Born in Palermo in 1971, I read my diplomas of piano, choir direction and composition (with Marco Betta) at the Palermo Conservatory “V. Bellini”, was influenced by Salvatore Sciarrino during the summer courses in Città di Castello (Perugia) and brought up by Azio Corghi at the Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia in Rome where I completed my training.
I hold a PhD in Uomo e Ambiente by the University of Palermo and I am the author of Pedagogia per la nuova musica (2003), Breve corso di storia della musica in 6 ore e 30 (2003), Comporre canoni (2008) and Etologia Musicale. Animali camuffati e gesti predatori (2009).
I have written and illustrated Herr Kompositor ®, the first method of musical composition (based on my original musical ethology) in the form of a comic book (awarded by UNESCO in 2004), published by Alli orlistat 60 mg 84 capsBuy generic lamisil terbinafineEdizioni Curci and currently consisting of three graphic novels – Scrivi una canzone! (2013), Il segreto dei compositori (2015) and Leggere la musica (2019) – and the card game Comporre è un gioco (2016). I also have written and drawn two graphic memoirs: “Io sono Beethoven” (2020) and “Io sono Giuseppe Verdi” (2022).
I was professor of Didattica della Composizione and Psicologia Musicale in Reggio Emilia (ISSM “A. Peri”) and professor in charge of Armonia e Contrappunto in Palermo (Conservatory “V. Bellini”). Today I live in Florence where I am a philosophy teacher.
My music is regularly performed. Every piece (inspired by my ethological studies) collects shreds, scraps, slivers, fragments, silences and juxtaposes them (like the triglyphs and metopes on the pediments of the Greek temples) to provoke reactions in the listener.
Musical philosophy
Today, Musée du silence is the work that better represents my vision of music.
If you have time to spare, you might wish to read an extended version of my musical philosophy.
Herr Kompositor® Serie is the new way to learn and compose music in the form of comic books. P. Alessandro Polito has written and illustrated three graphic novels and a card game – published by Edizioni Curci – with the colours of Laura Pederzoli. In 2020, a spin-off comes out: “I am Beethoven. A graphic memoir”.
Herr Kompositor® – Leggere la musica (Curci Young, 2019)
Herr Kompositor® – Reading music
How does the chrysalis break and become a butterfly? A gripping graphic Bildungsroman who follows the story of the protagonist, little Alex, from his childhood in Paris to he becomes aware of himself in Prague until his transfer to Syncroni City. In the middle of many changes, there is only a faithful: his love for music. This book is an innovative musical ABC and a Bildungsroman together as a unique graphic novel enriched with a playlist of over 9 hours of music: from Gamelan orchestras to The Beatles; from Josquin to Led Zeppelin; from Bach to Radiohead. Learning music has never been such entertaining!
Author: P. Alessandro Polito Illustrators: the author (pencil and digital ink) with Laura Pederzoli (colors and backgrounds). Target: children aged 9 years and over
Herr Kompositor® – Il segreto dei compositori (Curci Young, 2015)
Herr Kompositor® – The secret of the composers
A graphic novel (a little “mystery” and, at times, “detective story”) that teaches the fundamentals of composition. The first, entry-level composition manual for starting to write music immediately. Alex and John find The Secret Book of Great Composers in an old library. The volume is incomplete but contains a clue to finding the final part. And so a frantic hunt begins for the missing pages that will lead our heroes, Alex and John, helped by little Lau, from the streets of Paris to the Old West, straight into the clutches of the Order of the Great Composers and to solving the mystery! Thanks to The secret of the composers, the reader, armed with pencil, ruler and colours, will learn to write intuitive scores: drawings that can be played!
Author: P. Alessandro Polito Illustrators: the author (pencil and digital ink) with Laura Pederzoli (colors). Target: children aged 9 years and over
Herr Kompositor® – Scrivi una canzone! (Curci Young, 2013)
Herr Kompositor® – Write a song!
Little Phil’s heart is aflutter for a mysterious girl. But how can he make her notice him? Phil is thinking about writing a song that will touch her heart. It’s a shame that… he doesn’t have the foggiest idea how to do it! So he turns to John and Alex, the fellows in the Misfits Band, the world’s most improbable band. It’s the beginning of an amazing adventure in the world of music. Dreams, trials and tribulations, craziness, heart-pounding, and Herr Kompositor’s® parodies in a sweet graphic novel that doubles as a manual teaching you how to compose songs. Because composing is fun!
