando Francia (d. 1904): "Bocca profumata" - Valzer, Op. 192
Published in "Il Mandolino", 30 August 1897

This is a lovely Italian waltz for two mandolins and guitar, written by Ferdinando Francia, who was an Italian mandolinist and guitarist, who died in Genoa on June 13 1904. I don't know if he was any relation to Leopoldo Francia, then the world's most famous mandolin soloist.

"Bocca profumata" means "perfumed mouth" and was also used at the time as an advertising slogan for Odol mouthwash. As Odol first came on the market in 1892, I am making the connection and suspect that Francia may have taken some advertising money from Odol -- he would hardly have been the only one: Giacomo Puccini even went as far as writing a song with the unsubtle title "L’ode all’ Odol" for them.

I have used the original 1897 public domain sheet music from "Il Mandolino" for my recording, which is at:

[ Ссылка ]

There is also a commercial modern edition (which I have not used) at:

[ Ссылка ]

For my recording, I have played the tune on a vintage Italian bowlback mandolin from the same period (double-tracked) with tenor guitar backing.

1890s Umberto Ceccherini mandolin (x2)
Vintage Viaten tenor guitar

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