Una Briciola di Giustizia

I. Briciola
II. Ogni Volta

for ensemble of up to 18 improvising musicians

Una Briciola di Giustizia is Italian for "a crumb of justice" a phrase borrowed from the composer's own poetry. This piece is, for the composer, a musical meditation on regret.  For what, is left open to speculation on the part of audiences and interpreters.  As such, the performers should familiarize themselves with the main melody as it will return regularly throughout the composed material and should return throughout the improvisations.

There are two distinct sections to the piece.

The first, "Briciola" is through-composed and written with a more clear, detailed traditional notation. This section is a simple sketch for any instrument with harmonic capability. One thinks first of piano but perhaps marimba, or guitar would also work.  The intent of this sketch is to set up the melody that will continue to drive the rest of the composition and improvisation, much like the Turkish concept of Taksim which is a simple modal melody (makam) that is improvised upon, often in solo or non-metric meditation.  This concept has been an influence in many of my smaller group works.  I would like to incorporate it here for larger ensemble.  The sketch is the "briciola" or crumb upon which the ensemble and the rest of the composition feed.

The second section, "Ogni Volta", which comprises the bulk of the piece, calls for significant interpretation and improvisation.  This section begins with a score set up to indicate treble clef and bass clef voices.  As such, it will require a thoughtful and involved conductor.  S/he could be drawn from the ensemble. 

As the section progresses the main melody (makam or crumb) is introduced and developed into secondary and tertiary sets of melodic and harmonic material – each of these are taksim for later improvisation.  Ultimately the statement of this material leads the ensemble into an improvisation guided by a graphic schematic of musical implications and events.   Each performer must choose which implications and events to interpret.  They should do so with an ear / eye to the other performers and the conductor.  Here, the conductor should pay special attention to directing soli, tempi, voicings, groupings and dynamics. The graphic score is designed to suggest certain tangible and intangible concepts presented to the performers for interpretation and elaboration.  All lines resembling glissandi exist solely as suggested paths.  Strict glissandi should be used at the discretion of the performers.

 briciola di giustizia

se esiste anche' una briciola di giustizia nel universo,
sai d'amore. un amore senza confine, senza condizioni.

se esiste anche' una briciola di giustizia nel universo,
sai di pace, di gioia e di felicita' infinita.

se esiste anche' una briciola di giustizia nel universo,
sai di tutte quelle cose non ti potevo dare.

JM Pignato
11, Giugno, 2002

 (translations below)

(if even a crumb of justice exists in the universe,
you know of love. a love with out boundaries, without condition)

(if even a crumb of justice exists in the universe,
you know of peace, of joy and of infinite happiness.)

(if even a crumb of justice exists in the universe,
you know of all those things I was unable to give you.)