A contemporary classical ukulele
I commission and perform contemporary classical music written for the ukulele and arrange classical and renowned contemporary and twentieth century scores for it, fostering the development of a new challenging and cultivated ukulele repertoire and aiming to deepen and evolve the idiomatic unique features of the instrument. In March 2023 I am giving a presentation of my research about contemporary music for ukulele during seminars for composition classes at The Juilliard School in New York and at the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia. I am co-director of the Ukulele International Conference (UIC) – Interdisciplinary Perspectives on Performance, Composition, and Organology, the first edition of which (UIC 2021) has been hosted by the University of Milan on December, 3-4, 2021. I have started the first Italian ukulele university class at the Conservatorio “A. Vivaldi” di Alessandria. I am in the faculty roaster of the prestigious summer courses organized by Fondazione Campus Internazionale di Musica, held in the stunning castle of Sermoneta. My album A contemporary ukulele, featuring fourteen new scores for ukulele solo chosen from over forty dedicated to me, has been published Da Vinci Classics (here is a link to one of the several great reviews). I recorded a ukulele solo score for Frederick Rawski brand new album. Moreover, I am a proud Aquila Corde Armoniche official endorser. They gave me the honor to test all their nine ukulele string sets and to make official videos on their YouTube channel to showcase and compare their stunning features. You can listen all of them them at this link. I have been teaching and performing in many international festivals, including Monopolele 2022 – Mediterranean Ukulele Fest (Monopoli, IT – 2022), Czech Ukulele Festival (Únětice, CZ – 2022), and Gaithersburg UkeFest (2021). I am always looking to perform and promote contemporary music for ukulele: in case you have composed (or you are aware of) scores featuring the ukulele, solo or in any ensemble, feel free to contact me at mail@giovannialbini.it.
現代音楽 + ウクレレ + イタリア ◆ 夏威夷四弦琴 / 烏克麗麗
New works written for me or premiered
► Alberto Barberis, Preludio Variato (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA) and web app. Duration: 5′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini. ALBUM
► Andrea Beggio, Prototype Pattern (2020) for amplified detuned ukulele solo (gCE♭G) and live electronics. Duration: 3′. Written for (and revision and fingering by) Giovanni Albini.
► Andrea Beggio, Obscure Particles (2021) for amplified detuned ukulele solo (gCE♭G) and tape (via Ableton Live). Duration: 4′. Written for (and revision by) Giovanni Albini. ALBUM
► Antonio Giacometti, Encontro das Águas (2022) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 4′. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Brandon J. Rolle, Afterward (2021) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini, published by Black Tea Music. SCORE / ALBUM
► Cosimo Carovani, [Leidenpassus] Op. 49 No. 4 (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA), from Miniature Caratteristiche per vari strumenti solo. Duration: 5′. Written for (and dedicated to) Giovanni Albini.
► Choan Gálvez, The Cheerless Walk (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 5′. Dedicated to and premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by The Ukulele Bookshop. ISMN: 979-0-805446-01-1 SCORE / VIDEO / ALBUM
► Choan Gálvez, A. P. Drove me to Tears (2020) for ukulele solo (Low G) with scordatura (GBDA). Duration: 3′. Premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by The Ukulele Bookshop. ISMN: 979-0-805446-03-5 SCORE / VIDEO
► Choan Gálvez, Bigger Steps (2021) for baritone ukulele solo (DGBE). Duration: 6-10′. Premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by The Ukulele Bookshop. ISMN: 979-0-805446-16-5 SCORE / VIDEO
► Choan Gálvez, Hopeless at Messenger (2021) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 1′. Premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by The Ukulele Bookshop. ISMN: 979-0-805446-31-8 SCORE / VIDEO
► Choan Gálvez, On Vacation (2022) for ukulele solo (gCEA). I – Introduction, II – At the Pool, III- At the Terrace, IV – Turnaround. Total duration: 12′. Dedicated to and premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by The Ukulele Bookshop. ISMN: 979-0-805446-36-3 SCORE
► David John Roche, I love Ukulele, Three Pieces for Solo Ukulele (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA). I – Future Champion, II – Love and Admiration, III – Greatest of all Time. Total duration: 10′. Written for, commissioned and premiered by Giovanni Albini. II – VIDEO III – VIDEO
► Davide Tammaro, The Messenger (2021) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini. ALBUM
► Emmanuel Amiot, Ta Tendre Chair de Femme (2021) for ukulele with scordatura and voice ad libitum (FCEA). Duration: 3′. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Fabrizio Nastari, Dies Rainbow (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini. VIDEO / ALBUM
► Fabrizio Nastari, Pappagalli Verdi (2021) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3’30. Written for, dedicated to to, revision and fingering, and premiered by Giovanni Albini.
