ENSEMBLE

DIRECTOR

Pietro Ferrario is an Italian musician born in Busto Arsizio 3-XI-1967. He has obtained diplomas in piano, composition, organ, and choir conducting at the conservatories of  Brescia, Milano and Alessandria, studying with Lucia Romanini (piano), Bruno Bettinelli (composition) and Luigi Molfino (organ). He improved himself in composition with Azio Corghi in Parma and Siena (diploma with merit in 2000 at the Chigiana Academy), film music with Ennio Morricone in 1992 (Siena - Chigiana Academy), organ with Lionel Rogg, Giancarlo Parodi and others, vocal technique and choir conducting with Stephan Woodbury, Gary Graden and Tõnu Kaljuste.

He is involved in concerts in three capacities: pianist, organist, and choir conductor. As a composer he is an appreciated author of various works for piano, organ, choir, orchestra, choir and orchestra, which have been performed and recorded in Italy and abroad (Switzerland, Germany, France, Spain, Ireland, Australia, China, USA, New Zealand, Argentina, Israel) by important symphonic orchestras and choirs (Orchestra Sinfonica Toscanini, Orchestra dei Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano, Choeur National des Jeunes, Coro Nacional de Jóvenes de la Republica Argentina, Tower New Zealand Youth Choir, Northern Illinois University Chamber Choir, Antioch Chamber Ensemble, Iowa State University Cantamus Choir, Coro Città di Parma, Ars Cantica Choir, Coro da camera Trentino, Coro da Camera di Varese, etc.), at times with internationally famous conductors, like for example Aldo Ceccato. He composed on commission of important italian institutions like Fondazione Toscanini di Parma, Settimane Musicali di Stresa, Pomeriggi Musicali di Milano. Some of his choral compositions are regularly presented and performed in masterclasses dedicated to contemporary choral music. In 2004 he was unanimously awarded the first prize at the prestigious International Trophy of Choral Composition "C. A. Seghizzi" 2004 in Gorizia with the motet “Jubilate Deo”,  performed during the final of the European Choral Grand Prix 2004. In 2008 he won the first price in the Second International competition of composition and choral elaboration "Bruno Bettinelli" in Milan, in the section "Works with sacred Latin text for mixed a cappella choir" with the motet “Exultemus”, and the second prize in the section "Elaboration of a folk song for a cappella male voices choir" (first prize not assigned). In 2011 he was finalist in the 2nd International Competition for pianists-composers "Franz Liszt" in Bellagio. He has published for important publishers such as Ricordi, Carrara, Rugginenti, Sonzogno, FENIARCO, Edizioni Musicali Europee, and the German Carus-Verlag of Stuttgart and Ferrimontana of Frankfurt. In July of 2009 he has been invited for the second time as a member of the jury at the 48th International Choral Competition "Seghizzi" in Gorizia, and also as the chairman of the jury of the associated "Seghizzi" Choral Composition Trophy. He has collaborated extensively with the Ricordi Historical Archive. In 2011 he was professor of harmony, counterpoint, fugue and composition at the Vicenza Conservatory. He currently teaches piano, musical theory and harmony at the Civica Scuola di Musica of Arese. He is the main organist on the 1841 Carrera Organ of the SS. Gervaso e Protaso Church in Parabiago, the town near Milan where he lives. He is the conductor of Dalakopen Choir (2nd prize in golden sash at the 29th "Franchino Gaffurio" Choir Competition in Quartiano 2011), and of Ensemble vocale Calycanthus, which he started in 1997, a mixed a cappella group with an eclectic repertoire; first prize winner in two of the most important Italian choral competitions (Arezzo 2005 and Vittorio Veneto 2006), having been awarded several times in the past in other national and international competitions, with which he has concerts all over Italy and abroad. With Calycanthus he participated in the 47th "Seghizzi" Choral Competition in 2008, obtaining the second prize in the category "choral elaborations of pop music and jazz", the Feniarco prize as best Italian choir, and the special prize as best chamber choir of the competition. Heading this group in 2007 he recorded a CD of contemporary choral music for the Italian label Bottega Discantica.

Some of his most important works are:

  • Messa for choir, strings, brass and timpani (1995-96) – 30'
  • Passacaglia sul Veni Creator for full orchestra (1999) (also organ version, 2002) – 15’
  • Sonata for piano (2001) – 28’ 
  • 12 Études on Chopin's Preludes for piano (2009-2010) – 21'
  • Ouverture “Omaggio a Schubert” (2002) for orchestra – 6’
  • Magnificat for mixed choir (2004) – 15’
  • Toccata for organ (1994) – 7'
  • No man’s land, suite for piano (1997) – 20’
  • Allegro da concerto, for harp (2000) – 9’
  • Variazioni su Vexilla Regis, for organ (2003) – 6’
  • about 20 sacred motets for a cappella choir, various choir arrangements of Italian folk songs, spirituals and pop songs, various sacred pieces for choir and organ.
  • Transcriptions: complete piano solo transcription of The Planets by Gustav Holst; organ transcription of the “Gazza Ladra” Ouverture by Rossini, complete piano transcription of the opera “Tat’jana” by Azio Corghi.

