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Born: February 20, 1900 - Ariano Irpino, Italy
Died: June 15, 1990 - Burbank, California, USA |
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The Italian-born American composer, arranger and orchestrator, Amedeo de Filippi, came to New York with his family in 1905. At 9, he was playing the piano with bands in Atlantic City and New York during the summer. He later studied violin and composition and was awarded a four-year fellowship in both piano and composition at the Juilliard Graduate School of Music in 1926. He studied there with Rubin Goldmark.
His Concerto for Orchestra won the Philharmonic-Symphony Society of New York American Composers Awards of 1936-1937, but the award was withdrawn because he was not born in the USA. In 1936, his Sonata for Violin and Piano was performed at the Festival of Contemporary American Music. He also orchestrated ballets for the Ballet Russe and Ballet Theatre.
Amedeo de Filippi, created orchestral, choral and chamber music for ballets, radio and philharmonic groups. As a composer, arranger and orchestrator, he was on the staff of the Columbia Broadcasting System and also worked for Pathe Films, Judson Radio Program Co., Victor Phonograph Co. and several theaters and publishers. He was also, a NY Fellow, International Institute of Arts and Letters in 1962. He was a member of the NAACC, and joined ASCAP in 1952. He also wrote music for films, radio and television. He moved to Studio City in 1961 and continued to write music until his death.
Amedeo de Filippi in 1990 of complications from a stroke. In addition to his wife, he was survived by a son, Richard de Filippi of Cambridge, Mass.; a daughter, Adrienne Lannom of Eugene, Ore.; sisters, Mae Schweitzer, Adele Caffrey and Anna Pietroburgo, all of New York; and five grandchildren. |
