abstract: This paper and its accompanying recital examine three solo vocal works by Italian composer Alfredo Casella (1883-1947): "Larmes" from Cinq Mélodies (Op. 2); "Mort, ta servante est à ma porte" from L'adieu à la vie: Quatre lyriques funèbres extraites du "Gitanjali" de Rabindranath Tagore (Op. 26); and "Amante sono, vaghiccia, di voi" from Tre canzoni trecentesche (Op. 36). Each of these songs is discussed as representative of Casella's three compositional periods. A fourth song, "Ecce odor filii mei" from Tre canti sacri per baritono et organo (Op. 66), is also examined, as an end-of-life composition. Some of the more important solo vocal works composed in each period are mentioned to show where the four selected songs fit into Casella's compositional output and to suggest music for further study or repertoire. / Dissertation/Thesis / D.M.A. Music 2014

Little scholarship exists about the extent of musical nationalism in the works of twentieth-century Italian composer Alfredo Casella (1883-1947). Casella’s output, which is divided into three stylistic periods – 1902-1913, 1914-1920, and 1921-1946 – display varying styles and influences, such as an extension of French, German, and Russian romanticism and Schoenbergian atonality. Yet nationalistic expression simultaneously pervades each stylistic period: The first period portrays nationalism through the use of folk material and forms, as does the second, which also uses programmatic elements in an atonal context. The third stylistic period, to which previous scholars have given the most attention, expresses nationalism by alluding to past Italian Baroque and Classical composers and forms. This thesis explores how Casella’s nationalistic tendencies pervade all three stylistic periods and evolved over the course of his career, culminating in his third stylistic period. A close reading of Casella’s own writings – which will explore how his ideologies reflected the political and cultural views in Italy at the time – and score analysis of representative works from each period will reveal in Casella’s works “a music unquestionably Italian in idiom" (Alfredo Casella, 21+26, 41).

The compositions to be considered in this study have been divided into three periods, corresponding with certain times in the life of Alfredo Casella. There is enough consistency of style in the compositions of each period to justify this division. The first period, characterized by lyricism and virtuosity, includes the works written in Paris after Casella left the Paris Conservatory. The second period, with its chromaticism and dissonance, comprises his output during the first years after his return to Italy. The third period begins with the close of World War I. In this period Casella returns to a classic style which is firmly embedded in an extended tonal system. The compositions of this period combine various ideas and styles gathered through the years and blend them into works marked by maturity, sincerity, and originality.

Dissertation--Halle-Wittenberg, 2007. / Bibliogr. p. 270-282.

Regensburg, Univ., Diss., 2008

The neo-classic movement in Italy, which gained momentum in the early 1920's, was rooted in an instrumental style patterned after that of the Baroque era. The term "new classicism," proposed by Ferruccio Busoni in 1920, represented a reaction against the extreme chromaticism and large performance forces of the late nineteenth century. The pianistcomposer Alfredo Casella, after earlier periods in which he was influenced by such diverse composers as Mahler, Debussy, and Schoenberg, soon became the chief spokesman for the neoclassic movement in Italy. Casella considered the Sinfonia, Arioso and Toccata his most important work for the piano, because of its size and musical content. It is notable for its usage of thematic transformation, much of which is based on the interval of a fourth or fifth. This study includes a formal outline of each movement, showing sectional divisions and tonal regions, as well as illustrations of thematic transformation and intervallic patterns. Also discussed are the work's neoclassic style characteristics, including counterpoint, pandiatonicism, modality, and linear cadential treatment.

