The Companion Guide to Rome is a composition for string trio by the American composer Andrew Norman. The complete work was first performed on May 30, 2010, by the Scharoun Ensemble at Radialsystem V in Berlin.Norman, Andrew (2010). The Companion Guide to Rome. Retrieved December 25, 2015. The composition was a finalist for the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for Music.
Composition Structure The Companion Guide to Rome has a duration of roughly 30 minutes and is composed in nine movements: Teresa Benedetto Susanna Pietro Ivo Clemente Lorenzo Cecilia Sabina
The ninth movement, "Sabina," was originally composed as a standalone piece in 2006 for the Janaki String Trio. It can be performed separately or as part of the complete work.
Inspiration The title of the work comes from the eponymous 1965 guidebook to Rome by Georgina Masson. The movements thus commemorate nine of Norman's favorite Roman churches mentioned in the text. Norman wrote in the score program note:The inspiration for each movement is as follows: Teresa: The Ecstasy of Saint Teresa by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in the Cornaro Chapel, Santa Maria della Vittoria, Rome Benedetto: the Cosmatesque floors in San Benedetto in Piscinula Susanna: a fresco of the Mary in Majesty in the Chiesa di Santa Susanna Pietro: Donato Bramante's Tempietto Ivo: Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza Clemente: Basilica di San Clemente Lorenzo: a part of the Cosmatesque floor in the Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo fuori la mura Cecilia: The statue of St. Cecelia by Stefano Maderno in Santa Cecilia in Trastevere Sabina: Santa Sabina
References