Wood

“What Makes It Italian?” is a music listening and discussion group that meets online on the Zoom platform and is open to everyone.
Participation is free.
The group is led by Gina Crusco, who has also guided listening at Bard LLI and Riverdale Y; acted as maestro del coro for opera in Italy; instructed music at The New School; and directed Underworld Productions.
Please email ginacrusco@gmail.com to confirm your attendance and receive an invitation link.

The first encounter will focus on Wood:
Composer Paolo da Firenze (c. 1355 – 1436) with sculptor Donatello (c. 1386 – 1466); and
Composer Daniele Zanettovich (born 1950) with sculptor Bruno Walpoth (born 1959)
Wood is the substrate for sculptures early and late; chant is the basic material of music works, early and late.

How can our understanding of italianità in music be informed by Italian sculpture? The insubstantial nature of musical materials – mere vibrations that move through the air, imperceptible to sight and touch – creates in us a longing for an analog made of solid material. In sculpture we have just such an analog: run your hand across the carved wood; feel the heat radiating from the bronze; watch the light play off the marble surface. This Spring we find the substance of Italian music by exploring its relationship to the substance/s of sculpture, one medium at a time.