Celebrating Italy’s unity

A series of programmes will be held to mark the 150th anniversary of its unity at the Lionel Wendt Theatre on August 7 at 7 pm. The event is conducted by the Chamber Music Society of Colombo based on classical music from the Italian tradition, including pieces from such masters as Vivaldi, Verdi, Respighi, Scarlatti, Monteverdi. The event will be free, giving an opportunity to strengthen the relations between Sri Lanka and Italy. Tickets will be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis.

Antonio Vivaldi

Il prete rosso (The Red Priest), as Vivaldi was called, is best known for his “Gloria” and the ubiquitous Le quattro stagioni (The Four Seasons), and less for his other hundreds of concerti for a variety of instruments. Both concerti this evening have his characteristic vibrant rhythms, flowing melodies, pictorial instrumental effects, and instrumental technique that would later inspire Bach and Handel, and would come to epitomise Baroque music in general.

They were intended to be performed by a talented group of female musicians at the Ospedale della Pietà, a home for abandoned children.

Vivaldi wrote about 50 operas. “The Coronation of Darius”, the story of three claimants to the throne of King Cyrus II of Persia, is in three acts. It was first performed at the Teatro Sant’Angelo in Venice in 1717.

Artemio Motta : The least familiar composer this evening, was both a member of a wealthy Modena family as well as a Catholic priest. This concerto for five string parts (with a prominent principal violin, called “concerto a cinque”), is the sixth of a set of ten. The musical language has a similarity to that of Giuseppe Torelli (1658-1709). Note the unusual order of the movements – the quickest movement is the first.

Ottorino Respighi : Respighi, the most famous Italian composer of the last century, is remembered for his three opulent Roman tone poems for very large orchestras. In contrast, the Suites of Ancient Airs and Dances (1931) are for the intimacy of strings alone, and hark back to the baroque. The tonal palette is coloured with a light sprinkling of post-romantic harmony. Both these tunes from the third suite originally written for the lute, are of unknown origin, and form the first and third parts respectively of the four-movement Suite, and are archetypical of rural Italy.

Arcangelo Corelli: The Christmas Concerto for strings as it is known in the English-speaking world, is famous both for its liveliness as well as its serene slow movements. Published posthumously in 1714, it is dedicated to Cardinal Pietro Ottoboni. You may have heard excerpts from it in the movie Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World. Listen to the perfection of the harmonic communion between the two violin parts, in the third moment Adagio. It predates the achievement in the “Bach Double” by at least 16 years.

Giovanni Gabrieli : The Gabrieli family were the culmination of the Venetian School, and formed the bridge between the Renaissance and Baroque styles. The most eminent was Giovanni, who was principal organist and composer at St. Mark’s Basilica in Venice. These two examples, simply entitled “first and second song”, are among the earliest “songs” clearly written for instrumental, rather than vocal performance. These arrangements are for pairs of trumpets and trombones.

Claudio Monteverdi : This four-part song is found in the Fourth Book (of nine) of Madrigals (1603). The music brings to mind the beauty of nature. There are pictorial effects depicting the wind and the sea. Listen to the shock of two dissonant strikes towards the end, representing the pain of birth and the suffering caused by being taken from the womb. This arrangement is for two trumpets and two trombones.

Alessandro Scarlatti: Alessandro Scarlatti was born in Palermo, Sicily, and is remembered for his numerous operas and chamber cantatas. This “Sinfonia di concerto grosso” dates from c. 1715, and was scored for flute, trumpet and strings. It is the second of a set of five composed in Naples, and is in five movements. This arrangement is for strings alone.

Domenico Gabrielli : Bologna-born Domenico, as far as we know, was not related to the Venetian Gabrieli family. A famed cello virtuoso, he was known as “Meneghino del violoncello” (the little cello Domenico). The fifth sonata (of six) is scored for trumpet, strings and basso continuo. The concluding Presto is an exciting display of trumpet virtuosity.

Giuseppe Verdi: This vivacious drinking song (Brindisi), sung by Violetta (soprano) and Alfredo (tenor) with the chorus, is heard at the beginning of the first act (of three). It is considered one of the most popular songs stemming from Italian opera. Verdi being the quintessential opera composer, this ensemble arranged here for orchestra alone, is as Italian as they come.