Zerega's Spanish Troubadours

Zerega's Spanish Troubadours were a mandolin and guitar ensemble active at the end of the 19th century in England.The Classical Mandolin, "The Heyday of the Mandolin in Europe", Oxford University Press, 2005, , 9780195173376 (page 90) They were directed by Eduardo Zerega, known in the mandolin world for a single work, Souvenir de Bovio. Less well known is the untimely death of his wife in 1896 in New York, that was described in the newspapers of the day, as the "Zerega Mystery". Zerega was the stage name of Edgar Hill and his wife May. While the Zerega's promoted themselves as from Madrid, Spain,"Zerega's Spanish Minstrels, c. 1890 ", British Library Evanion catalogue .Retrieved 2 January 2017 the Hills were born in Indiana, but moved to London shortly after they were married.

Zerega's Spanish Troubadours

In America in 1887, the 5-piece troupe toured as "Zerega's Royal Spanish Troubadours" to favourable reviews,"The Troubadoars", Los Angeles Herald, Volume 27, Number 154, 6 September 1887, page 9 in San Rafael,"Local Intelligence", Marin Journal, Volume 27, Number 23, 18 August 1887, page 2 Los Angeles,"The Spanish Troubadours", Los Angeles Herald, Volume 27, Number 152, 4 September 1887, page 6 San Bernardino Opera House,Hauser, Mark, "Vaudeville, Popular Entertainment and Cultural Division in the Inland Empire, 1880-1914" (2013). CGU Theses & Dissertations. Paper 78, page 72 and Sacramento."The Royal Spanish Troubadours", Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 58, Number 26, 20 September 1887, page 3 A review noted:"The Royal Spanish Troubadours", Sacramento Daily Union, Volume 58, Number 26, 20 September 1887, page 3, column 2

In England in 1888, they billed themselves as "The Zerega Spanish Troubadours", consisting of "two on mandolin and guitar, with tambourine, castanet and fairy-bell accompaniments", appearing at the Royal Albert Hall, West Theatre."Entertainments &c", The Times (London, England), Thursday, 21 June 1888; p. 1; Issue 32418, Col. 2. They also toured as "Zerega's Spanish Minstrels". On 17 and 21 August 1895, "These famous Mandoline and Guitar Players, Singers, and Dancers had the honour of appearing before her Majesty the Queen [Victoria] [at] Osborne House",St James's Gazette, London, Wednesday 6 November 1895 ($$) and performed the following programme:"Court Circular", London Evening Standard, 19 August 1895, page 3 ($$) Overture, "El Secreto" .. Thomas Jota, "Zaragosa" .. Zerega Mandoline Solo .. Senor Zerega Concert Vals "La Troubadours" .. Granados Overture, "Pique Dame" .. Suppe Flores de Espana .. Zerega Song, "Los Sacamuelas" .. Gomez Dance, "La Cachucka" and "La Chinita" .. Viega Serenata, "Granados" .. Zerega Song, "Me Gustan" .. Perez Dance, "Ole" .. Moro Capricho, "The Circus" .. Zerega

E. Zerega

Personal

Eduardo Zerega was born Edgar E. Hill around 1860 in Columbus, Indiana, USA.Edgar E Hill, "United States Census, 1870," database with images, FamilySearch On 21 April 1880 he married May D Keith in Bartholomew, Indiana.Marriage of Edgar E Hill and May D Keith, 21 April 1880, "Indiana Marriages, 1811-2007," database with images, FamilySearch Because the marriage was opposed by her father, the couple left Columbus, and went to live in London."Unique Case Recalled", Indianapolis Journal, Volume 50, Number 55, Indianapolis, Marion County, 24 February 1900, page 8 column 3. When visiting New York in 1896, the papers described him as "about five feet five inches in height, and strongly built"."Zerega and Hill are One", New York Journal, Monday, September 28, 1896. For a time in England, Eduardo Zerego claimed to be a Spanish national,Eduardo Zerega, "England and Wales Census, 1901," database, FamilySearch before confirming his American citizenship.Eduardo Zerega, "England and Wales Census, 1911," database, FamilySearch He died in London on 22 July 1922,"Eduardo Zerego, deceased", The London Gazette, 15 September 1922, page 6679 leaving effects of £5,105,"Zerega", England & Wales, National Probate Calendar (Index of Wills and Administrations), 1858-1966, page 479 (worth about £250,000 now).

