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R E V I E W
ARTURO STALTERI
Rings
Materiali Sonori (2003)

review by Michael Woodhead

The Lord of the Rings trilogy - both J R R Tolkien's books and Peter Jackson's motion pictures - has spawned works by other artists and composers over the past three years, and Stalteri's Rings is one such piece.

Highlighting his piano compositions and performances, but supported by some additional orchestrated instruments, Arturo has created an interesting and emotional set of melodies centering on various aspects of the Rings: the hobbits, Gandalf, the elves, but at the same time, he draws comparisons between the fantasy world and the modern world. For, as is indicated in the liner notes, "Times are changing and we are changing."

Pieces such as "Fangorn" and "Cavalieri Neri," though representing a fantasy word of times gone by, are very much Italian contemporary in composition and presentation, while others like "Lo Speechio di Galadriel" and "The Old Forest" reflect a more Celtic influence and sound.

Ranging from joyful to melancholy to occasionally dark in tone, from lively to pedantic in pace, and from ambient to repetitive musical motives, Arturo nonetheless breathes new life into a well-read, well-known and well-trodden subject.

My Favourite: "Gandalf the White"

CD Length: 57:31 minutes

 

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