Variations on “A la puerta del cielo” (2017)

Leonardo Ciampa (b. 1971) — Variations on “A la puerta del cielo” (2017) for organ

“Variations on ‘A la puerta del cielo’” (2017) was composed to honor the organist and conductor Malcolm Halliday on the occasion of his retirement after years of musical activities in Worcester, Massachusetts. Halliday’s retirement destination of Mexico inspired Ciampa's choice of the tune, a Mexican lullaby: “A la puerta del cielo.” (“At the door of heaven”)

Leonardo Ciampa (b. 1971) was born in Boston, Massachusetts and educated at the New England Conservatory of Music. He is very active as composer, pianist, and organist. As an organ recitalist, Ciampa has made numerous European tours, encompassing Italy, Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Ciampa’s compositions (which are generally considered “neo-romantic” in style) include “Suite Siciliana”, op. 145 (for two violins, piano, and orchestra), commissioned by the Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra of Boston to open their 25th anniversary season; “The Annunciation,” op. 203 (cantata for chorus, soloists, and strings); the “Kresge Organ Symphony” (his sixth organ symphony), commissioned by MIT and premiered in Kresge Auditorium; a piano quintet (premiered by the Lavazza Chamber Ensemble); and numerous sacred works. As a pianist, Ciampa specializes particularly in the music of Chopin, whose 200th birthday he commemorated with a series of six recitals in Boston. Ciampa is artistic director of organ concerts at Massachusetts Institute Technology and the founding director of MetroWest Choral Artists. An avid writer, Ciampa has written several books, including “The Twilight of Belcanto” and “Don Lorenzo Perosi” (the first English-language biography of that composer). More recently, he compiled and edited “Beniamino Gigli: A Commemoration.”