- Born in Sicily, Salvatore Sciarrino (1947) studied visual arts before turning to music. Largely self-taught through independent study of early and modern/contemporary music, he nonetheless received some guidance from Antonio Titone and Turi Belfiore. The first public performance of his music took place in 1962. He completed his studies in Rome and Milan, and was introduced to electronic music by Franco Evangelisti, whom he considers, along with Stockhausen, to be one of his “artistic fathers.”
- Sciarrino feels that his music demonstrates strong historical continuity. His vast catalogue is characterized by a gradual evolution (as opposed to stylistic leaps) toward a musical conceptualization which has been described as “sonic ecology.” Since the beginning of his career in the 1960s, the idea of a distinct “Sciarrino sound” was already present.
- His music is intimate, focused and refined, sustained by microvariations in sonic structures comprising rich timbres and breaths. He developed a sonic universe which is transparent, rarefied and near silence (or “sound zero,” which, for the composer, is also music); it is built upon a multitude of microscopic sounds and almost imperceptible noises, and is reduced to only what is absolutely essential. His works are also marked be the eloquence of their titles, e.g., Esplorazione del bianco (1986) or Cantare con silenzio (1999).
- This new recording was made in celebration of the composer’s 75th birthday, and presents highlights of his chamber music production: three solo pieces (piano, accordion and marimba), four trios, one quartet and one ensemble piece for five musicians. The project includes first world-recordings of two pieces.
- Opificio Sonoro is an ensemble based in Perugia, directed by Marco Momi. They worked closely together with the composer on this unique project.
