CANTI DELL'ESTASI / SONGS OF BLISS #01: VENI CREATOR SPIRITUS

EN - This composition is the first in the series to be included in the open collection Songs Of Bliss, a songbook of pieces reminiscent of the mystics from all traditions who used to break out in spontaneous outburst of sung poems to express a bliss too great to communicate in words. My intention is to renew this feeling and convey it in a contemporary musical vehicle beyond any style or genre.

My arrangement of this classic gregorian chant wants to channel energy and vigour in the music, trying to preserve the soaring and volatile character of the original melody. The theme is expoded twice, first in the original major mode then transposed in the phrygian mode, adding some dark and ambiguos flavour to light of this hymn. A simple I-IV tonal sequence follows opening up the way to a short improvisation that reaches the climax in the end of this intense performance.

The beautiful setting of the Basilica dei Servi di Maria in Bologna add further colour to sound of the tenor saxophone, like a huge resonating chamber in the great tradition of early christian music.

IT - Questa composizione è la prima nella serie destinata alla collezione aperta Canti dell'Estasi, una raccolta di brani che richiama alla memoria i mistici di tutte le tradizioni che erano soliti esprimere le loro epifanie in forma di melodie spontanee e poemi cantati per comunicare una beatitudine indescrivibile a parole. La mia intenzione è rinnovare questo sentimento attraverso un veicolo musicale contemporaneo al di là di qualsiasi stile o genere.

Il mio arrangiamento di questo classico canto gregoriano vuole infondere energia e vigore nella musica, cercando di conservare il carattere alto e volatile della melodia originale. Il tema viene esposto due volte, prima nel consueto modo maggiore poi trasposto nel modo frigio, per aggiungere un gusto scuro e ambiguo alla luce di questo inno. Segue una semplice sequenza tonale di I e IV grado che apre la strada a una breve improvvisazione che raggiunge il suo apice fine di questa intensa performance. La splendida cornice della Basilica dei Servi di Maria a Bologna conferisce ulteriore colore al suono del sassofono tenore, come una enorme cassa di risonaza nella grande tradizione della musica cristiana antica.

Location: Str. Maggiore, 43, 40125 Bologna BO, Italy

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