about the composer
Matteo Gualandi, born in 1995 (Rome), is a composer with passion for poetics, nature, mysticism and visual arts. His musical education took him to Italy, Switzerland, Germany and France. In 2022 he completed his studies at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris and IRCAM. In 2024 he got awarded the laureateship from the Fondation Banque Populaire. Gualandi is currently living and working in France.
about his music
Gualandi’s music constantly strives for a fresh listening experience, in which contemporary and old sounds meet and find a new context in which to express themselves. His compositions are characterized by a sparing use of musical means and a great sensitivity to the experience of sound and feeling.
His work has been performed at prestigious festivals such as the Venice Biennale, ManiFeste and Gaudeamus Music Week, and by renowned ensembles and musicians including Ensemble Intercontemporain, Marie Ythier, the Chœur de Radio France and Klangforum Wien.
In January 2025, Cappella Amsterdam, under the direction of conductor Geoffroy Jourdain, will perform his work piccolo requiem as part of the Stabat Mater concert series.
Composer Matteo Gualandi: “The Netherlands always had their very unique approach to the arts. I feel like they share with Italy a very deep rooting in the Renaissance tradition, and that shows. On a personal level artists like Bosch, Van Gogh, Mondrian and the composer Louis Andriessen had a profound impact on my practice. Dutch vocal ensemble tradition counts among the very best. It makes me very happy and proud to think that my piece will be performed by Cappella Amsterdam around the country!”
about piccolo requiem
The work piccolo requiem, a ‘small requiem’, explores the most human emotions around grief.
When asked why he composed a piccolo requiem, Gualandi replies: “Grief is one of the most fundamental human emotions. I had to confront myself with this subject, I had to ‘put my own skin on the table’. Furthermore, I was inspired by a beautiful poem by Paul Celan: Der Tod, Für Yvan Goll from Die Gedichte aus dem Nachlaß.”
The work piccolo requiem is composed of six parts, which follow the traditional structure of a requiem. The texts of the Latin Mass for the Requiem express grief in various ways, highlighting feelings such as anger, desolation and disbelief, but also compassion, consolation and peace. This work is not intended as a heavy meditation on death, but rather as a tender, almost mystical approach.
“I imagine piccolo requiem as the moth from Paul Celan’s poem Der Tod, slowly beating its wings and floating gracefully in the air, or as a cloud floating gently, although in reality it is enormously heavy, about 500,000 kilos,” says Gualandi.
Gualandi’s deep admiration for medieval and Renaissance polyphony – especially for composer Josquin des Prez – is clearly reflected in the notes. But besides these historical influences, he also interweaves his love for modern sounds, such as electronic and ambient music.
Although this requiem is small in size, Gualandi believes it contains great power. “A little mystery can go a long way,” he says. “It is an attempt to catch a glimpse of eternity, in the short span of a few breaths.”
