Is there any work, or even just a piece, in the vast history of music specifically written for string quartet and wind band? To my knowledge, there isn’t. So, at first, when I was asked to bring together these two musical entities – the string quartet ANIMA, made from the wood of the Avez del Prinzep, and the local Banda Folkloristica di Folgaria, which shares the same territory of the Altipiani Cimbri with the Avez – I was initially dismissive, believing it would be an artistic failure.
Then I had the chance to chat with Giovanni Sollima, a master of cultural fusions in music (and beyond, of course), who told me, “You must do this!” And so, from the must to the doing, a vast ocean lay between us: commissioning pieces from three composers (since no existing repertoire for this specific combination existed), creating new music (from many points of view), especially for the band, which is accustomed to more traditional and popular repertoires, and merging two distant musical worlds—the delicacy of the strings and the power of the band.
Was it a successful experiment?
Only history (with a lowercase “h”) will tell, as we now offer three new original compositions for string quartet and wind band: La Ballata del Principe by Demetrio Bonvecchio, From the Fir by Alberto Schiavo, and Arbor Anima by Leonardo Schiavo.
The audience at the concert, where these pieces will be performed in their world premiere, will also have their say: Saturday, August 16th at 5:00 PM, at Malga Laghetto in Lavarone (TN), at the foot of the trunk of the very tree that, even in death, continues to give life.
This will be the third time that the instruments made from the wood of the great Avez del Prinzep return home, resonating once again at the base of the tree that gave them life. After two previous events in 2023 and 2024, which attracted more than 500 people each time, Una Foresta di Strumenti—this year’s title—promises to bring wonder and awe, while respecting the delicate nature of the place.
It will be a unique blend of nature, tradition, and sonic innovation: the elegance and refinement of the string quartet meeting the strength and tradition of the wind band, to fill the forest with beauty, as a tribute to the tallest white fir in Europe that gave life to the four ANIMA instruments.
The ANIMA string quartet will be performed by Elisa Cecchini on first violin, Alessandro Barcelli on second violin, Cecilia Bonato on viola, and Sofia Filippini on cello. The Banda Folkloristica della Magnifica Comunità di Folgaria will be conducted by its maestro, Luca Pezzedi.
I sincerely thank the entire band, its maestro, and its president, for embracing this artistic challenge with such spirit. I also want to thank the composers who have brought to life something that may very well be a first in the history of musical repertoire.