Pietro Abbà Cornaglia: Alessandrian composer between sacred and theater

Life

Trained in the final phase of Romanticism, his artistic maturity was fully expressed during the post-unification Realism period, anticipating in part the sensitivity of Verismo.

Pietro Abbà Cornaglia was born in Alessandria on March 20, 1851. Soon orphaned by his father, he was educated by his stepfather Pietro Cornaglia who encouraged his musical training. After classical studies in his hometown, in 1868 he entered the Milan Conservatory, where he obtained his diploma in piano, organ, and composition in 1871. His final project, the cantata Caino e Abele, won first prize and a medal of honor, confirming his emerging talent.

In 1875 he held a concert in Turin in honor of the veterans of the 1848-49 Risorgimento battles. Three years later he composed a Requiem Mass which, selected by the Accademia di Santa Cecilia, was performed in the Turin Cathedral to commemorate Charles Albert of Savoy and was awarded by Victor Emmanuel II. The score also circulated in Spain, sparking lively interest.

His theatrical debut occurred in 1877 with Isabella Spinola, performed at the Teatro Carcano in Milan and revived in Genoa under the direction of Arrigo Boito. In the following years, he consolidated his position as an organist and master: from 1880 he was organist of the Alessandria Cathedral, founding a school of composition that attracted young pupils. Simultaneously, he dedicated romanzas and chamber lyrics, often appreciated in aristocratic salons. In 1884 Venice welcomed Maria di Warden, while in 1892 Pavia applauded Una partita a scacchi, based on the famous drama by Giuseppe Giacosa.

He also wrote essays and lectures, including History and Philosophy of Music and a programmatic writing on the introduction of folk singing in schools. He died prematurely in Alessandria on May 2, 1894, at just 43 years old, due to appendicitis. He was remembered as an affable and idealistic artist who believed deeply in his own music.

Works

Sacred music: Messa di Gloria (1870), Requiem Mass (1873, Turin, for Charles Albert), Stabat Mater (1874), Salve (1874), Magnificat in two parts (1880), Pater noster, Ave Maria, Vespro delle domeniche (1881), De profundis (1881-82), three Tantum ergo (1881-82), Salve Regina (1889), Miserere (1889), and Requiem Mass for 4 voices (1892).

Theatrical works: Isabella Spinola (Milan, 1877; then Genoa with Boito), Maria di Warden (Venice, 1884), and Una partita a scacchi (Pavia, 1892). He also composed romanzas for voice and piano, including Lontan dagli occhi and Fior di memoria.

Writings: Impressioni di un viaggio in Germania, Sulla introduzione del canto popolare nelle scuole (1880), and Storia e filosofia della musica (1881).