In Barletta, the musical manuscripts created in prison by the guitarist Federico Orsolino

The great Genoese guitarist and composer wrote them during his military internment. Today they are preserved and protected in Barletta, awaiting the Citadel of Concentrationary Music.

The holdings of the Institute of Concentrationary Musical Literature (ILMC) Foundation have been enriched by a precious donation of musical manuscripts written in captivity during the Second World War. These are the manuscripts of works for seven-string guitar written by the Genoese guitarist and composer Federico Orsolino (1918–1993) during his military internment in concentration camps opened by the Third Reich during World War II.

Among the most important musicians on the Italian guitar scene, from October 1942 to May 1943 Federico Orsolino was an officer in the Pasubio Division during the disastrous ARMIR expedition to the Soviet Union, miraculously surviving during the retreat. In July 1943, he was transferred to Verona for service, but in the aftermath of the armistice of September 8, 1943, he was taken prisoner by German troops and interned in Muhlberg, Przemysl, Kustrin, Sandbostel, and finally in Wietzendorf.

During his final period of internment, Orsolino managed to acquire a guitar, which allowed him to resume his studies and perform small concerts in the concentration camps. While in prison, he wrote several works for seven-string guitar, including Preghiera, Notturno, and Sogno, among others.

Orsolino was the most authoritative promoter of the seven-string guitar, with the addition of a seventh string on the bass, unlike the seven-string guitar used in Russia and tuned in thirds. After the war, Orsolino continued his studies, wrote several works and arrangements for seven-string guitar, and wrote articles for specialized magazines. Alongside his promotional work, he also taught (including in collaboration with guitarist Elisabetta Tagore) and provided preparatory training, writing a first Method for Guitar in 12 Lessons and "The First 48 Guitar Lessons," published in 1962 by Farfisa.

In 1968 he began an intense concert activity on the lute in a duo with the singer Lisina Casalone Brezzi, presenting Renaissance music for voice and lute or for lute solo; among his works, noteworthy are the Sonata for Guitar (a masterful work performed several times in concert), Capriccio napoletano, Toccata, Ricercare and Fantasia.

Paolo Orsolino and his sister Elisabetta, children of the Genoese guitarist and composer, donated the manuscripts to the ILMC Foundation, which have been catalogued and will be housed in the museum collection of the Cittadella della Musica Concentrazionaria in Barletta. ILMC Foundation President Francesco Lotoro stated: "I have known my dear friend Paolo Orsolino for years and was aware of the painstaking work he has done to disseminate the invaluable guitar work created by his father, Federico Orsolino, during and after his tragic experience in the Soviet Union and as an Italian Military Internee. A prestigious guitar competition dedicated to Federico Orsolino is held every two years in Genoa, and Paolo is among its most authoritative promoters. We will do everything we can to live up to the donation and promote Orsolino's great seven-string guitar literature internationally. The ILMC Foundation established a publishing house (ILMC Edizioni) months ago, and this has made us even more motivated to publish the works of concentration camp music literature, and even more so, the beautiful works for guitar and seven-string guitar created by this great Italian composer."