The Zeragas had one daughter, Chinita Zerega, born around 1882. As a youngster, she often appeared with the Spanish Troubadours, sometimes credited as "Chinita Gomez Zerega",Morning Post, London, Thursday 21 June 1894 ($$) and also billed as "La Chinita: The Little Dancer", who also performed for Queen Victoria in 1895."Chit Chat", Thursday 22 August 1895, The Stage, London, page 11 ($$) In 1903, she was performing with a Mme Nińa Lewelin in their own ensemble, Los Trobadores, described as "Mandolinists, Guitarists, Banjoists, Vocalists and Dancers".Harrods catalogue, 1903, page 1021, at www.lookandlearn.com (web) In 1911, she was performing in Singapore in her own production called "La Pandera", described as "Novel Attraction" and "Typical Dance of Aragona".The Singapore Free Press and Mercantile Advertiser, 27 September 1911, page 1, at Singapore National Library Board (web)

Souvenir de Bovio Souvenir de Bovio (translation: Souvenir of the Groom) is a romance, and described as the only composition by E. Zerega from around 1900.Alison Stephens, "Introduction", Souvenir de Bovio for mandolin and guitar by E. Zerega, published 2009, Astute Music, ISMN 979 57031 105 7 A recording by mandolinist Hugo D'Alton accompanied by pianist Clifton Helliwell was released in 1961 on the Collectors Record label."Hugo D'Alton mandoline accompanied by Clifton Helliwell piano", 1961, 7-in vinyl, Collectors Record label, Selection Records, JEC 507 (MusicBrainz entry) In 2009, mandolinist Alison Stephens arranged the piece for mandolin with Craig Ogden on guitar, and released it on their CD Souvenirs."Souvenirs For Mandolin And Guitar" Alison Stephens (mandolin), Craig Ogdon (guitar), 1 Sept. 2009, Chandos label, Catalog No. 10563 (web)

The Zerega Mystery

On 6 May 1896, a woman registered at the Colonnade Hotel, Lafayette Place, New York, as "Mrs Everett of Boston". Two days later, she committed suicide by shooting herself with a revolver through the left ear."Suicide of a woman", The Call (San Francisco), Volume 79, Number 161, 9 May 1896, page 1, column 6"Identifies the New York Suicide", The Chicago Daily Tribune, Vol. LV., No. 140, Tuesday 19 May 1896, front page"The Zerega Mystery", Rome semi-weekly citizen (New York), Friday 22 May 1896, page 2, column 5 The suicide note read: "Hereditary insanity. Please cremate and pay landlord for damages, etc. Have no family, so beg that my wishes be observed" There was soon speculation as to the identity of the woman, and there were suspicions (incorrectly) that she was a French woman called Louise Lansburg. But eventually she was identified from the manufacturer's name on her gloves and a scrap of printed label, which led to "Mrs Everett" being identified as Mrs E. Zerega,"Are Now Sure That She Was Mrs Hill", The Journal, May 20, 1896 whose name appeared on the passenger manifest of the USS Saint Paul, and that she was Mrs Edgar E. Hill. A positive identification was made by her father-in-law ex-Judge Ralph Hill of Indianapolis.

Before she died, May had gone to a New York lawyer to ensure that $5,000 worth of property she owned in Indiana would be bequeathed to her husband. Four years after her death, her will was successfully contested by her aunt on the grounds of "unsoundness of mind".

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