Enrico Garzilli
3
songs
4.9K
plays
Fire Fire
Miserere Miserere
Dear Husband, Dear Wife Dear Husband, Dear Wife
Enrico Garzilli has studied music in Providence, Boston, New York, London, and Rome. At the age of fifteen, he gave his first solo piano concert at the Music Mansion in Providence, Rhode Island. This was followed by many other concerts with a major piano recital at seventeen. As a teenager he performed regularly on television and radio. His piano teacher Evelyn Moretti Montanaro was his inspiration. Still in his teens, he became Dr. Alexander Peloquin's assistant organist and studied organ and choral conducting with him. In both college and graduate school he was head organist and choral director. While in college in Rome, he studied choral conducting and organ with Prof. Martorell and Dom Barrata, and harmony and counterpoint with Professor Carducci. He gave many organ recitals in the church of Santa Susanna in Rome. He also played in St. Peter's, Rome, and in all the major Basilicas of the city. As choral conductor, he conducted the North American College Choir in the same hallowed places. Enrico Garzilli has worked with musicians of international repute. One of his many memorable concerts was his performance with Dave Brubeck in the premier of Brubeck's concert Mass.
Dr. Garzilli is a composer of four large musical-dramatic works. His recordings have been produced by Virgin, First Night and EMI Records. He is also the composer of many liturgical settings, some of which have been translated and performed throughout the world. In Europe, his music has often been featured on Radio and Television. In addition to his music, Dr. Garzilli holds advanced degrees in Philosophy, Theology and Literature. He was the first person to receive a doctorate from Brown University in Comparative Literature. His dissertation was published by Harvard University and was nominated for many national awards. His graduate work in Theology was on the Revelation of the Infinite in Art, Music and Literature. He has taught literature at Providence College and Shakespeare and Classical Drama at the Univeristy of Rhode Island. In 2002, as Artist in Residence at Johnson and Wales University, he performed three of his compositions with the RI Philharmonic, famed Broadway star, Mark McVey, and Metropolitan Opera Soprano Elizabeth Blancke-Biggs. He is presently in preparation for a major symphonic recording of his musical play, "Rage of the Heart".
The music in this CD is from the Rage of the Heart a play in two acts.
The musical Rage of the Heart is based on a true story which takes place during the twelfth century. The hero, Peter Abelard, was the most famous man of his age. He was a philosopher, composer and singer. Wherever he went, he was followed by hordes of devoted students and fans.
During this period in history, monasteries and the emerging Catholic church were the only employers of educated men. Bound by the church's great pressure upon him not to marry, Abelard had never loved a woman until he met the story's heroine, Heloise.
Heloise is often described as one of the most beautiful and intelligent women who ever lived. Although she possessed a brilliant mind in her own right (and ultimately became a highly respected abbess), when they met she was a seventeen-year-old young woman from Brittany, and Abelard was already a world famous man in his late thirties.
Surrounded by the jealousy of many, their love seemed impossible from the very beginning. The discovery of their relationship actually rocked the very foundations of the medieval world. Driven by his inner demons, Heloise's uncle Fulbert commits a horrible crime in order to punish them and end their love forever. Instead, their relationship transcends this great tragedy, and grows into a great testament to the power of faith and love. All of this is recorded in their famous letters to one another. The love story of Abelard and Heloise is one of great triumph. Their relationship evokes the highest aspirations of all humanity - the pursuit of truth, meaning and love.
As a student I was travelling in France from Mont-Saint-Michel to Chartres and reading Henry Adam's book which explores the rise of gothic architecture. Adams incorporated highlights of the key events and people of the 12th century Renaissance, including the story of Abelard and Heloise and their meeting in 1117. Adam's account was my first exposure to their timeless story. Later, as a professor of Western Civilization, I came across the story again. What first intrigued me was the discovery that Abelard's philosophcal "methodology" actually helped shape and pave the way for modern scientific inquiry. Like Copernicus, Galileo and, much later, Einstein, Abelard's unique approach to the dialectic (logic, analysis, and debate) changed history.
As I read more about Peter Abelard and his life 900 hundred years ago, I found that he was not only a revered scholar, but also poet, accomplished singer, and composer. In fact, he was very much a folk hero of his day. Students followed him everywhere he went; important leaders consulted him regularly on matters of great importance, and his fame spread widely. When he met Heloise, Abelard was already one of the best known teachers and philosophers in all of
the medieval world.
Abelard and Heloise often sang to one another, and as one of Heloise's letters attests, she fell in love with Abelard partly because of his magnificent voice. In another letter, Heloise conveys: "Since many of the songs you wrote for me told of our love, they soon made me not only famous throughout the world, but the envy of every woman who heard them."
Because Abelard was not supposed to marry, their love faced great adversity from the beginning. In fact, it appeared at one point as if the entire world was conspiring to keep them apart. Even those closest to them committed horrifying acts of betrayal - some of which are eerily reminiscent of today's shocking headlines.
But in the end, their lives mirrored the music that they shared, sometimes joyous, often poignant, and always filled with love.
Like Samson and Delilah, Antony and Cleopatra, Romeo and Juliet, this is a story that must be told. A timeless tale with the breathless purity of its undeniable message: that love triumphs over all else.
Keara Donohoe is a young Australian Soprano who is caring and passionate about her singing performance whether it be Classical recital , Musical Theatre stage or in a Recording Studio! She has an exquisite voice and golden quality that touches the emotions and hearts of her listeners.
On the Rage Of The Heart CD. Keara ïwas privileged to sing as ïHeloiseï and to feel and tell the story of her eternal love and longing for Peter Abelard, her mentor, adoring husband and loverï.
Saunderstown, RI
USA
ID
316343
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Comments (1)
Dear Enrico,
I feel honoured to be the first person to comment here.
Both of your songs are simply awesome, and have been added to my stations.
Also, I found it extremely interesting to read your profile and the moving/ inspirational story of Peter and Heloise.
Thank you for sharing your wonderful music.
Carol.
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