WORKSHOP

CONTEMPORARY COMPOSITION AND IMPROVISATION FOR ORGAN

WITH GIULIO TOSTI

 An opportunity for composers and improvisers

A one-day composition and improvisation workshop for entirely mechanical organ. This is the opportunity that Taverna Maderna offers next April 20th in Padova to anyone interested in exploring the most recent instrumental techniques for this instrument. The workshop will be held by Giulio Tosti, a pioneer of the research on the contemporary sound possibilities of such instruments, and will take place in the Chiesa di S. Antonio Abate that hosts a rare recent copy of an ancient German mechanical organ.

 How does it work?

The workshop will take place on April 20th from 10.00 to 13.00 and from 15.00 to 17.00, and will end with a public performance at 18.30. The maximum number of active participants is 7; however, it is possible to sign in also as a listener.

The workshop is addressed in particular to composers, organists, keyboard players and improvisers. During the day the participants will have the opportunity of experimenting personally new sounds for organ through various extended techniques. The final performance will be collaborative, it will be led by Giulio Tosti and will not require a particular level of instrumental proficiency; the participation, anyways, will be optional.

 How to participate

Admissions to the workshop are open until April 5th, 2023. To sign in it is necessary to fill in the form below and to send it by e-mail to info@tavernamaderna.it.

Participants will have their registration confirmed in 1-2 days, then they will be asked to pay a fee of € 40.00. 

The workshop can be attended only in person. All participants who will be present at the workshop will receive a certificate.

THE ORGANIST

GIULIO TOSTI

BIOGRAPHY

Giulio Tosti studied organ at the Conservatorio “San Pietro a Majella” in Naples in the class of Roberto Canali. In 2017 he obtained his Diplome, with the 10/10 summa cum laude and congratulations of the jury. Between 2013-2014 he has attended the Organ Improvvisation curse at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome in the class of Theo Flury (Einsiedeln monastery’s organist in Switzerland). Between 2015-2016 he was also a student of the ESMD (École Supérieure Musique et Danse Nord de France) in the class of Sophie Rétaux.

In 2017 he served as professeur d’orgue in the School of Music of comines (Lille, France). Since 2018 he works at the Central Institute for Sound and Audiovisual Patrimony.

In 2017 he obtained the First Prize Ex aequo at the International Competition “Xavier Darasse” in Toulouse, first Italian to have reported a First Prize in this competition. He also won the price at the International Organ Competition “Rino benedet” of Bibione (VE) in 2015 edition.

He gave recitals in numerous festivals including: Orgel-matineé in Fulda Dom St. Salvator (Fulda, Germany, 2019), “Les concerts de Saint François” on the occasion of an artistic installation in the church of St. François (Lausanne, Switzerland, 2018); “Bologna città degli organi” (Bologna, Italy, 2018); “Concerti d’organo” one of the oldest organ festival of Italy (Fano, Italy, 2018); “Oloron orgues” (Oloron Sainte-Marie, France, 2018), “Echi d’organo in Cantoria” in Santa Maria in Campitelli Church ( Rome, Italy, 2018); “Audition d’orgue” in Saint Omer’s Cathedral on the 1855 Cavaillé-Coll organ (Saint Omer, France, 2016); “Abendmusiken” in Verbania (Como, Italy, 2016); “I Festival di Musica Sacra” (Todi, Italy, 2016); “Musica d’organo in Basilica” in Santa Prassede (Rome, Italy, 2015-2014); “Anacaprifamusica” (Anacapri, Italy, 2014); “Vespri d’organo in costa” (Sorrento and Sant’Agnello, Italy, 2014); “Il suono dell’organo” in San Giuseppe al Casaletto (Rome, Italy, 2013) and others.

Alongside the solo activity he has always developed experimental projects: in 2019 he creates Nebula, a solo project of extemporary composition that explores unconventional soundscapes of pipe organ, using extended techniques, aiming to create a true acoustic sound machine out of the organ. In march 2019 he participated at the XIII edition of ‘Percorsi jazz’ festival (S.Cecilia conservatory Rome) playing positive organ in ensemble with, between others, Markus Stockhausen, Daniele Roccato and Ettore Fioravanti. In 2018 he started a personal acoustic project called “Arskimera” (positive organ, flute and double bass) which aims to play Early Music repertoire mixing with improvisation. From 2012 to 2016 he had a duo (pipe organ and Saxophone) with Domenico Vellucci , playing a repertoire ranging from original pieces for this organic up to transcriptions.

He composes music for organ solo, organ and other instruments, music for image and for theatre. In 2013 he composes the music for the piece “Lei gli direbbe”, theatrical adaptation of the text by Françoise Xennakis directed by Juliette Wayenberg (Fringe Festival, 2013 Rome). In 2012 he collaborates in the realization of the artistic performance “Opera per cantalupo” of the Roman artist Paolo William Tamburella (Naples). In 2011 together with saxophonist Domenico Vellucci he composes the music for the theatrical piece “Mirafiori Outlet”, winner of the Artistic Jury Prize in the competition “Giovani Realtà del Teatro” (Nico Pepe Academy, Udine 2012).

He attended organ courses held by Roberto Canali (2012, Rieti, Pinchi/Schnitger organ); Domenico Severin (2013, Champagne, France, Cavaillé-Coll organs). He had lessons from teacher such as Jean guillou, Jean-Paul imbert, Thierry Escaich, Ton Koopman, Domenico Severin and Sophie Retaux.

He partecipates at improvisation masterclasses held by Daniele Roccato, Roscoe Mitchell and Gianni Trovalusci, experiencing too the world of improvisation combined with contemporary dance.

For any information, contact us at info@tavernamaderna.it!