Cette thèse a été réalisée en cotutelle entre l'Université de Montréal et l'École des Hautes Études en Sciences Sociales de Paris, sous la direction de Michel Duchesneau (UdeM) et Esteban Buch (EHESS). La version intégrale de cette thèse est disponible uniquement pour consultation individuelle à la Bibliothèque de musique de l'Université de Montréal (http://www.bib.umontreal.ca/MU). / Cette thèse a pour objectif d’approfondir les notions de nationalisme et de cosmopolitisme ainsi que les liens qui peuvent exister entre elles à travers l’œuvre et la carrière de Casella. Le pianiste et compositeur italien Alfredo Casella est né à Turin en 1883. Les conservatoires italiens de l’époque ne pouvant lui offrir une formation musicale adéquate et complémentaire à celle reçue auprès de sa famille, Casella gagne la France. Il fait ses études au Conservatoire de Paris jusqu’en 1902, auprès de Gabriel Fauré et Louis Diémer. Au cours de ces années passées en France (1896-1915), Casella prend une part active dans la vie musicale parisienne. Il se produit dans plusieurs salons, dans de nombreux concerts organisés par des sociétés françaises (à la fois comme pianiste et comme compositeur). À travers son activité journalistique très riche, Casella s’implique activement dans les débats et les polémiques ayant cours à l’époque dans le milieu musical français. Lors de ces dix-neuf années françaises, Casella est exposé aux courants nationalistes qui habitent les milieux artistiques français. Parallèlement à ces tendances, Casella baignera dans les diverses influences étrangères (russes, allemandes, espagnoles, hongroises) qui convergent vers cette véritable plaque tournante qu’est le Paris du début du XXe siècle. Ces multiples influences (celles de Stravinsky, Bartók, De Falla, entre autres) se retrouvent toutes intégrées dans ses œuvres musicales. À tel point que l’on surnommera Casella le « caméléon ». Le déclenchement de la Première Guerre mondiale force Casella à retourner en Italie. La péninsule est alors dominée par la musique d’opéra et la production de musique instrumentale y est presque inexistante. Casella se donne la mission de « rénover » la musique instrumentale et de combattre activement le courant conservateur associé à la musique d’opéra italienne. Un tel renouveau musical sera possible, selon Casella, si les compositeurs italiens de la nouvelle génération parviennent à renoncer aux excès sentimentaux du romantisme. C’est ce que Casella s’efforcera de faire dans ses propres œuvres. Mais ce ne sera pas suffisant. Les jeunes compositeurs devront étudier les œuvres des grands maîtres italiens des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles, tout en intégrant les innovations techniques des musiques contemporaines européennes. Casella proposera un programme d’éducation s’adressant autant aux jeunes compositeurs qu’au public italien. La pédagogie sera la clé qui permettra d’accéder au renouveau musical. Professeur de piano à l’Accademia Santa Cecilia, puis au Conservatoire de Rome et finalement à l’Accademia Chigiana de Sienne, Casella se servira de ces positions pour initier le mouvement dont il se veut le porte-parole. Il mettra également sur pied deux sociétés de concerts, la Società Italiana di Musica Moderna (1916-1918) et la Corporazione delle Nuove Musiche (1924-1928). Avec ces deux sociétés de concerts destinées à faire reconnaître les musiques contemporaines en Italie, Casella parvient à se forger un impressionnant réseau international qui contribuera à son vaste plan de développement de la musique italienne dans un contexte mondial. L’objectif de Casella est de redonner sa dignité à l’art musical italien. Dans les années 1930, sa volonté de rénover la musique de la péninsule concorde avec plusieurs traits de la politique culturelle du régime fasciste de Benito Mussolini. Le nom de Casella sera donc souvent associé aux réalisations culturelles du régime fasciste, ce qui semble contradictoire avec les intentions universalisantes du compositeur. / This dissertation seeks to study the notions of nationalism and cosmopolitanism as well as the possible links between them, through the work and career of Casella. The Italian pianist and composer Alfredo Casella was born in Turin in 1883. Being unable to obtain in the Italian conservatories of the time an adequate musical formation, that would have been complementary to the one received through his family, Casella reaches France. He studies at the Paris Conservatory until 1902, as a pupil of Gabriel Fauré and Louis Diémer. During the years spent in Paris (1896-1915), Casella takes an active part in the Parisian musical life. He performs in many salons, in many concerts organized by French societies (both as a pianist and as a composer). Through his very rich journalistic activity, Casella implicates himself actively in the current debates and polemics of the French musical environment. During these nineteen French years, Casella is exposed to the nationalist currents that inhabit the French artistic milieux. Simultaneously to the very strong expression of this nationalism, Casella will literally be imbued in the various foreign influences (Russian, German, Spanish, Hungarian) than present in this center that is the Paris of the beginning of the XXth century. These multiple influences (those of Stravinsky, Bartók, De Falla) are all integrated in his compositional work, to such an extent that one calls Casella the « chameleon ». The First World War forces Casella to return to Italy. The peninsula is than dominated by operatic music and the instrumental music production is almost inexistent. Casella gives himself the mission of reforming the instrumental music and of fighting actively against Italian operatic music. Such a musical revival will be possible, according to Casella, if Italian composers manage to give up sentimental excesses of the romanticism. This is what Casella will endeavor to do in his own works. But it will not be sufficient. The young composers will have to study the works of Italian great master of the XVIIth and XVIIIth centuries, while integrating technical innovations of European contemporary musics. Casella suggests a reeducation program for the young composers, but also for the Italian public. The pedagogy is, according to Casella, the key which will give access to this musical revival. He will be piano teacher at the Accademia Santa Cecilia, tan at the Rome Conservatory and, finally at the Accademia Chigiana in Sienne. These teaching positions will give him the opportunity to initiate his protégés into Italian classical musics, but also into foreign contemporary musics. He will also set up two concert societies, the Società Italiana di Musica Moderna (1916-1918) and the Corporazione delle Nuove Musiche (1924-1928). With these two concert societies dedicated to make recognize contemporary music in Italy, Casella succeeds in building up an impressive international network which will contribute to his vast plan of the Italian music’s development in a world context. Casella’s first intention is to give back its dignity to the Italian musical art. During the 1930’s, his wish to renovate the music of the peninsula corresponds to several facets of the cultural politic of Benito Mussolini’s fascist regime. Thus, Casella’s name will often be associated to the cultural achievements of the Regime, which seems in contradiction with the composer’s universalizing intentions. / Questa tesi cerca di approfondire le nozioni di nazionalismo e di cosmopolitismo come pure i legami che possono esistere tra di esse attraverso l'opera e la carriera di Casella. Il pianista e compositore italiano Alfredo Casella nacque a Torino in 1883. I conservatori italiani dell’epoca non potendo offrirgli un’adeguata formazione musicale, complementare a quella ricevuta presso la sua famiglia, Casella raggiunge la Francia. Studia al Conservatorio di Parigi fino a 1902, presso Gabriel Fauré e Louis Diémer. Nel corso di questi anni passati in Francia (1896-1915), Casella prende una parte attiva nella vita musicale parigina. Si produce in molti salotti, in molti concerti organizzati da società francesi (allo stesso tempo come pianista e come compositore). A traverso la sua ricchissima attività giornalistica, Casella s’impegna attivamente nei dibattiti e nelle polemiche in corso all’epoca nell’ambiente musicale francese. Durante questi diciannove anni francesi, Casella è esposto ai correnti nazionalisti che abitano i mezzi artistici francesi. Parallelamente alla fortissima espressione di questo nazionalismo, Casella sarà letteralmente bagnato nelle diverse influenze straniere (russi, tedesche, spagnole, ungheresi) allora presenti in questo vero punto di convergenza ch’è la Parigi del primo novecento. Queste numerose influenze (quelle di Stravinsky, Bartók, De Falla) si ritrovano tutte integrate nella sua opera, a tal punto che si chiama Casella il « camaleonte ». L’avvio della prima guerra mondiale forza Casella a tornare in Italia. La penisola è allora dominata dal melodramma e la produzione di musica strumentale è quasi inesistente. Casella si da la missione di rinnovare la musica strumentale e di combattere attivamente il melodramma italiani. Un tale rinnovamento musicale sarà possibile, secondo Casella, se i compositori italiani della nuova generazione giungono a rinunciare agli eccessi sentimentali del romanticismo. È ciò che Casella si sforzerà di fare nelle sue opere proprie. Ma non sarà sufficiente. I giovani compositori dovranno studiare le opere dei grandi maestri italiani del seicento e del settecento, integrando anche le innovazioni tecniche delle musiche contemporanee europee. Casella propone una rieducazione dei giovani compositori, ma anche del pubblico italiano. La pedagogia è, per Casella, la chiave che permetterà l’accesso al rinnovamento musicale. Primo, sarà professore di pianoforte all’Accademia Santa Cecilia, poi al Conservatorio di Roma e, finalmente all’Accademia Chigiana di Siena. Queste posizione di professore gli daranno l’occasione d’iniziare i suoi protetti alle musiche classiche italiane, ma anche alle musiche contemporanee straniere. Metterà anche in piedi due società di concerti, la Società Italiana di Musica Moderna (1916-1918) e la Corporazione delle Nuove Musiche (1924-1928). Con queste due società di concerti destinate a fare riconoscere le musiche contemporanee in Italia, Casella riesce a fabbricarsi un'impressionante rete internazionale che contribuirà al suo vasto piano di sviluppo della musica italiana in un ambiente mondiale. Lo scopo primo di Casella è di ridare la sua dignità all'arte musicale italiana. Negli anni 1930, la sua volontà di rinnovare la musica della penisola conviene con molti aspetti della politica culturale del regime fascista di Benito Mussolini. Così, il nome di Casella sarà spesso associato alle realizzazioni culturali portate dal regime, ciò che sembra contraddittorio con le intenzioni universalizzanti del compositore.

