Alfredo Casella at Pytheas ~ Contemporary, Modern, New, Non-Pop Art Music Composers, Ensembles & Resources

Alfredo Casella (1883-1947)

Alfredo Casella was an outstanding, if uneven, composer who led several of his contemporaries - Respighi, Malipiero, Pizzetti, and others - in a struggle to modernize Italian music. His interests as a composer and as an author of articles on music were highly cosmopolitan, as may be gathered from his early enthusiasms for Debussy, the Russian nationalists, Strauss, Bartók, and Schoenberg. Yet Casella was also intensely inspired by Italian culture, both its folkways and its Futurism movement. His early works, particularly his first two symphonies (1905 and 1909), were extremely modernistic for their time; that is, they were influenced by Richard Strauss and Gustav Mahler (Casella even transcribed the latter's Seventh Symphony for piano, four hands). But Casella eventually settled into an energetic, spiky neo-Classicism owing much to Stravinsky and something to Ravel. This more personal style became evident with his 1924 ballet La Giara. Ironically, Casella is now remembered less for his original works than for a couple of brilliant pastiches of earlier composers' pieces: Scarlattiana for piano and orchestra, and the vibrant Paganiniana for orchestra. The true breadth of his range and interests is evident from three works, one from each phase of his career: Italia (1910), a orchestral rhapsody based on Italian folk tunes; the neo-Classical Partita for Piano and Orchestra (1925); and the quasi-serialist Missa solemnis pro pace (1944).