Recent performances of his compositions, programmed by  the composer himself, or other artists or groups:

  • 20-II-2011 MILANO, Civico Tempio di S. Sebastiano (via Torino, 28), 3.30p.m.: motet for choir "Panis angelicus" (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 4-III-2011 Summit (New Jersey, USA), Calvary Church: motet for choir "Jubilate Deo" (Antioch Chamber Ensemble; conductor: Joshua Copeland) http://antiochchamberensemble.org/news/
  • 30-IV-2011 Torrevieja (Alicante, Spagna), Sala de Cámara del Auditorio-Conservatorio de Torrevieja, 11a.m.: 7 mixed voices arrangement of "We can work it out"  by Lennon-McCartney - first public performance (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.coralfranciscovallejos.com/encuentro25/index.html
  • 30-IV-2011 Torrevieja (Alicante, Spagna), Sala Sinfónica del Auditorio-Conservatorio de Torrevieja, 9p.m.: 8 mixed voices arrangement of "Getting better" by Lennon-McCartney (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)  http://www.coralfranciscovallejos.com/encuentro25/index.html
  • 15-V-2011 Quartiano di Mulazzano (LO), National Choir Competition "Franchino Gaffurio", Main Church, 5.25p.m.: motet for choir "Laetare Virgo" (1st performance) (Coro Dalakopen; conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.dalakopen.it/
  • 21-V-2011 Cernusco sul Naviglio (MI), Auditorium Casa delle Arti (via De Gasperi, 5), h.21: 7-8 mixed voices arrangements  of "We can work it out" and "Getting better" by Lennon-McCartney (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 28-V-2011 ROMA, Basilica SS. Bonifacio e Alessio (via S. Alessio, 23), 8p.m.: XII Choral Festival "Primavera in coro": motet for choir "Laetare Virgo" (Coro Dalakopen; conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.dalakopen.it/
  • 28-V-2011, Charleston (South Carolina, USA), St. Philip's Episcopal Church, h.15, "Piccolo Spoleto Festival": motet for choir "Jubilate Deo" (Antioch Chamber Ensemble; conductor: Joshua Copeland)  http://www.piccolospoleto.com/?p=545
  • 2-VIII-2011, Craveggia (VB), Oratorio di S. Marta, 9p.m.: Trittico ottocentesco for organ (organist: the composer)
  • 4-IX-2011, Bellagio (CO), final of "Premio Franz Liszt per pianisti-compositori", Villa Serbelloni, 9p.m.: 2nd and 3rd movement of the Sonata for piano (1st performance), "Poetic Rhythm" from the suite "No man's land" for piano. Piano: the composer. http://www.bellagiofestival.com/
  • 22-IX-2011, St. Vincent (AO), International Choral Competition "Grand Prix Vallée d'Aoste", Palais de St. Vincent, 9p.m.: "La Blonde" for mixed choir (1st performance) (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.grandprixvda.it
  • 23-IX-2011, St. Vincent (AO), Concorso Corale Internazionale "Grand Prix Vallée d'Aoste", Palais de St. Vincent, 9p.m.: motet "Jubilate Deo" for mixed choir (Vocalia Consort - Roma; conductor: Marco Berrini) http://www.grandprixvda.it/ 
  • 22-X-2011, Legnano (MI), Chiesa di S. Giovanni (viale Liguria), 9p.m.: 3rd Choral Festival "Musica è Pace": motet for mixed choir "Laetare Virgo" (Coro Dalakopen, conductor: Pietro Ferrario) - motet for female choir "Cantate Domino" (VirgoVox Ensemble) http://www.dalakopen.it/ 
  • 29-X-2011, Iowa State University (Iowa, USA), 4.30p.m.: motet "Jubilate Deo" (world premiére of the female choir version) - Iowa State University Cantamus Choir, conductor: Kathleen Rodde http://www.music.iastate.edu/org/cantamus/ 
  • 11-XI-2011, Poggio Rusco (MN), SS. Nome di Maria Church, 9p.m.: IV European Sacred Choral Festival "Cantemus Domino": motet for choir "Laetare Virgo" (Coro Dalakopen, conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.rassegnamusicasacra.eu/ 
  • 12-XI-2011, MANTOVA, Basilica Palatina di Santa Barbara, 9p.m.: IV European Sacred Choral Festival "Cantemus Domino": motet for choir "Laetare Virgo" (Coro Dalakopen, conductor: Pietro Ferrario) http://www.rassegnamusicasacra.eu/ 
  • 29-XI-2011, Biassono (MB), Cinema Teatro "S. Maria", 9p.m.: 7-8 mixed voices arrangements  of "We can work it out", "Getting better" and "It's only love" (première) by Lennon-McCartney (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 4-XII-2011, MILANO, Teatro Dal Verme, 3p.m.: motet for choir "Laetare Virgo"  (Coro Dalakopen, conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 4-XII-2011, Casorezzo (MI),Multi-purpose Hall of the Library (via Einaudi), 5.30p.m.: 7-8 mixed voices arrangements  of "We can work it out", "Getting better" and "It's only love" by Lennon-McCartney, Fantasia super White Christmas (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 15-XII-2011, ROMA, Biblioteca del Senato: arrangement for choir of the neapolitan melody "Il pagliaccio"; conductor: Carmela Ansalone
  • 17-XII-2011, Moltrasio (CO), Ss. Martino e Agata Church (piazza S. Martino), 9p.m.: motet for choir "Laetare Virgo", "Fantasia super White Christmas" (Coro Dalakopen; conductor: Pietro Ferrario) www.dalakopen.it
  • 18-XII-2011 MONZA, Teatrino di Villa Reale, 8.30p.m.: 7-8 mixed voices arrangements  of "We can work it out" and "Getting better" by Lennon-McCartney; Fantasia super White Christmas (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 14-I-2012 Pessano con Bornago (MI), Sala Consiliare, (Piazza della Resistenza), 10.15p.m.: "La Blonde" for mixed choir (Ensemble vocale Calycanthus; conductor: Pietro Ferrario)
  • 19-II-2012 MILANO, Chiesa di S. Gioachimo, 3.30p.m.: motet for choir "Laetare Virgo"  (Coro Dalakopen, conductor: Pietro Ferrario)

