Aldiviva was a mandolin quartet active throughout Utah and the surrounding region from late 1992 through early 1994. It was founded by Patrick Zwick, who played second mandolin and mandobass, and included John Thompson on first mandolin and violin, Todd Woodbury on mandocello and guitar, and Tully Cathey on mandola and guitar. This is an archival page for the group assembled by Patrick's son, Dylan Zwick.
The group's name had a rather esoteric origin. It comes from the book Il teatro alla moda (The Theater of Fashion) by Benedetto Marcello, an Italian cellist and composer. In this book Marcello uses the transposition "Aldiviva" as a coded reference to Vivaldi, who at the time was the most celebrated composer in Vienna, and who Marcello mocks for his use of rare instruments and strange arrangements. With their unusual instruments (there aren't many parts for the mandobass!) and original arrangements of music not just by Vivaldi but also Sergei Prokofiev, Kurt Weil, Dave Brubeck, and their own resident composer Tully Cathey, the same characteristics for which Marcello mocked "Aldiviva" applied to the Utah mandolin quartet as well, so they reappropriated the name with pride.
Group Description
From 1993 Press Kit
The Salt Lake City based quartet ALDIVIVA has been winning over audiences in Utah and Colorado with their imaginative arrangements of music for mandolins, guitar, and violin. The quartet includes John Thompson (mandolin / violin), Patrick Zwick (mandolin / mandobass), Tully Cathey (mandola/guitar), and Todd Woodbury (mandocello / guitar). These four musicians are well known individually for their work with the Utah Symphony, guitar duos, and jazz ensembles, and have put together an exciting quartet that showcases the diverse talents of its members.
In contert, ALDIVIVA provides something old, something new, something borrowed, and even a bit of the blues! The amazing versatility and cleverness of this group is evident in their performances of works by Vivaldi, Mozart, and Britten interspersed with blues, jazz, and bluegrass. The quartet also features distinctive works by their in-house composer Tully Cathey.
ALDIVIVA has performed in Utah for the Red Butte Garden Concert Series, the Utah Arts Festival, the Brown Bag Series, the Twilight Concert Series (Cedar City), and the Contemporary Music Consortium. Their concerts out of state have included a week residency for the Denver, Colorado branch of Young Audiences and appearances as guest artists with the Colorado Springs Symphony Orchestra.
Concert Recordings
The only known high-quality audio recording of the group is from their July 25th, 1993 performance for the Red Butte Garden Summer Concert Series. (Which was moved to Kingsbury Hall because of rain.)
First Half Audio Second Half Audio
The only other known recording is this low-quality video of their April 25th, 1993 performance for the Westminster Concert Series, which focused on compositions by Tully Cathey.
