B. Somma - Toccata

XIX Rassegna Organistica Melzo
MAURIZIO MANCINO - organo
Registrato dal vivo il 20/12/2015

[michaeljohnston]

Bonaventura Somma (1893–1960) was born in Italy, studied at the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia with Stanislaus Folchi, Ottorino Respighi, and Remigio Renzi, to whom this piece was dedicated. He served as music director of the Shrine of the Blessed
Virgin of the Rosary in Pompeii and later at the Academy of Santa Cecilia in Rome. For 34 years, from 1926 until his death, he served as organist and music director of San Luigi dei Francesi in Rome. In 1939, he began teaching at his alma mater, the Conservatory of Santa Cecilia, as Chair of Composition of Vocal Polyphony. He served as Artistic
Director for Music of the Olympic Games that were held in Rome in 1960; hear some of his music in this video. A few weeks after their conclusion, Somma died on October 23. His friends, students, and citizens of Chianciano Terme erected a bronze bust of him. Toccata was first published in 1934 in Nova et Vetera, a theological journal published in Switzerland. This restoration is made from the reissue of 1954 by Casimiri-Capra in Rome. Moderate.

[camilloflaim]

L'organo è un Nenninger meccanico; Io sono riuscito a suonare il Mascioni a 3 tastiere a Tokyo tramite un sacerdote italiano di quella cattedrale. Buon viaggio se si recherà lì. Non sara' facile accedervi perchè in sagrestia ci sono 2 donne giapponesi che pare abbiano imparato della lingua italiana solo il " NO".