  Published works

Motets for a cappella choir:

  • Agnus Dei,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1991) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3015)
  • Ave Maria,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1992) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3016)
  • Crucifixus,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1992) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3017)
  • Hic est Salvator,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1992) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3018)
  • Factus est Dominus,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1993) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3019)
  • Laetare Virgo,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1994) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2005, EF 3006)
  • Ave Verum,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1994) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2005, EF 3005)
  • Illumina faciem tuam,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1995) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3020)
  • Voce mea ad Dominum,motet for mixed a cappella choir(1996) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3021)
  • Jubilate Deo, motet for mixed a cappella choir (2002) (ed. Carus-Verlag - Stuttgart 2006, CV 7380)
  • Hortus conclusus,motet in the Renaissance style for mixed a cappella choir(2003) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3022)
  • Panis angelicus, motet for mixed a cappella choir (2003) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3023). The same piece published also by ARCOVA [Associazione Regionale Cori Valdostani] in 2003
  • Gaude Dei Genitrix,motet for female a cappella choir (2003) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3024)
  • In Paradisum,motet for female a cappella choir(2004) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3025)
  • O sacrum convivium,motet for mixed a cappella choir(2005) (ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2006, EF 3014)
  • Cantate Domino, motet for female a cappella choir (2005)(ed. Ferrimontana - Frankfurt 2009, EF 3379)
  • Exultemus, motet for mixed a cappella choir (2006) (Edizioni Musicali Europee - Milano 2008, in "La Cartellina" n.177)

Other works:

