Amilcare Castore Zanella Born 26.9.1873 in Monticelli d'Ongina (Piacenza) died 9.1.1949 Pesaro
Zanella initially studied in Cremona under Emilie Andreotti and subsequently at the Parma Conservatory under Arrigo Boito, Giovanni Bottesini, Dacci and Ficcarelli, where he studied composition, piano and horn. In 1893 he went to Buenos Aries where he gave numerous concerts as a conductor and pianist. In 1901 he returned from South America and became the director of The Parma Conservatory in 1903 and two years later replaced Pietro Mascagni as the director of The Licea Musicale, Pesaro where he remained until 1940 He composed about 100 works
Orchestral
Symphony in E minor 1901
'Fede' (Faith) Symphonic Poem 1901
'Vita' (Life) Sumphonic Poem 1907
'Edgar Poe' Symphonic Impression 1921
Fantasia and grande fugato sinfonico a quattro soggetti for piano and orchestra Op.25 1902
Fantasia Sinfonica 1918
Sinfonia Fantascia Op.76 1919
Piano Concerto 1897
Poemetto for violin and orchestra 1922
Romance for cello and orchestra
Elegia e momento frenetico for xylophone and strings
Marcia Eroica for brass band
Chamber
Piano Quintet in D minor Op.64 1918 pub. by Ricordi.
Piano Trio in E minor Op.23 1899 pub. by Carisch & Janichen
Piano Trio in G minor 1928
Violin Sonata 1917 pub. by Pizzi
Cello Sonata in A major Op.72 pub. by F Bongiovanni, Bologna
String Quartet in A Op.62 1919 pub. by G Ricordi & C.
String Quartet
Fantasia Orientale for six cellos available from IMSLP
Nonet 1906
Brass Quintet
Five studies for a hunting horn
Piano
Rustic Festival for piano 1894 (orchestrated 1915)
Il Reve Op.40
Three mazurkas: In G minor, in G sharp minor, and in A major. Op.43
Two etudes Op.44
Two waltz melodies in F and D flat major Op.51 pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Tempo di minueto in F major Op.54 pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Two piano pieces Op.58/1. Lacrymae rerum in F sharp and Op.58/2 Umoresca in G minor 1917 pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Scherzo-studio Op.59 pub. by G Ricordi & C.
Due Poemetti in F major and F# minor Op.65 1917 pub. by G Ricordi & C
Introduction and fugue in D major Op.67 1918 pub. by G Ricordi & C
Song
Six pieces for voice and piano (words by Andrea d'Angelo) Op.66 -
1. Il Grillo del natale
2. Desio di voli
3. Enigma
4. Le Nubi folli
5. La Gavotta del rusterio
6. Il Forestiero
Vocal
Messa Requeim for three mens voices and organ Op.63 1915
Opera
Aura 1910
La Sulamita 1926
Il Revisore (after Gogol) 1940
A lot still only in manuscript, I gather, says someone who's been looking for his music in libraries and scanning some to upload to IMSLP lately. I've had at least a quick look at some of the chamber works that are there and am interested.
His violin and cello sonatas were recorded on Tactus on a CD released in 2007; his 2 piano trios and some piano music have also been recorded on CD.
Thanks for the heads-up on Zanella - a composer completely unknown to me. Try these mouthwatering audio samples:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanella-Chamber-Music-Rogliano/dp/B000XPEWVU/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1359991290&sr=1-3 (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Zanella-Chamber-Music-Rogliano/dp/B000XPEWVU/ref=sr_1_3?s=music&ie=UTF8&qid=1359991290&sr=1-3)
http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amilcare-Zanella-violino-violoncello-pianoforte/dp/B001L9USHY/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk (http://www.amazon.co.uk/Amilcare-Zanella-violino-violoncello-pianoforte/dp/B001L9USHY/ref=dm_cd_album_lnk)
That Elegia and momento frenetico for xylophone and strings sounds intriguing! :)