for voice (soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, baritone and bass) and piano
CANZONE was composed in commission of the Queen Elisabeth International Music Competition of Belgium for the semi-finals of the 2008 edition.
This composition for voice and piano was written on a poem of Franceso Petrarca.
The sonnet interprets the feelings of loneliness and seclusion of the poet ; he describes his need to isolate himself in order to ordain his inner thoughts and conflicts.
The work has been written for the different voices ; soprano, mezzo, alto, tenor, baritone and bass.
The virtuoso piano score has more than only an accompanying function, it takes care of the psychological support of the singer. Piano and voice constantly comment upon each other.
The complex and differentiated rhythmics are giving the work a free and sometimes nearly improvisational character.
The sound material came about in an intuitive way.
Returning chord constructions and melodical fragments take care of the musical unity.
The prosody of this Italian poem (length of the syllables, tone movements) has been followed faithfully.
Solo e pensoso i piu deserti campi
vo mesurando a passi tardi e lenti,
e gli occhi porto per fuggire intenti
ove vestigio uman l’arena stampi.
Altro schermo non trovo che mi scampi
dal manifesto accorger de le genti,
perché ne gli atti d’allegrezza spenti
di fuor si legge com’io dentro avampi:
si ch’io mi credo omai che monti e piagge
e fiumi e selve sappian di che tempre
sia la mia vita, ch’è celata altrui.
Ma pur si aspre vie né si selvagge
cercar non so ch’Amor non venga sempre
ragionando con meco, et io co llui.
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CD box set with the highlights of the Queen Elisabeth Singing Competition 2008 with CANZONE www.cmireb.be |