Composer

:

Luigi Nono

Genre

:

Vocal

Style

:

Vocal Music

Compose Date

:

1962

Average_duration

:

10:42

'Canti di vita e d'amore: Sul Ponte di Hiroshima' is a composition by Italian composer Luigi Nono. It was composed in 1961-62 and premiered on September 22, 1962, at the Venice Biennale. The work is divided into three movements and is scored for soprano, tenor, and bass soloists, mixed choir, and orchestra. The first movement, titled "Sul Ponte di Hiroshima," is a setting of a poem by Japanese poet Toge Sankichi, who survived the atomic bombing of Hiroshima. The movement begins with a hauntingly beautiful choral introduction, which is followed by the soloists singing the poem's text. The music is characterized by its use of dissonant harmonies and extended vocal techniques, such as whispering and speaking. The second movement, titled "La Fabbrica Illuminata," is a setting of a poem by Italian poet and political activist Pier Paolo Pasolini. The movement is a scathing critique of industrialization and its impact on the working class. The music is characterized by its use of harsh, dissonant harmonies and angular melodies. The third and final movement, titled "Canti di Vita e d'Amore: Sul Ponte di Hiroshima," is a setting of a poem by Sankichi. The movement is a meditation on the human cost of war and the need for peace. The music is characterized by its use of lush harmonies and soaring melodies. Overall, 'Canti di vita e d'amore: Sul Ponte di Hiroshima' is a powerful and moving work that addresses themes of war, peace, and social justice. Nono's use of dissonant harmonies and extended vocal techniques creates a sense of unease and tension, while his use of lush harmonies and soaring melodies provides moments of beauty and hope. The work remains a powerful testament to the human spirit and the need for peace in a world torn apart by war and violence.

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