Raffaele d'Alessandro

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Raffaele d'Alessandro (born March 17, 1911 in St. Gallen ; † March 17, 1959 in Lausanne ) was a Swiss composer , pianist and organist .

Life

Raffaele d'Alessandro, son of an Italian and a Swiss woman, took piano and organ lessons in his hometown from 1924 and began composing at an early age. Since his parents did not support an intended music study, he first started a commercial apprenticeship. Supported by the organist Ida Zürcher, a friend of his mother's, he moved to Zurich in 1932, where he took lessons in music theory with Paul Müller-Zurich and Willi Schuh , but mainly pursued autodidactic studies. In 1933 he graduated as a pianist and organist.

The Dutch Countess Bylandt-Rechteren financed him from 1934 to 1937 music studies in Paris with Marcel Dupré (organ), Paul Roës (piano) and Nadia Boulanger (counterpoint). In 1940, shortly after the outbreak of World War II, d'Alessandro had to leave Paris, whereupon he settled in Lausanne.

D'Alessandro has worked as a concert pianist and organist in Switzerland and in several other European countries, he has also worked as a music critic and in the radio. He gave up his organist activity in 1950 to devote himself mainly to composition. Living only from concerts and composition commissions, he often found himself in material difficulties. On his 48th birthday, Raffaele d'Alessandro died of a tear in the aorta .

plant

As a composer, d'Alessandro picked up on various contemporary trends, but remained committed to an expanded tonality in his often complex works, which tend towards neoclassicism and emphasize the rhythmic element . Dinu Lipatti and Olivier Messiaen held him in high regard.

D'Alessandro's compositions, some of which have remained in manuscript, include vocal works (especially in the earlier period), later mainly piano and chamber music (including sonatas and quartets) as well as several orchestral works and concerts (including two symphonies and piano concertos).

literature

  • CD booklet MGB CD 6278, text: Jens Schubbe (including with d'Alessandro: 6 miniatures for piano trio ).

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Alessandro, Raffaele d '
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss composer, pianist and organist
DATE OF BIRTH March 17, 1911
PLACE OF BIRTH St. Gallen
DATE OF DEATH March 17, 1959
Place of death Lausanne