Amilcare Zanella 1873-1949

[giles.enders]

Amilcare Castore Zanella  Born 26.9.1873 in Monticelli d'Ongina (Piacenza)  died 9.1.1949 Pesaro

Zanella initially studied in Cremona under Emilie Andreotti and subsequently at the Parma Conservatory under Arrigo Boito, Giovanni Bottesini, Dacci and Ficcarelli, where he studied composition, piano and horn.  In 1893 he went to Buenos Aries where he gave numerous concerts as a conductor and pianist. In 1901 he returned from South America and became the director of The Parma Conservatory in 1903 and two years later replaced Pietro Mascagni as the director of The Licea Musicale, Pesaro where he remained until 1940  He composed about 100 works

Orchestral

Symphony in E minor  1901
'Fede' (Faith) Symphonic Poem  1901
'Vita' (Life) Sumphonic Poem  1907
'Edgar Poe' Symphonic Impression  1921
Fantasia and grande fugato sinfonico a quattro soggetti for piano and orchestra  Op.25  1902
Fantasia Sinfonica  1918
Sinfonia Fantascia  Op.76  1919
Piano Concerto  1897
Poemetto for violin and orchestra   1922
Romance for cello and orchestra 
Elegia e momento frenetico for xylophone and strings

Marcia Eroica for brass band

Chamber

Piano Quintet in D minor  Op.64  1918   pub. by Ricordi.
Piano Trio in E minor  Op.23  1899   pub. by Carisch & Janichen
Piano Trio in G minor  1928
Violin Sonata  1917  pub. by Pizzi
Cello Sonata  in A major  Op.72   pub. by F Bongiovanni, Bologna
String Quartet  in A Op.62  1919   pub. by G Ricordi & C.
String Quartet
Fantasia Orientale for six cellos   available from IMSLP
Nonet  1906
Brass Quintet
Five studies for a hunting horn

Piano

Rustic Festival for piano   1894 (orchestrated 1915)
Il Reve  Op.40
Three mazurkas: In G minor, in G sharp minor, and in A major.  Op.43
Two etudes  Op.44
Two waltz melodies in F and D flat major  Op.51   pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Tempo di minueto in F major Op.54   pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Two piano pieces Op.58/1. Lacrymae rerum in F sharp and Op.58/2 Umoresca in G minor 1917   pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Scherzo-studio  Op.59   pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Due Poemetti in F major and F# minor Op.65  1917   pub. by G Ricordi & C
Introduction and fugue in D major Op.67  1918   pub. by G Ricordi & C

Song

Six pieces for voice and piano (words by Andrea d'Angelo) Op.66 -
1. Il Grillo del natale
2. Desio di voli
3. Enigma
4. Le Nubi folli
5. La Gavotta del rusterio
6. Il Forestiero

Vocal

Messa Requeim for three mens voices and organ  Op.63 1915

Opera

Aura  1910
La Sulamita  1926
Il Revisore  (after Gogol) 1940

[eschiss1]

A lot still only in manuscript, I gather, says someone who's been looking for his music in libraries and scanning some to upload to IMSLP lately. I've had at least a quick look at some of the chamber works that are there and am interested.

His violin and cello sonatas were recorded on Tactus on a CD released in 2007; his 2 piano trios and some piano music have also been recorded on CD.

[Alan Howe]

Thanks for the heads-up on Zanella - a composer completely unknown to me. Try these mouthwatering audio samples:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanella-Chamber-Music-Rogliano/dp/B000XPEWVU/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1359991290&sr=1-3
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amilcare-Zanella-violino-violoncello-pianoforte/dp/B001L9USHY/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk

[JimL]

That Elegia and momento frenetico for xylophone and strings sounds intriguing!