- James Reel/AllMusic

COMPOSITIONS                                                            Casella Links ~ ~ ~   Works by Genre
Pavane, piano, op. 1 (1902)
5 lyriques, voice and piano, op. 2 (1902-03)
Variations sur une chaconne, piano, op. 3 (1903)
La cloche felee, voice and piano, op. 7 (1903)
Barcarola et scherzo, flute and piano, op. 4 (1904)
Toccata, piano, op. 6 (1904)
3 lyriques, voice and piano, op. 9 (1905)
Symphony No. 1, op. 5 (1905-06)
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1, op. 8 (1906)
Sarabande, piano, op. 10 (1908)
Symphony No. 2, op. 12 (1908-09)
Italia, rhapsody, orchestra, op. 11 (1909) [using Sicilian and Neopolitan melodies]
Suite in C Major (3 mvts), orchestra, op. 13 (1909-10) [2nd mvt based on Sarabande, op. 10, 1908] ["À Jean Hureé"]
Berceuse triste, piano, op. 14 (1909)
Barcarola, piano, op. 15 (1910)
Sonnet, voice and piano, op. 16 (1910)
A la maniere de…(6 pieces), piano, op. 17 (1911-13)
Le couvent sur l’eau (Il convento veneziano), comédie chorégraphique sur un argument de J. L. Vaudoyer, op. 18 (1912-13)
    - Symphonic suite from the ballet "Le couvent sur l’eau" (5 mvts), op. 19 (1912-13)
Notte di maggio, voice and orchestra, op. 20 (1913)
2 canti, voice and piano, op. 21 (1913)
2 chansons anciennes, voice and piano, op. 22 (1913)
Siciliana et burlesca, flute and piano, op. 23 (1914; revised for Piano Trio, 1917)
9 pezzi (Nine Pieces), piano, op. 24 (1914)
Pagine di guerra, quattro "films" musicali, piano 4-hands, op. 25 (1915; orchestrated, 1918, with new 5th piece)
L’adieu a la vie (4 songs), voice and piano, op. 26 (1915; arr. for voice and 16 instruments, 1926)
Pupazzetti (5 pieces), piano 4-hands, op. 27 (1915; revised for 9 instruments, 1918; orchestrated, 1920)
Sonatina, piano, op. 28 (1916)
Elegia eroica, orchestra, op. 29 (1916)
A notte alta, poema musicale, piano, op. 30 (1917; rev. for piano and orchestra, 1921)
2 contrasts (Grazioso e Anti-grazioso), piano, op. 31 (1916-18)
Inezie, piano, op. 32 (1918)
Prelude, valse et rag (Three pieces), pianola, op. 33 (1918)
Cocktails dance, piano (1918)
5 pezzi (Five Pieces), string quartet, op. 34 (1920)
11 pezzi (Eleven Pieces) for children, piano, op. 35 (1920)
3 canzoni trecentesche, voice and piano, op. 36 (1923)
La sera fiesolana, voice and piano, op. 37 (1923)
4 favole romanesche, voice and piano, op. 38 (1923)
2 liriche, voice and piano, op. 39 (1923)
Concerto, string quartet, op. 40 (1923-24)
La giara, ballet, tenor and orchestra, op. 41 (1924)
    - Suite from the ballet "La giara" (8 mvts), orchestra, op. 41 (1924; from ballet "La giara", tenor and orchestra, 1924)
Partita, piano and orchestra, op. 42 (1924-25)
Concerto romano, organ, brass, timpani and string orchestra, op. 43 (1926)
Scarlattiana (5 mvts), piano and chamber orchestra, op. 44 (1926)
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2, op. 45 (1926)
Serenata (5 mvts), clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin and cello, op. 46 (1927; arr. for small orchestra, 1930, omitting 2nd mvt)
Due canzoni italiane trascritte per pianoforte, op. 47 (1928)
    - Canzone a ballo (Abruzzo)
    - Ninna nanna (Sardegna)
Violin Concerto, A minor, op. 48 (1928)
3 vocalizzi, voice and piano (1929)
Marcia rustica, orchestra, op. 49 (1930; lost?)
La donna serpente, opera, op. 50 (1928-31; 2 Suites for orchestra, 1931)
    - Suite No. 1 from "La donna serpente", orchestra, op. 50 (1931; from the opera, op. 50, 1928-31)
    - Suite No. 2 from "La donna serpente", orchestra, op. 50 (1931; from the opera, op. 50, 1928-31)
La favola d’Orfeo, opera, op. 51 (1932)
2 ricercari sul nome Bach, piano, op. 52 (1932)
Sinfonia, clarinet, trumpet, cello and piano, op. 53 (1932)
Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra, op. 56 (1933)
Introduzione, aria e toccata, orchestra, op. 55 (1933) [2nd mvt based on Sinfonia, op. 53; 3rd mvt based on Conc. romano]
Notturno e tarantella, cello and orchestra, op. 54 (1934) [based on 2nd of “3 vocalizzi”, 1929]
Introductione, corale e Marcia, woodwinds, brass and percussion, op. 57 (1931-35)
Cello Concerto, op. 58 (1934-35)
Sinfonia, arioso e toccata, piano, op. 59 (1936)
Il deserto tentato, mystery in one act, op. 60 (1937)
Concerto for Orchestra, op. 61 (1937)
Sonata a 3, violin, cello and piano, op. 62 (1938) [after Clementi's "Piano Trio", op. 28, no. 2]
Symphony [No. 3], op. 63 (1939-40)
La camero dei disegni, ballet, op. 64 (1940) [partly based on "11 Children’s Pieces", op. 35]
    - Divertimento per Fulvia (10 mvts), orchestra (1940) [suite from ballet " La camero dei disegni", 1940]
Paganiniana (4 mvts), orchestra, op. 65 (1942)
Ricercare sul nome "Guido M. Gatti", piano (1942)
La rosa del sogno, ballet, op. 66 (1943) [partly based on "Paganiniana", op. 65]
3 canti sacri, baritone and organ, op. 67 (1943)
Harp Sonata, op. 68 (1943)
Concerto for Strings, Piano, Timpani and Percussion, op. 69 (1943) [2nd mvt based on 2nd mvt of Harp Sonata, op. 68]
6 Studies, piano, op. 70 (1942-44)
Missa Solemnis "Pro pace", soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op. 71 (1944)

WORKS BY GENRE                                                            Casella Links ~ top of page ~
Dramatic/Theater
Le couvent sur l’eau (Il convento veneziano), comédie chorégraphique sur un argument de J. L. Vaudoyer, op. 18 (1912-13)
La giara, ballet, tenor and orchestra, op. 41 (1924; also Suite for orchestra, 1924)
La donna serpente, opera, op. 50 (1928-31; 2 Suites for orchestra, 1931)
La favola d’Orfeo, opera, op. 51 (1932)
Il deserto tentato, mystery in one act, op. 60 (1937)
La camero dei disegni, ballet, op. 64 (1940) [partly based on "11 Children’s Pieces", op. 35] [orch suite: "Divertimento per Fulvia"]
La rosa del sogno, ballet, op. 66 (1943) [partly based on "Paganiniana", op. 65]

