About the Composer:
Silvio Coscia played principal horn for the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra he was a member of the orchestra for 36 years from 1928-64, Sharing principal duties with Gunther Schuller for 13 years. Silvius C.'s 200+ compositions are very expressive, innovative & full of contrast; very enjoyable!
Silvio Coscia (1899-1977) came from a family of professional singers, including his father and his brother. At the age of eight, Coscia was accepted as a cantor at the St Ambrigio Cathedral in Milan. In 1910, Coscia entered the Municipal School of Singing, where he completed the regular three-year. In 1913, he entered the Royal Conservatory of Music in Milan where he earned his degree and became proficient in piano, organ, French horn, and composition.
In 1924, Coscia immigrated to the United States where he played horn in symphonic organizations. Subsequently, in 1928, Coscia joined the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra as its youngest member and remained there through 1964. While performing with the Met orchestra, Coscia also served as a vocal coach to well known artists such as Renata Tebaldi, Lily Pons, and Jerome Hines. During this time Coscia also began composing serious works for orchestra, symphonic band, winds, and voice.
Also while in New York, Coscia worked as an arranger for the Goldman Band and performed with the New York Symphony Band. Coscia’s compositions have been performed by the New York Symphony, the Halifax Symphony, the New England Conservatory Symphony, the Municipal Band of Venice, the Detroit Concert Band, the Santa Fe Chamber Orchestra and the Goldman Band. In additions, Coscia’s songs have been performed at the Santa Fe festival, and in recital by Giuseppe Valdengo and Cesare Siepe. Coscia’s music has been published by Barron, Fox, and Ricordi. He is sometimes referred to as Silvius C.
After retiring from the Metropolitan orchestra, Coscia returned to Milan for awhile and later returned to the United States, where he was hired by his friend Gunther Schuller to serve on the faculty of New England Conservatory. Coscia taught voice and operatic diction at NEC from 1967-1975. Upon Coscia’s death, his widow Virginia Coscia donated many of his compositions to the library at New England Conservatory.
Coscia was the recipient of The Silver Medal of Merit from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Italy and was knighted by the President of Italy.
He died in Watertown, Massachusetts on September 15, 1977
About the Recording:
Duets recorded in the cold months of January & February 2019
Track - - title - - Duration
1 - Concert Suite: I. First mood: resignation - 2:59
2 - Concert Suite: II. Second mood: Bells! - 4:22
3 - Concert Suite: III. Third mood: Consideration - 3:07
4 - 22 Duets for Horns: I. Moderato - 1:02
5 - 22 Duets for Horns: II. Andante - 2:53
6 - 22 Duets for Horns: III. Andante Moderato - 2:32
7 - 22 Duets for Horns: IV. Moderato - 2:48
8 - 22 Duets for Horns: V. Andante Moderato - 2:11
9 - 22 Duets for Horns: VI. Allegro Moderato - 1:13
10 - 22 Duets for Horns: VII. Maestoso - 2:03
11 - 22 Duets for Horns: VIII. Moderato - 1:09
12 - 22 Duets for Horns: IX. Grave and Tragic - 2:12
13 - 22 Duets for Horns: X. Moderato - 2:05
14 - 22 Duets for Horns: XI. Allegro Deciso - 1:48
15 - 22 Duets for Horns: XII. Sostenuto - 1:43
16 - 22 Duets for Horns: XIII. Deciso - 1:52
17 - 22 Duets for Horns: XIV. Moderato - 2:07
18 - 22 Duets for Horns: XV. Molto Moderato - 1:58
19 - 22 Duets for Horns: XVI. Allegro Moderato - 2:08
20 - 22 Duets for Horns: XVII. Moderato - 3:14
21 - 22 Duets for Horns: XVIII. Moderato - 1:57
22 - 22 Duets for Horns: XIX. Lentamente - 2:44
23 - 22 Duets for Horns: XX. Allegretto - 2:20
24 - 22 Duets for Horns: XXI. Moderato - 1:26
25 - 22 Duets for Horns: XXII. Andante - 1:19
I shot the cover picture of a Hoary Marmot for my newest CD on my second trip to Glacier National Park this summer. This is the first time I visited the Two Medicines area and it was there than I visited with the Marmots. The river below is down 150 foot cliff.
Chicago composer & pianist Michael R. Oldham uncorks a dazzling album of piano compositions, bursting with warm, uplifting melodies. Bandcamp New & Notable Oct 30, 2021
This elegantly composed chamber album from Ellen Tsai has a playful feel, almost like the soundtrack to a storybook. Bandcamp New & Notable Aug 23, 2022
Argentine composer and guitarist Francisco del Pino achieves a stunning art-song hybrid on the first album to be released under his own name. Bandcamp Album of the Day May 19, 2021