The Latin American centennial celebrations of independence (ca.1909-1925) constituted a key moment in the consolidation of national symbols and tropes, while also producing a renewed focus on transnational affinities that generated a series of discourses on continental unity. At the same time, a boom in archaeological explorations, within a general climate of scientific positivism, provided Latin Americans with new information about their ‘grandiose’ former civilisations, such as the Inca and the Aztec, which some then argued for as an American equivalent to ancient Greek and Egyptian cultures. These discourses moved from the political to the cultural sphere, themselves shaping ideas about Latin American national and continental identity. In the arts, and particularly in music, artists as a result began to move from using European techniques and depicting European themes, to produce an art that could be considered Latin American. This dissertation explores discourses surrounding the Inca in particular as a source for the creation of a ‘national’ and ‘continental’ art music during the first three decades of the twentieth century, with a concentration on ‘nationalist’ composers of Peru, Ecuador and Argentina. Three main topics bind together my analysis: interpretations of the Inca musical system, the postcolonial style called yaraví, and the composition of opera. To this end, I look into early twentieth-century writings on Inca music and its origins, investigate attempts to reconstruct it, describe how certain composers applied ‘Inca’ techniques into their own works, and consider how this music was perceived by local audiences. Ultimately, I argue that faced with the difficulties of constructing national unity at the time, the turn to Inca culture and music in pursuit of such unity could only succeed within particular intellectual circles, and that the idea that the Inca example could produce a ‘music of America’ would ultimately remain a utopia.