Niccolo Castiglioni (1932-96) studied in Milan, and then with Gulda, Zecchi and Blacher at the Salzburg Mozarteum in 1952-3. He also attended the Darmstadt summer schools. Primarily a pianist early in his career, after a period of teaching he took to composition full time. He had a keen interest in musical criticism.

His was an intellectual approach to composition, and he overcame the neo classical influences of his training, and swung away from the avant-garde, exploring the rather unfashionable late romantic style and the second Viennese School. This lead to a Webern–like serialism. In turn this gave way to the thoroughly nonexperimental Symphony in C (his Third). In short, Castiglioni was an individual voice among 20th century composers, and ploughed his own furrow.

This CD contains music he composed during the Darmstadt years in the 1950s, and later works from the 80s and early 90s.

There is a booklet essay from the pianist, who knew Castiglioni well and who provides a personal memoir of the composer. THis is unusual repertoire from a 20th century composer who is still little known.

Contents:
1. Inizio di movimento
2. Cangianti

Tre pezzi
3. Sweet
4. Kinderlied ohne Worte
5. Fregi

Come io passo l’estate
6. Arrivo a Tires
7. La fossa del lupo
8. Andiamo al rifugio Bergamo
9. La valle del Ciamin
10. Il buco dell’orso
11. La fontanella di Ganna
12. Ghiaccio sul Rosengarten
13. Antonio Ballista dorme in casa dei carabinieri
14. Il fantasma del castello di presule
15. Canzone per il mio compleanno

Dulce refrigerium – Sechs geistliche Lieder für Klavier
16. Humilitas
17. Humus
18. Urquelle
19. Lied
20. Liebeslied
21. Choral

Sonatina
22. I. Andantino mosso assai dolcino
23. II. Ländler: Allegro semplice
24. III. Fughetta

25. Das Reh im Wald

In principio era la danza
26. Valzer I – Canzone del bruco – Valzer II - Canzone della farfalla – Valzer III

27. He

Preludio, Corale e Fuga
28. Preludio
29. Corale
30. Fuga