This is a deeply-felt, moving musical memorial to the fallen in battle, with a final section that seems to evoke the memory of a long-lost innocence. A quite impressive work.
I didn't know this music existed until today. I have a chance to hear this piece played by the National Symphony in Washington, DC this week. It is billed as the first time the orchestra has offered music by Casella, which I find that hard to believe in light of the Coolidge endowment money he got through the Library of Congress. MANY thanks for posting this rarity.
Finding a proper style to pay a tribute to a soldier died during the war is quite difficult. Any form of parody of military music should of course be avoided. Casella chose a contrasted style, in which massive blocks of dissonant music alternate with more lyric but severe parts. All in all, Cassella succeeded in finding the proper tone in that music full of dignity and dark hieratism.
This is a deeply-felt, moving musical memorial to the fallen in battle, with a final section that seems to evoke the memory of a long-lost innocence. A quite impressive work.
I didn't know this music existed until today. I have a chance to hear this piece played by the National Symphony in Washington, DC this week. It is billed as the first time the orchestra has offered music by Casella, which I find that hard to believe in light of the Coolidge endowment money he got through the Library of Congress. MANY thanks for posting this rarity.
Capolavoro musicale.Maestro Casella IMMENSO
One of the most disturbing pieces I have ever heard. 10:00-11:00 Yikes! Thank God for the peaceful section with the celesta in 14:00-15:00.
Finding a proper style to pay a tribute to a soldier died during the war is quite difficult. Any form of parody of military music should of course be avoided. Casella chose a contrasted style, in which massive blocks of dissonant music alternate with more lyric but severe parts. All in all, Cassella succeeded in finding the proper tone in that music full of dignity and dark hieratism.
At 15:29 the trumpet plays the First notes of the Italian National anthems.
Casella has been getting attentions in recent years, only.