Carnevale Compositions

Dear PS:
another 3 my compositions:
- Roberto Carnevale: Eco d’un battito d’ali (Per Francesco Pennisi) for piano and vibraphone (2003), Graziella Concas piano, Giovanni Caruso vibraphone; live recording; It is based on the last notes of the last composition (Farfalle) by Francesco Pennisi, italian composer (1934- 2000).
- Roberto Carnevale: Quattro Variazioni ancora sul tema di… for 2 pianos and percussions (1998), Roberto Carnevale piano, Corrado Ratto piano, Giovanni Caruso percussions; live recording; It is based on the famous Paganini Theme.
- Roberto Carnevale: Ve lo ricordate? for 2 pianos and wind quintet (2001), Roberto Carnevale piano, Corrado Ratto piano, & Ensemble Belliniano; live recording; It is a minimalist composition with fragments in bachian style.

Ciao.
Roberto

Carnevale - Quattro Variazioni ancora sul tema di… for two pianos and percussion ( 6:00 )
Carnevale - Eco d'un battito d'ali (Per Francesco Pennisi) for piano and vibraphone ( 3:02 )
Carnevale - Ve lo ricordate? for two pianos and wind quintet ( 7:32 )

 

Sorry it took a while to respond. I will here give my personal opinion about these compositions.

The Variazioni are original and ingenious. I itensely hate Paganini's music but some of his themes surely had great potential and will never cease to inspire musicians. I do not quite understand the sudden snatches of Contrapunctus 11, they seem to serve no purpose but it is always nice to hear some Bach amidst all the contemporary devices. The final variation initially reminds me of I miei orologi but I dislike the brutal and harsh turn to double glissandi and drums. This seems to sit at odds with your usual subtlety and refinement, and I would have liked this composition better without it.

Eco d'un batutto d'ali sounds nice but very static and monotone. I't is probably meant to sound that way. The combination of piano and vibraphone seems one with possibilities. I wish you had done a bit more to expoit that.

I like the breezy atmosphere of Ve lo ricordate, I heard the influence of John Adams even before I notice you said it was a minimalist composition. Again you could not resist throwing in a snippet of Contrapunctus 11. When will you be submitting your recording of the Art of Fugue ? Is there a logical reason why you insert this episode ? I noticed some ill-synchronized attack here - was that done for a purpose ? There is a soft, cicada-like rasping sound throughout this piece which I am unable to decide whether it's an exotic percussion instrument or a creaking chair. The deliberate (?) wrong closing note is quite funny. All in all, I think this is a strong piece.

I will put all these on the site shortly.

 

ciao

Dear Chris:
thank you for your remarks. I love Kunst der Fuge. I studied this masterpiece, and I hope to play.(I studied the 2 pianos version)
Ciao. Rob