Orchestra
Symphony No. 1, op. 5 (1905-06)
Symphony No. 2, op. 12 (1908-09)
Italia, rhapsody, orchestra, op. 11 (1909) [using Sicilian and Neopolitan melodies]
Suite in C Major (3 mvts), orchestra, op. 13 (1909-10) [2nd mvt based on Sarabande, op. 10, 1908] ["À Jean Hureé"]
    - Ouverture
    - Sarabande
    - Bourée
Symphonic suite from the ballet "Le couvent sur l’eau" (5 mvts), op. 19 (1912-13)
    - Marche de fête (2me acte)
    - Ronde d'enfants (1er acte)
    - Barcarolle; Sarabande (2me acte)
    - Pas des vieilles dames (1er acte)
    - Nocturne; Danse finale (1er acte)
Pagine di guerra, quattro "films" musicali, piano 4-hands, op. 25 (1915; orchestrated, 1918, with new 5th piece)
Pupazzetti (5 pieces), piano 4-hands, op. 27 (1915; revised for 9 instruments, 1918; orchestrated, 1920)
Elegia eroica, orchestra, op. 29 (1916)
Suite from the ballet "La giara" (8 mvts), orchestra, op. 41 (1924; from ballet "La giara", tenor and orchestra, 1924)
    - Preludio
    - Chiovu: Danza popolare siciliana
    - "La storia della fanciulla rapita dai pirati"
    - Danza di Nela
    - Entrata dei contadini
    - Brindisi
    - Danza generale
    - Finale
Serenata (5 mvts), clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin and cello, op. 46 (1927; arr. for small orchestra, 1930, omitting 2nd mvt)
Marcia rustica, orchestra, op. 49 (1930; lost?)
Suite No. 1 from "La donna serpente", orchestra, op. 50 (1931; from the opera, op. 50, 1928-31)
Suite No. 2 from "La donna serpente", orchestra, op. 50 (1931; from the opera, op. 50, 1928-31)
Introduzione, aria e toccata, orchestra, op. 55 (1933) [2nd mvt based on Sinfonia, op. 53; 3rd mvt based on Conc. romano]
Introductione, corale e Marcia, woodwinds, brass and percussion, op. 57 (1931-35)
Concerto for Orchestra, op. 61 (1937)
Symphony [No. 3], op. 63 (1939-40)
Divertimento per Fulvia (10 mvts), orchestra (1940) [suite from ballet " La camero dei disegni", 1940]
    - Sinfonia
    - Allegretto
    - Valzer diatonico
    - Siciliana
    - Giga
    - Carillon
    - Galoppo
    - Appendice (Allegro veloce)
    - Valzer
    - Apoteosi
Paganiniana (4 mvts), orchestra, op. 65 (1942)
    - Allegro agitato
    - Polacchetta: Allegretto moderato
    - Romanza: Larghetto cantabile amoroso
    - Tarantella: Presto molto
Concerto for Strings, Piano, Timpani and Percussion, op. 69 (1943) [2nd mvt based on 2nd mvt of Harp Sonata, op. 68]

Band
Introductione, corale e Marcia, woodwinds, brass and percussion, op. 57 (1931-35)

Soloist(s) w/Orchestra
A notte alta, poema musicale, piano, op. 30 (1917; rev. for piano and orchestra, 1921)
Partita, piano and orchestra, op. 42 (1924-25)
Concerto romano, organ, brass, timpani and string orchestra, op. 43 (1926)
Scarlattiana (5 mvts), piano and chamber orchestra, op. 44 (1926)
    - Sinfonia
    - Minuetto
    - Capriccio
    - Pastorale
    - Finale
Violin Concerto, A minor, op. 48 (1928)
Concerto for Violin, Cello, Piano and Orchestra, op. 56 (1933)
Notturno e tarantella, cello and orchestra, op. 54 (1934) [based on 2nd of “3 vocalizzi”, 1929]
Cello Concerto, op. 58 (1934-35)

Chorus w/Orchestra
Missa Solemnis "Pro pace", soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra, op. 71 (1944)

