“La Dimora dell’Altrove” Two themes and variations
Demororor, from Latin, evokes the idea of a stop, a place to linger.
When I think of “home,” I find myself traveling along a winding path, dotted with places and people, where each stop is a chapter of my life. I have crossed continents, savored different cultures, and often met other tireless travelers, souls in search of belonging and connection, or at least in search of a deeper meaning in the places they have inhabited.
« La Dimora Dell’Altrove,” commissioned by NDR for the Bigband of which I have been a member since 2019, is a tribute to the intrinsic duality between the call of “Heimweh,” the nostalgia for the homeland, and “Fernweh,” the desire to venture into unknown horizons.
The first theme, “Heimweh,” presents itself as a short nostalgic melody, harmonically unstable, evoking sensations of warmth and familiarity. The second theme, “Fernweh,” comes alive with a dancing and adventurous rhythm, an invitation to explore, to be carried away by its longer and harmonically stable form. The variations and the improvised gestures of the soloists evolve the thematic material while keeping the essence of memory alive, but exploring new directions, sometimes surprising, as if the memories themselves transformed over time, changing in value.
Just as in the process of social integration, where cultural identities intertwine, enriching the fabric of a community, the two musical themes converse with each other, creating a balance that celebrates diversity, variations.
Each encounter, each journey, each conversation offers us the opportunity to reinvent ourselves, to discover new paths and new truths. It is, therefore, an identity in motion, a constant flow of experiences, cultures, and personalities that leads us to reflect on what it truly means to belong to a place.
In this context, “La dimora dell’altrove” becomes not only a musical work but a manifesto of hope and unity. It is an invitation for each of us to reflect on the meaning of home, to recognize that, even in our search for places and identities, we can find a sense of belonging that transcends physical and cultural boundaries. Music is a common language, a gateway to a reality where differences are not to be feared but embraced.
It is a fantastic opportunity to write music for my fellow musicians and create a tailor-made musical program, which we have already had the privilege of presenting on several occasions, including festivals, theaters, and important concert series. Thus, the presentation in CD format took place under the best conditions. I would therefore like to thank Michael Dreyer and the NDR Redaction, the NDR archive, all the technicians, Geir Lyne, Jochen Ruckërt and of course my musician friends and colleagues for the incredible work done. A special thanks is also due to Federico Mattioli for his support in the production of the recording, to Davide Guccione for the art work and to Ludmilla Jeremies for the project’s photos.
Music becomes a refuge, a sound space where experiences amalgamate, where “Heimweh” and “Fernweh” only complete each other.
Luigi Grasso