Invisibile agli occhi

December 2023. Invited to take part as a composer in the fourth edition of the choral competition Napoli InCanta, organised and produced by the Centro Studi Fondazione Pietà de’ Turchini (under the artistic direction of Federica Castaldo), I went to the primary school Madre Claudia Russo in Barra, where Maestro Salvatore Murru, my friend and fellow student at the Naples Conservatory, as well as an adviser to the aforementioned competition, teaches.

When I met him again after a few years, I told him that I wanted to compose for Le Voci del 48, the choir of students and alumni of the prestigious school in the eastern part of Naples, which he conducts with great skill. It was on this occasion that I attended a choir lesson and heard the enchanting voices of these children live for the first time.

Impressed by all this, on the way back I began to imagine what could be a theme worthy of a composition written especially for them. Nothing, I think, convinces me until, at home, I get down to the usual evening practice: reading for Cesare and Lucia. At that time we were experimenting with The Little Prince:

“…but if you tame me, my life will be as if enlightened. I will hear the sound of footsteps different from all the others. Other footsteps will make me hide underground. Yours, however, will call me out of the cave.

And then, look! See those wheat fields over there? I don’t eat bread. Wheat has no use for me. Wheat fields tell me nothing. And that’s sad! But you have golden hair. Then it will be wonderful when you have tamed me! Golden wheat will make me think of you. And I will adore the sound of the wind in my ears… If you like… tame me!” “Daddy, what does it mean to tame me?” “It means to tame me! Do you know what it means?” “Yes, yes! DO-LA-MI… it’s like music!”

And so it was that my children naturally suggested to me what was right for their “colleagues”.
Do-La-Mi became the generating melodic cell of the composition, for which I also had fun organising the lyrics.

Everything comes together… it’s like music!

Salvatore Della Vecchia