Giovanni Verrando

  • bio
    • bio-eng
    • bio-it
    • bio-fr
  • catalogue
    • Multimedia works
      • Camera Music (2022 – in progress)
      • Instrumental freak show (2017-2020)
    • Orchestral works
      • Multiplicity (2013)
      • The Sinopia of Dulle Griet (2010-11)
      • Polyptych (2007)
      • Triptych (2005-06)
      • Agile (2004)
      • Sottile (1996-97)
    • Chamber works 2005 – today
      • Keekee Bouba (2015-17)
      • Krummholz (2013-14)
      • Travelling icon on rabbit-skin glue (2013)
      • Grammatica dell’inarmonico (2012)
      • Dulle Griet (2009-10)
      • Triptych#2 (2008)
      • Memorial art show (2005)
    • Chamber works 1989 – 2005
      • Quartetto n° 3 (2003)
      • Il ruvido dettaglio celebrato da Aby Warburg (2002)
      • Evanescente Orchestra Meccanica II (1999)
      • Quartetto n° 2 (1998-99)
      • 4 invenzioni sull’Offerta Musicale (1995)
      • Accanto alla quiete (1993)
      • Animismus (1992)
    • Solo
      • The Unicorn cycle
      • Seventh Born Unicorn (2019)
      • Sixth Born Unicorn (2018 – rev. 2025)
      • Fifth Born Unicorn (2016)
      • Fourth Born Unicorn, angular version (2016)
      • Fourth Born Unicorn, rounded version (2015)
      • Third Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for (2009)
      • Second Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for (2002)
      • First Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for (2001)
      • Discanto (2000)
      • 3 opere misurate (1994-95)
    • Choir
      • The 4 delights of Jeroen Anthoniszoon (2007)
    • Opera
      • Alex Brücke Langer (2002-03)
  • cd & audio
  • video
  • books & texts
  • senza famiglia – lutherie & composition
    • One work, one sound
    • Un’opera, un suono
    • Striving for an unheard sound
    • Tendere ad un suono inedito
    • Musica da camera con la nuova liuteria
    • Helsinki lectures – Why research into lutherie?
    • Le conferenze di Helsinki – Perché una ricerca sulla liuteria?
    • Instruments as apparatus
    • Gli strumenti come apparati
    • On new lutherie
    • Sulla nuova liuteria
  • past news
  • photos
  • contact

The Unicorn cycle


The Unicorn cycle portrays a musical journey: from the harmonic domain to a different balance between harmonic and inharmonic, passing through a reconsideration of the musical instruments as means with a purpose.
It was born from a well-known poem by Rilke (“Sie nährten es mit keinem Korn, nur immer mit der Möglichkeit, es sei/And so they fed it, not with hay or corn but with the chance that it might come to pass”) and a Red Hot Chili Pepper’s quotation. Since the beginning of the cycle I mentioned the Unicorn as a way to oppose the impositions of the surrounding world, reminding myself to focus my energy exclusively on the musical contents, and nourishing the possibility (Möglichkeit) of my own point of view.

First Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for, for amplified flute (2001)
Second Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for, solo piano (2002)
Third Born Unicorn, remind me what we’re fighting for, for e-violin & electronics (2009)
Fourth Born Unicorn, rounded version, for prepared viola d’amore (2015)
Fourth Born Unicorn, angular version, for prepared viola (2016)
Fifth Born Unicorn, for transformed & dismantled cello, electronics (2016)
Sixth Born Unicorn, for e-guitar & electronics (2018)
Seventh Born Unicorn, for amplified bass clarinet, filtering half B-clarinet & electronics (2019)

  • bio
  • catalogue
  • cd & audio
  • video
  • books & texts
  • senza famiglia – lutherie & composition
  • past news
  • photos
  • contact

contact: SZ SUGAR, SUGARMUSIC S.P.A. - Galleria del Corso 4, 20122 Milano

email: szsugar@sugarmusic.com