Giuliano d’Angiolini — Antifona
Giuliano d’Angiolini has been writing/creating work since the early 1990’s- but seemingly didn’t have anything released until the 2010s. His style is certainly very stripped & pared back, yet at the same time he is very focused precise-to-layered pitches & tones- so as a result his work is an odd balance of reduced and finely focused.
The release opens up with 2018’s "Ad Ora Incerta"- this just shy of ten and a quarter minute track is for orchestra & piano- it’s a great example of his sound, and one of the highlights here. The string & horn orchestra is presented as very much a thinned & simmering haze- with the tones of the instruments pulled out into slurring darts, whines, and fleeting drones. Over the top, the piano slow plays out its notation - which at points hints at melody,at others tolling & forlorn patterns. The piece feels both ill-defined & awkward, yet also grand and simmering- it’s a sound that is seemingly constantly in flux, trying to bind & build- yet d’Angiolini controlled composition never lets this happen.
Track three is 2018’s "Antifona"- this eleven and a half minute piece is for flute and piano. At first, the flute enters alone piping out waving & at points barely heard tones- this feels both felt, emotional-yet awkward. By the three & a half minute mark, the flute disperses, and slow but carefully placed piano notes appear- and once again they are a blend of full/defined and wavering slight playing. As the track progresses the flute and piano presences shifts once again, and at points almost fleeting touch- once more the control of both the composition and the players is very clear.
The CD plays out with the longest composition the just over fifteen minutes of 2017’s "Litania", this is played by respected modern chamber work ensemble Apartment House. The piece utilizes seven instruments in all- trumpet, violin, flutes, cello, marimba & piano. This track feels sort-of- deconstructed- as you have multiple instrumental tones nearing each other, but seemingly never fully join. It’s some very talent playing from Apartment House, but compositionally at points it feels a little too awkward/ stop-start- sadly unlike the other pieces here this just didn’t quite click with me.
So once again with the release of Antifona, Another Timbre has put out more worthy work from another distinct modern composer. To pick up a copy of this release, hear samples and check out more of this great labels growing-yet-always quilty bound discography head over here.