IN THE BLEAK MIDWINTER
Details Press Release.
The Poignant Beauty of “In the Bleak Midwinter”: A Christmas Song by Andrea Montalbano Set to Christina Georgina Rossetti’s famous titular poem, “In the Bleak Midwinter” is a moving Christmas carol written by Andrea Montalbano. As if the melody had always been a part of the lines, this composition gives off an aura of classical music. The season is encapsulated in the piece as singer Motomi Tanaka and pianist Mari Kotskyy harmonize to bring it to life. The magical performance was touched by the recording that took place in December 2020 at New York’s Cutting Room Studio. Notable composers like Gustav Holst (in 1906) and Harold Darke (in 1911) have already turned the poetry “In the Bleak Midwinter” to music. Andrea Montalbano takes a fresh approach to this classic piece, reimagining it musically in a way that speaks to his own aesthetic sensibilities. This presents a fascinating chance to go into the poem’s extensive history, exploring the links between Holst’s and Darke’s previous performances and Montalbano’s composition. TO LEARN MORE CLICK HERE
Achievements and awards
1) Winner of the first prize of the Silverling Composition Competition 2023 with the piece “”Eagle’s Flight”” (for string orchestra);
2) Winner of the San Valentino Global Music Awards, promoted by Narnia Film Festival, with the composition “”Memories of Love””, for violin and piano;
3) Winner in the category Best Classical Composition of 2023 music competition promoted by The Artist Forum (the 2023 Competition Theme is: THE BODY POLITICAL), New York, with the piece “Intrecci”, for solo viola;
4) Finalist at “Orient/Occident” – IX edition (2022-2023) – Promoted by KLK New Music – Lviv (Ukraine), with the composition “Nodes”, for chamber orchestra;
5) Double nominations at Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2022 – Music Genre – in the categories “New/Emerging Composer” (with the piece “Blue Sky”, for string orchestra) and “Dramatic/Crime” (with the piece “Rouge” for orchestra);
6) Honorary Mention at International Songwriting Competition 2022 with the piece “Blue Sky”;
7) Winner in the category Classical/Operatic composition of The Artist Forum International Music Competition 2021;
8) Composer Cum Laude and Best Work for Piano Trio at the Cum Laude Music Awards III Edition (2020-2021);
9) Finalist at “Bruno Maderna” International Composer Competition 2020, promoted by KLK New Music – Lviv (Ukraine) – with the piece “La camera incantata”, for violin, cello and piano;
10) Winner at InterContinental Music Award 2021 in the category “Pangea – classic” with the composition “Eagle’s Flight”, for string orchestra;
11) Diploma Prize Winner at Malta International Composition Competition 2021 with the piece “Movimenti intrecciati”, for string quartet;
12) Winner in the section “Music” at Near Nazareth Festival – edition of June 2021 – with the piece “In the Bleak Midwinter”, for voice and piano;
13) Finalist at “”Disklavier Composers Contest” 2019 – Cremona Musica & Yamaha Music – (Cremona Musica – International Exhibitions and Festival) with the piece “Swirling circle”;
14) Honorary Mention at Call for scores for 6° Incontro Internacional De Cordas 2019, promoted by Orquestra Sinfonica de Limeira, with the work “linee intrecciate (I – IV), for violin and cello;
15) “Most Distinguished Musician” at 28th Annual International Music Competition “Ibla Grand Prize” 2019 with the piece “Eagle’s flight”, for string orchestra;
16) First prize at the 17° edition of International Composition Competition “Don Vincenzo Vitti” (Castellana Grotte, 2018) – Composition of chamber music, Category B – with “Passeggiata caleidoscopica”, for flute and piano;
17) Winner in the music category of the Near Nazareth Film Festival 2018 with the composition “Eagle’s flight”, for string orchestra; 18) Winner in the Dance music category of the Hollywood Songwriting Contest 2017 with the piece “Dancing through the woods”;
19) Certificate of merit at TIM (International Music Tournament) Edition 2015 – 2016 with the piece “Passeggiata caleidoscopica”, for flute and piano;
20) Third prize at the fifteenth edition of the Composition competition “A. Manoni”, (Senigallia, 2016);
21) Second prize at the first International Composition Competition “Città di Nepi” (Nepi, 2014) Category B – with the piece “Sogno ad occhi aperti”, for piano solo;
22) Third prize at the second National Composition Competition “Caterina Percoto” (Udine, 2013) – Category B – with “A little rhapsody”, for piano solo;
23) Third prize at the second National Composition Competition “Caterina Percoto” (Udine, 2013) – Category B – with “A little rhapsody”, for piano solo;
24) Third prize at the eleventh edition of International Music Competition “Don Vincenzo Vitti” (Castellana Grotte, 2012) – Electroacoustic music – with “Parallel sounds”, for Bb clarinet and electronics;
25) Second prize (first prize not assigned) at Composition competition “Le musiche del mare” (Ancona, 2012) with “Mirage”, for string quartet.