Chamber
Siciliana et burlesca, violin, cello and piano, op. 23 (1914; rev. 1917 from original work for flute and piano)
Pupazzetti (5 pieces), piano 4-hands, op. 27 (1915; revised for 9 instruments, 1918; orchestrated, 1920)
5 pezzi (Five Pieces), string quartet, op. 34 (1920)
    - Preludio
    - Ninna-nanna
    - Valse ridicule
    - Notturno
    - Fox-trot
Concerto, string quartet, op. 40 (1923-24)
Serenata (5 mvts), clarinet, bassoon, trumpet, violin and cello, op. 46 (1927; arr. for small orchestra, 1930, omitting 2nd mvt)
    - Marcia
    - Notturno
    - Gavotta
    - Cavatina
    - Finale
Sinfonia, clarinet, trumpet, cello and piano, op. 53 (1932)
Sonata a 3, violin, cello and piano, op. 62 (1938) [after Clementi's "Piano Trio", op. 28, no. 2]

Solo Instrument
Barcarola et scherzo, flute and piano, op. 4 (1904)
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 1, op. 8 (1906)
Siciliana et burlesca, flute and piano, op. 23 (1914; revised for Piano Trio, 1917)
Sonata for Cello and Piano No. 2, op. 45 (1926)
Harp Sonata, op. 68 (1943)

Piano
Pavane, piano, op. 1 (1902)
Variations sur une chaconne, piano, op. 3 (1903)
Toccata, piano, op. 6 (1904)
Sarabande, piano, op. 10 (1908)
Berceuse triste, piano, op. 14 (1909)
Barcarola, piano, op. 15 (1910)
A la maniere de…(6 pieces), piano, op. 17 (1911-13)
    - Wagner: Einleitung des 3 Aufzuges
    - Fauré: Romance sans paroles
    - Brahms: Intermezzo
    - Debussy: Entr'acte pour un drame en preparation
    - Strauss: Symphonia molestica
    - Franck: Aria
9 pezzi (Nine Pieces), piano, op. 24 (1914)
    - In modo funebre
    - In modo barbaro
    - In modo elegiaco
    - In modo burlesco
    - In modo esotico
    - In modo di nenia
    - In modo di minuetto
    - In modo di tango
    - In modo rustico
Pagine di guerra, quattro "films" musicali, piano 4-hands, op. 25 (1915; orchestrated, 1918, with new 5th piece)
    - Nel Belgio: sfilata di artiglieria pesante tedesca
    - In Francia: davanti alle rovine della cattedrale di Reims
    - In Russia: carica di cavalleria cosacca
    - In Alsazia: croci di legno . . .
Pupazzetti (5 pieces), piano 4-hands, op. 27 (1915; revised for 9 instruments, 1918; orchestrated, 1920)
    - Marcietta
    - Berceuse
    - Serenata
    - Notturnino
    - Polka
Sonatina, piano, op. 28 (1916)
A notte alta, poema musicale, piano, op. 30 (1917; rev. for piano and orchestra, 1921)
2 contrasts (Grazioso e Anti-grazioso), piano, op. 31 (1916-18)
Inezie, piano, op. 32 (1918)
Prelude, valse et rag (Three pieces), pianola, op. 33 (1918)
Cocktails dance, piano (1918)
11 pezzi (Eleven Pieces) for children, piano, op. 35 (1920)
    - Preludio
    - Valse diatonique (sui tasti bianchi)
    - Canone (sui tasti neri)
    - Bolero
    - In omaggio a Clementi
    - Siciliana
    - Giga
    - Minuetto
    - Carillon
    - Berceuse
    - Galop final
Due canzoni italiane trascritte per pianoforte, op. 47 (1928)
    - Canzone a ballo (Abruzzo)
    - Ninna nanna (Sardegna)
2 ricercari sul nome Bach, piano, op. 52 (1932)
Sinfonia, arioso e toccata, piano, op. 59 (1936)
Ricercare sul nome "Guido M. Gatti", piano (1942)
6 Studies, piano, op. 70 (1942-44)
    - On Major Thirds
    - On Major and Minor Sevenths
    - Legato on Fourths
    - On Repeated Notes
    - On Fifths (Homage to Chopin No. 2)
    - Perpetuum Mobile (Toccata)

