Nicola Martella
The Badge of Solidarity
(Vasto 1882 +1975)
By Paolo Calvano
A figure symbolical of the profound ties that was created at the time between the Societa` Di Mutuo Soccorso and emigration. After having attended the design school at Soms he became fascinated with music and became a flute player. From a young age he became a member of the music bands of Vasto, Pollutri (1904) and Atessa (1907), taking part in various tours in various states of the Australian-Hungarian Empire and in Sweden.
He left for America the first time in 1907. Recalled by the army he fought in WW1 and was awarded the honour of Cavaliere of Vittorio Veneto. He returned America after 1919 and went to live in New York. Here, amongst other things, gave music lessons, took part as player and conductor of the Vastese Philharmonic and also composed some music which were played in the “Big Apple” for our countrymen. As an actor he took part in the Luigi Anelli play of “Creste gna veite accusce pruveite” (As Christ sees so he provides) and took part in the American committees that raised funds first for the war monument and later for the monument to Rossetti.
He returned to his homeland definitively in 1931, he became secretary of the Soms, carrying out for more than 30 years a silent work, in the beginning completely voluntary, of fundamental importance to the Society. He was an expert in musical scores he took part as a wind instrument player with the Philharmonic of the O.N.D., guided by Ritucci Chinni and Nicola Dragani, and following that he collaborated with Aniello Polsi. In the 1950s he took up as musical director of religious processions and continued to give private music lessons.
Emblem of the Societa`Mutuo Soccorso
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