In the mid-1980s, I visited my great-aunt Nettie in Yonkers, New York, where she had lived her entire life. One of my most cherished possessions is a tambourine she gave me that has the inscription “Property of Rinaldi’s Band.”
My great-grandparents, Angelo Rinaldi and Maria Bonacci, immigrated to the U.S. in 1903 and 1905 respectively. They married in 1909 and immediately relocated from New York City to Yonkers, New York where they raised five children.
Angelo (1879-1955) was born in Sant’Agata di Puglia and was a stone mason by trade. A quiet, gentle man, he was also a musician and was the director of several Italian-American brass bands in Yonkers. Rinaldi’s Band was comprised of young boys band (and some adults) from the local community. My great-grandfather taught many of the boys how to play the instruments. He is in the center of the image below.
Southern Italy (and Puglia in particular) has a rich tradition of brass bands that can be traced back to the early 19th century. The rural “banda” brought the music of the Italian opera to the streets and piazzas in towns and even remote villages for various Catholic rituals including feast days, holy days, and funerals.
Perhaps one of the more memorable events for Rinaldi’s Band occured in 1921. General Pietro Badoglio (Commander in Chief of the Italian armies who later became prime minister) made a month-long trip to the U.S. One of his stops was Yonkers where he was greeted by nearly 3,500 Italian-Americans at Columbus Hall. The Yonkers Herald reported “As the general strode through the line of comrades [200 veterans], the splendid Italian Boys’ Band, under the leadership of Angelo Rinaldi, crashed into the “Marcia Reale,” the Italian National Anthem and the great crowd burst into a storm of applause and cheers.”
The boys also played at concerts in Columbus Park or various religious celebrations including the Feast of St. Rocco and the Feast of St. Anthony, often leading the procession through the city. Angelo’s business card for Rinaldi’s Band advertised “music for all occasions.” In the 1930s, Angelo also directed the Columbus Band, the Sons of Italy Band, and the Lega Operaia (Workers League) Society’s Band.
In addition to the tambourine, sheet music from Rinaldi’s band was saved by my Aunt Nettie giving us a further glimpse into the type of music the banda played. Included are two operas – Gaetano Donizetti’s “Poliuto” and the “Cavalleria Rustican” by Pietro Mascagni. The third piece of sheet music is the “Festoso Ritorno Marcia Sinfonica,” composed by Giovanni Orsomando who was considered the father of the “symphonic march.” Angelo hand-copied (no copy machines in 1932!) the scores for eleven different instruments.
The tamborine and sheet music, along with family stories and archival research, has shed light on a musical piece of Italian-American heritage, my heritage.
[NOTE: Please leave a comment if you can identify any of the band members in the photo.]
historicaresearch.com 
So well written and you brought everything to life. I remember when I was a little girl Rinaldi’s band would be in the park across from the Taraconi’s bakery. I would always go with my father to buy the Italian pastries. I was more interested in listening to the band which i loved so much . You certainly brought that memory back ro me. Thank you so much for such a wonderful memory.
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Grandpa Rinaldi was my husband, Don’s grandfather. He spoke often of the times when he played and how that enriched his love of music.
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