Vocal
5 lyriques, voice and piano, op. 2 (1902-03) [text: Jean Richepin]
La cloche felee, voice and piano, op. 7 (1903)
3 lyriques, voice and piano, op. 9 (1905)
    - Soir Païen [text: Albert Victor Samain]
    - Soleils couchants [text: Paul Verlaine]
    - En ramant [text: Jean Richepin]
Sonnet, voice and piano, op. 16 (1910)
Notte di maggio, voice and orchestra, op. 20 (1913)
2 canti, voice and piano, op. 21 (1913) [text: G. Carducci]
    - Pianto antico
    - Il bove
2 chansons anciennes, voice and piano, op. 22 (1913)
    - Golden slumbers kiss your eyes [text: Thomas Dekker]
    - Flaïolet [text: 13th century]
L’adieu a la vie, voice and piano, op. 26 (1915; arr. for voice & 16 instruments, 1926) [text: André Gide after Rabindranath Tagore]
(quatre lyriques funèbres extraites du "Gitanjali" de Rabindranath Tagore)
    - O toi, suprême accomplissement de la vie
    - Mort, ta servante est à ma porte
    - A cette heure du départ
    - Dans une salutation suprême, mon Dieu
3 canzoni trecentesche, voice and piano, op. 36 (1923)
    - Giovane bella, luce del mio core [text: Cino da Pistoia]
    - Fuor de la bella gaiba [text: 14th century]
    - Amante sono, vaghiccia, di voi
La sera fiesolana, voice and piano, op. 37 (1923) [Laude di Gabriele d'Annunzio]
4 favole romanesche, voice and piano, op. 38 (1923) [text: Carlo Alberto Salustri]
    - Er coccodrillo
    - La carità
    - Er gatto e er cane
    - L'elezzione der presidente
2 liriche, voice and piano, op. 39 (1923) [text: from "Lo specchio" by R. Olkienzkaia-Naldi]
    - La voluttà
    - La danza
La giara, ballet, for tenor and orchestra, op. 41 (1924; also Suite for orchestra, 1924)
3 vocalizzi, voice and piano (1929)
3 canti sacri, baritone and organ, op. 67 (1943)
    - Ecce odor filii mei
    - Respice, Domine, familiam tuam
    - Ecce Deus Salvator meus

CASELLA LINKS                                                            Works by Genre    ~ top of page ~
Ezra Pound, Alfredo Casella, and the Fascist Cultural Nationalism of the Vivaldi Revival (Catherine Paul)

Composer website [none at the moment]   . . . inquire about Alfredo Casella:

Casella @ Wikipedia
Casella @ Wikipedia (Italian)
Casella @ Answers.com
Casella @ Audiophile Audition
Casella @ Bach Cantatas
Casella @ Basic Music
Casella @ Biographicon
Casella @ Classic Cat
Casella @ Classical.com
Casella @ Classical Archives
Casella @ Classical Composers Database
Casella @ Classical Net
Casella @ The Classical Source     also     here
Casella @ ClassicsToday
Casella @ Dr. Estrella's Incredibly Abridged Dictionary of Composers
Casella @ Facebook
Casella @ Fondazione Giorgio Cini/Casella Collection
Casella @ IMSLP/Petrucci Music Library
Casella @ Infoplease
Casella @ InstantEncore
Casella @ Karadar Classical Music
Casella @ Klassica
Casella @ MSN Music
Casella @ MusicWeb International
Casella @ MySpaceMusic
Casella @ Naxos
Casella @ The New York Times
Casella @ NNDB
Casella @ pianofiles.com
Casella @ Phoenix Records
Casella @ REC Music Foundation /The Lied and Art Song Texts Page
Casella @ SoundUnwound
Casella @ spiritus-temporis.com
Casella @ St. David's Blog

Publisher
Casella @ Carisch
Casella @ Chester Novello
Casella @ Kalmus
Casella @ A.Z. Mathot
Casella @ Masters Music
Casella @ MPH, Musikproduktion Holflich
Casella @ Ricordi
Casella @ G. Schirmer
Casella @ Schott Music
Casella @ Universal Edition

Streaming Audio
Casella @ Classical.com
Casella @ The Classical MIDI Connection
Casella @ Classical Archives
Casella @ last.fm
Casella @ MySpaceMusic
Casella @ Rhapsody.com

Recordings
Casella @ ArkivMusic
Casella @ ClassicsOnline
Casella @ Discogs

Video
Casella @ YouTube
Casella @ Google Video

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Pytheas Center for Contemporary Music

Alfredo Casella (1883-1947)