Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana

Intermezzo from Cavaleria Rusticana: each
Composer: Mascagni Pietro
Arranger: Daimo Eric

Composer: Pietro Mascagni Instrument: Marimba Level: Intermediate Published: 2011 Duration: 5 min Marimba (5-octave) About the Composer: Pietro Mascagni (1863-1945) is one of the most important Italian composers of the turn of the 20th century. The formidable success of his first masterpiece in 1890, Cavalleria Rusticana, unfortunately eluded many of his following works. Mascagni however wrote 15 operas, an operetta, several beautiful orchestral and vocal works, as well as songs and piano music. He enjoyed amazing operatic successes during his lifetime, and at the same time pursued a very successful career of conductor. Mascagni's approach to opera differed a lot from that of his friend and rival Puccini, which arguably was one of the factors that led to an under-appreciation of the value of his music by critics. "That instrument makes a huge, warm sound, and the demeanour and virtuosity of soloist Eriko Daimo made this a performance to remember. Watching and hearing the four mallets play slow-moving, long-line, four-part harmony was extraordinary. No recording could capture that mesmerising combination of sound and sight." - Martin Adams, editor The Irish Times.