Gerusalemme terrestre (2019)

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) — Gerusalemme terrestre (2019) for organ

“Gerusalemme terrestre” (2019) is subtitled “introduzione e passacaglia eternamente ascendente sul nome di Pienza”: “introduction and eternally ascending passacaglia on the name Pienza.” Originally written for premiere at the Pienza (Italy) International Music Festival, the composer writes: “The work is based upon the name of Pienza according to the soggetto cavato technique and it is divided into two sections: a short introduction followed by a passacaglia with an ascending movement (in terms of rising keys) representing the mystical ascent from the earthly Jerusalem to the heavenly Jerusalem. Pienza, having been built as the model/concept city at the dawn of city plans, stands for the earthly Jerusalem, a mystical place where you can go up and reach the heavenly Jerusalem. According to the Talmud, God does not enter the heavenly Jerusalem before going to the terrestrial one. The whole piece thus represents both a travel into everybody’s spiritual dimension and a tribute to the presence of the divine on earth.”

Carlotta Ferrari (b. 1975) is an Italian composer. Educated at the Conservatory in Milan, she has composed in many genres, developing a personal language that is concerned with the blend of past and present. Her compositions have been performed frequently around the world. Ferrari’s music appears on several CD recordings, including seven all-Ferrari organ CDs: four recorded by Carson Cooman (2014/16/18) and three by Peter Clark (2015/16/18). She served as chair of music composition at Hebei Normal University in Shijiazhuang, China and is currently professor of music composition at the European School of Economics in Florence, Italy.