The Goddess Returns
Scored for voice, string quartet and percussion (ghattam)
The Goddess Returns was the centerpiece of a large multi-media work I composed, of the same name, for an Elektra String Quartet performance project in 1999
Performed by: Antigone Foster, vocals
Elektra String Quartet - Mirka Rozmus and Romano Crivici, violins; Rudi Crivici, viola; Markus Hartstein, cello
Interview with Andrew Ford
-ABC Radio national
Romano Crivici
composer & performer
Let it Go is my third attempt at writing a fitting work for the final scene of our film, The Last Violin; this one worked!
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It was designed to show off what Harry's 800th violin was capable in the hands of a real player (fortunately Allie Osborne did that!) as well as to function as the soundtrack for the credits at the end. (This is one of the reasons I wrote it in 'modules', so that we could easily adjust the length as required.)
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As I wrote it, I had orchestral textures in the back of my mind in terms of the accompaniment; needless to say, I thought it could be further developed into a concerto-like work, but there you go, that will be in another lifetime!
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30th May, 2022 -London St, Enmore
A Distant Voice - In Memoriam
Luciano Stefan Crivici: B. 12th Feb, 1932 - D. 1st March, 2001
Walking along the beach early one morning, I heard this music in my head. I wondered why, who... when I realised it was for Luciano, my father, who was close to passing away. I got to the school where I was about to teach, and quickly sketched out what I heard. Later that afternoon I arrived home to hear that he had died. Grief stricken and weeping, I went upstairs later that night and completed the work.
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My father, a man I didn't really know that well, was a tortured, twisted and deeply conflicted soul; even though we had reconciled and forgiven towards the end, so much was still left unsaid.
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The funeral and service was in a few days. I needed to play this for his farewell because it seemed to be ordained ... I had heard it, it seems, as he was dying.
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I rang Shane at Megaphon Studios. I told him the story, but the studio was booked out. "No problems" he said "I can come in at midnight." Rudi and I recorded it, no rehearsal, just went for it. Shane would accept no payment....we were all equal, and supporting of each other in the face of life.... death.... the great unknown.... Blessed be Shane, and thanks....
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Rudi and Romano with their father, circa 1960
Recorded pre-funeral: Rudi and Romano Crivici -5th March, 2001
This is a video of the now developed version of A Distant Voice, done specifically for possible inclusion in the film, The Last Violin. (As it was, it was too melancholy, and Carla and I couldn't find a place for it in the film.) Worked on during Feb., finished 26th Feb, 2022.
I took this opportunity to add some more sections in the piece to more clearly give voice to the Four Stages of Loss......hence the thrash-fuck section in the middle to express rage and despair, before the final acceptance and surrender into the void.
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Virg was amazing; I only delivered her the new score with the 'rage' the afternoon before, and neither had we rehearsed it..... just went for it. (I couldn't read, let alone play the piano part I had written. I told her "just go for it, and I will follow, and extemporise...."
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27th May, 2022 -Enmore, Sydney
A Moment's Peace
for violin and piano
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Composed: 24th - 31st June, 2006
Revised: 8th June, 2011
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​ISMN: 979-0-720090-05-4 Dur: ~ 4:30”
A simple piece, (and intentionally so) A Moment's Peace, was initially composed for the young ones. However, after rewriting and developing it later on, I found the simplicity and stillness of the work speaks to, or is it resonates with, the psyche of even the more 'mature' members of the species.
Violin: Julia Lim
Piano: Romano Crivici
Recorded by Carla T, 20th Nov, 2020
A Moment's Peace
for cello and piano
Arranged: 14 -17th Oct, 2018
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​ISMN: 979-0-720090-58-0
Historical
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Initially idea composed in 2006, this work began as a quick sketch for some young beginner violin students of mine in need of something to play (I think they had forgotten to bring their music book to the lesson!).
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As I wrote in the foreword of the score:
" The impetus for revising and publishing this piece, however, comes from my work with my young student, Joon Hee (Miss Julia) Lim, who, after almost one and a half years on the violin, continues, on a weekly basis, to do amazing things." (So appropriate it is that we record it tovether, now, almost many years later -Nov, 2020)
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I developed it further in 2011 into its present form; still simple, but now just music, not specifically only for students. Going through the process of cataloguing and archiving my works, I remembered that I had an idea at the time that it would work rather well for cello, but never quite got around to doing so. So, there you go, it's done.
​Romano Crivici
Hampstead Heath, London
16th October, 2018
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