Panni: Pop Songs

The term “Popsongs” is a combination of the two English words “popular” (in the sense of “beloved” and “celebrated”) and “songs” (in the sense of “melodies”) and underscores the intention of combining accessibility with the elegance of sophisticated compositional forms. This collection of sixteen instrumental pieces, composed by Marcello Panni between 2013 and 2015 during his tenure as conductor of the “Tito Schipa” Symphony Orchestra in Lecce for the Ensemble del Sud soloist group, is a passionate and playful homage to the most famous melodies of the Italian musical tradition, from both opera and folk music. This project is distinguished not only by the exceptional artistic quality of its orchestration but also by its ability to pay tribute to the illustrious role models of 20th-century music history and draw inspiration from them. A major reference is Luciano Berio’s “Folk Songs” from 1964, with whom Panni was closely associated and collaborated for many years. Another point of reference for “Popsongs” is Igor Stravinsky’s famous “Histoire du Soldat”. This composition, also written for a septet (violin, double bass, clarinet, bassoon, cornet, trombone, and percussion—the same ensemble that Panni also uses), is a remarkable example of chamber music that combines storytelling, theatricality, and a remarkable fusion of different musical styles.