The Companion Guide to Rome explained

The Companion Guide to Rome is a composition for string trio by the American composer Andrew Norman. The complete work was first performed on May 30, 2010, by the Scharoun Ensemble at Radialsystem V in Berlin.[1] The composition was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music.[2] [3] [4]

Composition

Structure

The Companion Guide to Rome has a duration of roughly 30 minutes and is composed in nine movements:

  1. Teresa
  2. Benedetto
  3. Susanna
  4. Pietro
  5. Ivo
  6. Clemente
  7. Lorenzo
  8. Cecilia
  9. Sabina

The ninth movement, "Sabina," was originally composed as a standalone piece in 2006 for the Janaki String Trio. It can be performed separately or as part of the complete work.

Inspiration

The title of the work comes from the eponymous 1965 guidebook to Rome by Georgina Masson. The movements thus commemorate nine of Norman's favorite Roman churches mentioned in the text. Norman wrote in the score program note:The inspiration for each movement is as follows:[5]

  1. Teresa: The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome
  2. Benedetto: the Cosmatesque floors in San Benedetto in Piscinula
  3. Susanna: a fresco of the Mary in Majesty in the Chiesa di Santa Susanna
  4. Pietro: Donato Bramante's Tempietto
  5. Ivo: Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza
  6. Clemente: Basilica di San Clemente
  7. Lorenzo: a part of the Cosmatesque floor in the Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo fuori la mura
  8. Cecilia: The statue of St. Cecelia by Stefano Maderno in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
  9. Sabina: Santa Sabina

Notes and References

  1. [Andrew Norman (composer)|Norman, Andrew]
  2. Web site: Berger . Kevin . Composer Andrew Norman's imagination has taken residence . . September 22, 2012 . December 25, 2015.
  3. Web site: Oteri . Frank J. . KEVIN PUTS WINS 2012 PULITZER PRIZE . . April 16, 2012 . December 25, 2015.
  4. Web site: Sirota . Nadia . Bonus Track: "Sabina" from The Companion Guide to Rome by Andrew Norman . . August 12, 2014 . December 25, 2015.
  5. Book: Lanzilotti, Anne. Andrew Norman's "The Companion Guide to Rome": Influence of Architecture and Visual Art on Composition. PhD diss, Manhattan School of Music. 2016.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "The Companion Guide to Rome".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.