► Federico Favali, Leuk (2021) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for and premiered by Giovanni Albini, published by Donemus. SCORE
► Francesco Tanzi, Mà-tera (2021) for ukulele (gCEA) and cello quartet. Duration: 6′. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Frederick Rawski, Milan Dismembered (2021) for ukulele (gCEA) and delay. Duration: 3’30. Written for Giovanni Albini at highSCORE Festival 2021. ALBUM
► Giorgio Colombo Taccani, Canzone dell’Assenza (2021) for ukulele (gCEA). Duratio: 3’30. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini. Published by Edizioni Suvini Zerboni.
► Joe Schittino, Le Capybara Rêveur, JS 322 (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Dedicated to (and revision and fingering by) Giovanni Albini.
► Lindsay Higgs, Homage to Brouwer (2013) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 40”. Premiered by Giovanni Albini. VIDEO
► Lodi Luka, Country Roads (2021) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 4′. Dedicated to (and revision and fingering by) Giovanni Albini.
► Matteo Generani, Cartolina Musicale (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for, dedicated to, revision and fingering, and premiered by Giovanni Albini. VIDEO
► Matteo Tundo, Acheta (2022) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Dedicated to, revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini.
► Matteo Tundo, Chiarore appena (2022) for solo amplified ukulele (gCEA) with reverb. Duration: 4-8′. Dedicated to, revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini.
► Matteo Tundo, Inoltre (2022) for four ukuleles (gCEA). Duration:3’30. Dedicated to and revision by Giovanni Albini.
► Matthew Quilliam, The Department for the End of the World (2021) for ukulele (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for Giovanni Albini at highSCORE Festival 2021. ALBUM
► Sandro Montalto, Fibonacci Song (2022) for ukulele (gCEA). Duration: 5′. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Oliver Dubon, Reality’s Edge: an Homage to Brendon Randall-Myers (2021) for ukulele (gCEA). Duration: 4′. Commissioned by Giovanni Albini. ALBUM
► Philip Ellis Foster, Cosmos 1 (2021) for ukulele. Duration: 5′. Written for Giovanni Albini at highSCORE Festival 2021. ALBUM
► Roberto Squillaci, Arpeggio (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 4′. Written for, commissioned and revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini.
► Samantha Muir, Lines of Flight 3: The Red Angel (2021) for ukulele solo (Low G) with scordatura (GB♭DB♭). Duration: 5′. Premiered by Giovanni Albini. VIDEO
► Samantha Muir, Tell Me Why (A prayer for out time) (2021) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Sonia Ballarin, Recuerdos de El Nihuil (2021) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for, dedicated to, commissioned and revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini.
► Stefano Procaccioli, Percorso G – liens VII (2020) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for, dedicated to (and revision and fingering by) Giovanni Albini.
► Sydney Doemel, Green (2021) for ukulele (gCEA). Duration: 4′. Written for Giovanni Albini at highSCORE Festival 2021. ALBUM
► Toivo Tulev, Synchronistic Afternoon With a Freshly Tuned Ukulele (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA) and crystal glasses. Duration: 5′. Written for (and revision and fingering by) Giovanni Albini. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini and Liisa Hõbepappel. ALBUM
► Tony Mizen, Homage to Leo Brouwer (2022) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 1’30”. Dedicated to Giovanni Albini.
► Virginio Zoccatelli, Friend’s Hand (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′. Written for, dedicated to, commissioned and revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini. VIDEO
► Virginio Zoccatelli, Improvviso (2021) for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 4′. Written for, dedicated to, commissioned and revision and fingering by Giovanni Albini.
► Zulfiia Tursunova, Intention Sector 3012 (2021) for ukulele (gCEA). Duration: 6′. Written for and dedicated to Giovanni Albini at highSCORE Festival 2021. ALBUM
Ukulele original scores by me
► Giovanni Albini, Op. 48 No. 2 – Piccola Fantasia Madrilena (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 4′.
► Giovanni Albini, Op. 66 No. 2 – Minuetto Lento (2020) for ukulele solo (GCEA). Duration: 3′.
► Giovanni Albini, Sabbia Op. 73 No. 2 (2021), from Mirabilia for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 3′. Dedicated to Luis Henriques and his cocolélé. VIDEO
► Giovanni Albini, Rosarium Op. 73 No. 3 (2021), from Mirabilia for ukulele solo with scordatura (FCEG). Duration: 3-10′. Dedicated to Choan Gálvez.
► Giovanni Albini, Hail to the Frightening E and B Sharp! Op. 73 No. 4 (2021), from Mirabilia for ukulele solo (gCEA). Duration: 1’30. Written for the London Ukulele Project.