Author: P. Alessandro Polito Illustrators: the author (pencil and digital ink) with Laura Pederzoli (colors) Target: children aged 13 years and over
Herr Kompositor® Card Game – Comporre è un gioco (Curci Young, 2016)
Herr Kompositor® – Card Game. A composing Game
A strategy game by P. Alessandro Polito Herr Kompositor – A composing game will allow you to enjoy the thrill of musical creation even if you don’t know notes and chords (don’t worry!). It is a strategy game: challenge your opponent, gain chords, complete your song and listen to it! Become a real composer!
Drawings: P. Alessandro Polito. Colours: Laura Pederzoli. Design: Polito & Pederzoli. Players: 1-2 Age: from 8 years Playing time: 15-20 min. Contents: deck of 56 cards and Rules (PDF download)
Io sono Beethoven. Biografia a fumetti (Curci Young, 2020)
I am Beethoven. A Graphic memoir
I am not a court composer, I am a free musician. The first. I write only what I feel. I am unique. I am Beethoven.
From the pencils of P. Alessandro Polito and Laura Pederzoli comes the first graphic memoir of Ludwig van Beethoven (Bonn, 16 Dicember 1770 – Wien, 26 March 1827). From his childhood in Bonn until his maturity in Wien, the life and the art of a composer who, fighting against the snares of fate, revolutionised the world of music forever. Illustrations, that are a result of thorough iconographic research, are accompanied by a selection of pieces, in the form of an online playlist, introducing readers in the musical universe of the composer and doing musical comment for the narrated events. A gripping journey in the story of a rebel genius who made of contrast and resolution the cypher of his vision of world, art and life.
Author: P. Alessandro Polito Illustrators: the author (pencil and digital ink) with Laura Pederzoli (colors and backgrounds). Target: children aged 8 years and over
Io sono Giuseppe Verdi. Biografia a fumetti (Curci Young, 2022)
I am Giuseppe Verdi. A Graphic memoir
“They say I am a great composer, but I am just a theatre man. I give voice to human passions and oppressed persons… “.
From the pencils of P. Alessandro Polito and Laura Pederzoli comes a new graphic memoir of Giuseppe Verdi (Le Roncole, 10 October 1813 – Milan, 27 January 1901). From his childhood in Le Roncole di Busseto until international success, the life and the art of a composer who conquered world audiences thanks to the dramatic power of his works. Illustrations are the result of thorough iconographic research and are accompanied by a selection of pieces in the form of an online playlist, introducing readers to the musical universe of the composer as musical comments for the narrated events. A gripping journey in the history of an iconic artist witness and protagonist of an exceptional historical season, author of famous melodies and unforgettable scenes that engage the popular imagination.
Author: P. Alessandro Polito Illustrators: the author (pencil and digital ink) with Laura Pederzoli (colors and backgrounds). Target: children aged 8 years and over
In my life, I have read a lot of books (and comics!). But, sometimes, I have also something to say. So I started writing. This brief list does not include writings released for specialized magazines or theatre programmes but only my prime publications.
Portrait made by Laura Pederzoli
Etologia della musica. Animali Camuffati e gesti predatori (Mnemes, 2009)
Musical Ethology. Camouflaged animals and predatory gestures.
This book is fundamental for my music and it is also the final work for my PhD. There is something “animal” in the composers and something “human” in many animals when they “compose” their “music”. But what is the meaning of “composing music”? Is there a non-Occidentalist definition of music that puts a Beethoven’ symphony on the same level as a Tibetan song? or a Sinatra’ song next to Tanzania’s chimpanzee creations? Why do we like or dislike particular sounds? Are there any universal rules in music? This book is a multidisciplinary journey (through aesthetics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, music therapy – just to mention the main paths) that leads to musical ethology, revealing the gnoseological and psychophysiological mechanisms that every composer – beyond the language he uses – should know to capture the prey: the listener.
Breve corso di storia della musica in 6 ore e 30 (Mnemes, 2003)
Brief History of Music in 6 hours and a half.
My first bestseller. If you love music and want to discover how music works, this book is a guided listening program for everybody: from early to contemporary music, across every musical genre.
This title is a reworking of my Master’s degree thesis in Philosophy. Inside you can find three essays (What really T.W. Adorno said, Against musical phenomenology, Some relationships between music and painting) and an interview (in italian) with Salvatore Sciarrino. The title is “Music? A linguistic manipulation “. A real treat… and not just for fans!