  • “Arabesque” for flute and piano (1991) ( ed. Rugginenti 1995 N° 50701)
  • “Toccata” for organ (1994) (ed. Carrara 1995 N° 4113, in the series “Bibliotheca Musicae ad Organum”, by Arturo Sacchetti)
  • “Rallegrati o Terra”, motet for choir and organ (1992) ( in “Celebriamo” and “È nato il Messia”, ed. Carrara 1995 N° 4216)
  • “Ecco vi annuncio” for choir and organ (1994) (in “Celebriamo” and “Vi annuncio una grande gioia”, ed. Carrara 1997 N° 4275)
  • “Tre antifone d’ingresso” for choir and organ (1996) (in “Celebriamo” and “Date lode al Signore”, ed. Carrara 1997 N° 4311)
  • “Vous tous qui la Terre habitez”, choral for organ (1997) (in “L’organo nella liturgia” and “Corali e Partite”, ed. Carrara 1998 N° 4375)
  • Complete piano transcription (ed. Ricordi 2000 N°138447) of the score of the lyric drama “Tat’jana” by Azio Corghi (first performance: Teatro alla Scala the 21st October 2000)
  • Allegro da concerto, for harp (2000) (ed. Sonzogno 2003 N° 3184)
  • Ouverture “Omaggio a Schubert”, for orchestra (2002) (ed. Sonzogno 2003)
  • Postludio su “Gustate e vedete” di J. Gelineau, for organ (2000) (ed. Rugginenti 2004, in AA.VV. “Versetti e Preludi d’organo sulle melodie del “Cantemus Domino”, vol.3°)
  • Passacaglia sul Veni Creator, for organ (2002) (after the original version for orchestra, 1999) (ed.Carrara 2004 N° 4714)
  • Variazioni su Vexilla Regis, for organ (2003)(ed. Carrara 2006 N° 4865)
  • "Il Pagliaccio", popular neapolitan melody arranged for mixed choir (on the anthology "Choraliter No.7", ed. FENIARCO 2007)
  • Transcription for organ of the Ouverture from "La Gazza Ladra" by Rossini (2007)(Ediz. Carrara 2008 N. 5017)
  • 4 popular songs from Ossola for male choir (2000-2008) (in “Canti di casa nostra” vol.II, ed. Associazione Culturale Coro Valdossola 2009)
  • "Se ti brami di vedermi", popular Istrian song (version for 4 mixed voices, 1993) (Edizioni Musicali Europee - Milano 2009, in "La Cartellina" n.187)
  • Trittico ottocentesco, for organ (Ediz. Carrara 2012 N. 5272)

Indicative list of the unpublished works
(printed [P] or manuscript [Ms])

Piano solo

  • “Iuvenilia” (20 pieces from average difficulty to higher) (1988-90) [Ms]
  • “Teuflischer Waltz” (1994) [P]
  • “No man’s land” (suite of 3 pieces in between classical, jazz and pop, 1997) [P]
  • Complete transcription of the Suite for grand orchestra “The Planets” op.32 by Gustav Holst (1998-99) [P]
  • “Entertainment-Tarantella” (1999) [Ms]
  • “Sonata” (2001) [P]
  • "Carillon per Valentina" (2005) [P]
  • "Improvviso per Ambra" (2009) [P]
  • 12 Études on Chopin's Preludes (2009-2010)[P]
  • "Manu" (2011) [P]

Organ

  • 4 Pieces (1994) [Ms]
  • 3 Chorals (1997) [P] (the first of these published in the list above)
  • Preludio al Salmo 14 "Chi potrà varcare" (2010) [P]

Soli, Choir and Orchestra

  • 2 oratorio scenes : “La Resurrezione”, “Lazarus”(1993) [Ms]
  • Mass for choir, strings, brass and timpani (1995-96) [P]
  • Credo II, for "The European Mass", for choir, brass, timpani, continuo organ (2012) [P]

Orchestra

  • Orchestration of 3 Preludes by Debussy (1992) [Ms]
  • La fille aux cheveaux de lin / Minstrels / Les collines d’Anacapri
  • Variations on an Andantino in a min. (1993) [Ms]
  • Variations on a theme by Hindemith (1993) [Ms]
  • Variations on a theme by Dallapiccola (1993) [Ms]
  • Passacaglia sul Veni Creator (1998-99) [Ms]

A cappella choir

  • Magnificat (2004)[P]
  • "Amo", choral lyric (2007) [P]
  • "Caffè", musical recipe for mixed choir (2011) [P]
  • "Benedetto sia 'l giorno", choral lyric on text by Petrarca (2012) [P]
  • 16 arrangements of songs from Vallée d'Aoste, Trento, Istria, spirituals, pop-songs and other. from 4 to 8 voices (1992-2011) [Ms/P]

Choir and Organ

  • “La luce del mondo” (5 pieces,1992) [P]
  • 8 sacred pieces [Ms]

2 Pianos

  • Transcription of Day Tripper by Lennon-McCartney (1993) [Ms]
  • Concert fantasy “Christmas everywhere!” (1993) [P]

Voice and piano

  • “Ho sognato”, lyric on text by A. Sabella (1990) [Ms]
  • “Little David” (2001) [P]

Chamber music

  • 13 pieces for flute (vl. or cl.) and piano (1988-89) [Ms]
  • “Schizzi dodecafonici”: 15 pieces for ensemble varying from solo instruments to double string quartet (1991) [Ms]
  • Musical comments for scenes from the movie “The endless game”, for brass quintet and string quintet (1992) [Ms]
  • Variations on an original theme, for erhu (or violin) and piano (2010) [P]

For further informations on the unpublished works contact directly the composer pie.fer@alice.it  For the published works by Pietro Ferrario, please consult the following internet sites: