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.
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.
Comporre canoni (Mnemes, 2008)
Composing Canons
With this practical study, everyone can learn how to compose (very very quickly!) canons and fugues using easy and historical techniques. ‘Nuff Said!
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.
Pedagogia per la nuova musica (Armando, 2003)
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!