2) Winner of the San Valentino Global Music Awards, promoted by Narnia Film Festival, with the composition “”Memories of Love””, for violin and piano;
3) Winner in the category Best Classical Composition of 2023 music competition promoted by The Artist Forum (the 2023 Competition Theme is: THE BODY POLITICAL), New York, with the piece “Intrecci”, for solo viola;
4) Finalist at “Orient/Occident” – IX edition (2022-2023) – Promoted by KLK New Music – Lviv (Ukraine), with the composition “Nodes”, for chamber orchestra;
5) Double nominations at Hollywood Music in Media Awards 2022 – Music Genre – in the categories “New/Emerging Composer” (with the piece “Blue Sky”, for string orchestra) and “Dramatic/Crime” (with the piece “Rouge” for orchestra);
6) Honorary Mention at International Songwriting Competition 2022 with the piece “Blue Sky”;
7) Winner in the category Classical/Operatic composition of The Artist Forum International Music Competition 2021;
8) Composer Cum Laude and Best Work for Piano Trio at the Cum Laude Music Awards III Edition (2020-2021);
9) Finalist at “Bruno Maderna” International Composer Competition 2020, promoted by KLK New Music – Lviv (Ukraine) – with the piece “La camera incantata”, for violin, cello and piano;
10) Winner at InterContinental Music Award 2021 in the category “Pangea – classic” with the composition “Eagle’s Flight”, for string orchestra;
11) Diploma Prize Winner at Malta International Composition Competition 2021 with the piece “Movimenti intrecciati”, for string quartet;
12) Winner in the section “Music” at Near Nazareth Festival – edition of June 2021 – with the piece “In the Bleak Midwinter”, for voice and piano;
13) Finalist at “”Disklavier Composers Contest” 2019 – Cremona Musica & Yamaha Music – (Cremona Musica – International Exhibitions and Festival) with the piece “Swirling circle”;
14) Honorary Mention at Call for scores for 6° Incontro Internacional De Cordas 2019, promoted by Orquestra Sinfonica de Limeira, with the work “linee intrecciate (I – IV), for violin and cello;
15) “Most Distinguished Musician” at 28th Annual International Music Competition “Ibla Grand Prize” 2019 with the piece “Eagle’s flight”, for string orchestra;
16) First prize at the 17° edition of International Composition Competition “Don Vincenzo Vitti” (Castellana Grotte, 2018) – Composition of chamber music, Category B – with “Passeggiata caleidoscopica”, for flute and piano;
17) Winner in the music category of the Near Nazareth Film Festival 2018 with the composition “Eagle’s flight”, for string orchestra; 18) Winner in the Dance music category of the Hollywood Songwriting Contest 2017 with the piece “Dancing through the woods”;
19) Certificate of merit at TIM (International Music Tournament) Edition 2015 – 2016 with the piece “Passeggiata caleidoscopica”, for flute and piano;
20) Third prize at the fifteenth edition of the Composition competition “A. Manoni”, (Senigallia, 2016);
21) Second prize at the first International Composition Competition “Città di Nepi” (Nepi, 2014) Category B – with the piece “Sogno ad occhi aperti”, for piano solo;
22) Third prize at the second National Composition Competition “Caterina Percoto” (Udine, 2013) – Category B – with “A little rhapsody”, for piano solo;
23) Third prize at the second National Composition Competition “Caterina Percoto” (Udine, 2013) – Category B – with “A little rhapsody”, for piano solo;
24) Third prize at the eleventh edition of International Music Competition “Don Vincenzo Vitti” (Castellana Grotte, 2012) – Electroacoustic music – with “Parallel sounds”, for Bb clarinet and electronics;
25) Second prize (first prize not assigned) at Composition competition “Le musiche del mare” (Ancona, 2012) with “Mirage”, for string quartet.
Artist Bio.
Andrea Montalbano (Italy, 1990) started to study the clarinet at 12 and graduated with honors at the Conservatory “A. Scontrino” of Trapani in 2009, in the clarinet class of M°Giancarlo Lumetta. Andrea attended masterclasses with Paolo Ravaglia, Richard Stoltzman, Andre Kerver, Calogero Palermo. In June 2011 Andrea has qualified as clarinet teacher at the Conservatory of music “G. B. Martini” in Bologna and during the same period has started his composition activity, writing the first works. In 2014 Andrea studied music composition for movie at Civic Music School “C. Abbado” in Milan with Franco Piersanti and Sergio Miceli. Andrea attended composition masterclasses with Prof. Joel Hoffman (“UPBEAT” International Summer Music School – Croatia, 2015) and with Sidney Corbett and Alessio Elia (Master class in composition promoted by “She lives”, music association – Budapest, 2018). As clarinet player, Andrea is active in classical, jazz and contemporary music, and collaborated with many composers and musicians to play premieres (“Essere è tempo”, by Mario Ruffini, at the Uffizi library in Florence, video in “Aristofane in Blue” by Maurizio Pisati at the Oscar Theatre in Milan, “I giorni della libertà” at the Comunale Theatre in Bologna, etc…). Andrea’s compositions have been awarded in national and international composer competitions, and have been performed in many events and festivals: Winner in the category Classical/Operatic composition of The Artist Forum International Music Competition 2021 and 2023; Composer Cum Laude and Best Work for Piano Trio at the Cum Laude Music Awards III Edition (2020-2021); Finalist at Musica per archi 2016, 2017, 2018 and 2022 (KLK New Music) – Lviv (Ukraine); Winner at InterContinental Music Award 2021 in the category “Pangea – classic” and more. His work “Mirage” (for string quartet) is published by Bèrben – edizioni musicali, and “Su Monte Mario” (for mixed choir), with text by Giosuè Carducci, was recorded by Coro Volante, conducted by Brett Scott, and published on “New Choral Voices, vol. 3” by Ablaze Records. Andrea is clarinet teacher in the Middle School since 2014.