Benedetto Di Ponio (1898-1962), studied
composition with Boicenko and Dobici. He was a guitar performer
and the first teacher of guitar in the Italian Conservatory of Santa Cecilia in
Rome starting in 1955, while the other great guitarist in Rome, Mario Gangi
moved at the same time to the conservatory at Naples. The duration of the course
of guitar was at that time only 7 years, instead of the 10 years required today,
but it encompassed many subjects such as choral chant and piano that now are
neglected.
Di Ponio was very probably the first guitarist who recorded works for guitar in 1925 at the then EIAR (Italian Body for Radiophonic Audition). Di Ponio has composed many works for guitar and an unfinished "Metodo per chitarra", cooperated with all the guitar magazines of his age ("Plettro", "Chitarra", "Arte chitarristica"). Are known also his many contacts with authoritative guitarists, expecially with Luigi Mozzani.
Many other pupils of Di Ponio are well-known teachers and performers: Pasqualino Garzia (1934), Oscar Ghiglia (Livorno, 1938), Giuliano Balestra (Rome, 1939), Girolamo Gilardi (1941), Giovanna Marini, Gianluigi Gelmetti (1945), Renato Giuseppini (who emigrated in U.S.A. in 1935), and Mario Jalenti (Treni, 1939), all guitarists who were educated initially at his school.
Among Di Ponio's works for guitar these are worth mentioning: the Ronda Cinese; his arrangement of a Sicilian Tarantella (the so-called "La Calvaruso"); and his many didactic works, such as the Studies (at least 4, one of which published in the old magazine "La Chitarra") and a Prelude (for the left hand).
Works / Opere
Tarantella op. 1 (Vizzari)
Campagnola op. 2 (Vizzari)
Ninna Nanna (Vizzari)
Finestrella chiusa (Preludio, inedited)
Mazurka da concerto (1926, inedited)
Ronda Cinese (Bèrben)
Studio op. 3 (1923, inedited)
Studio op. 4 (La chitarra)
Paesaggio iberico (1928, inedited)
Preludio (per la mano sinistra) (1960, inedited)
Sonatina (1927, inedited)
Tarantella Siciliana (detta "La Calvaruso") - Bèrben
Tibi Dabo (Ricordo di Spagna) (1935, inedited)