Effective period / Period of releases: 1918 - 1925

Members: Giuseppe Tarantola, Carmelo Ferruggia, Rosario Catalano, Girolamo Tumbarello

The quartet consisted of Rosario Catalano (b. Marsala 1886, d. New York 1925), mandolinist and director of the ensemble, Giuseppe Tarantola (b. Camporeale 1884, d. New York 1945), clarinet, Carmelo Ferruggia (or Farruggia, b. prob. Agrigento 1862), guitar, and Girolamo Tumbarello (b. Marsala 1879, d. Brooklyn, NY, 1933), alternatively to the double bass or bassotuba.

The musical style... is characterized by the constant and dominant presence of the clarinet, almost always used with much freedom of interpretation compared to the score and often driven towards virtuosity. Also important in the group's instrumentation was the mandolin, which at times doubled the main lines of the melody, but most often providing counterpoint and harmony. The guitar and bass ensure the rhythmic-harmonic support always have a steady, unsyncopated beat.