Florence, with its timeless art, history, and culture, has inspired creators for centuries. For me, this inspiration culminated in the creation of Portraits of Florence, a debut album of works for piano that translates encounters with the city into music. Each track pays tribute to a Florentine landmark while seeking to convey its profound and deeply personal impact.
A journey in three stages
The album concept emerged unexpectedly, sparked by the piece Last Dance. Originally unrelated to Florence, Last Dance was written to evoke a poignant and permanent goodbye, a couple’s final moments together. Upon reflection, I realized it also captures the inevitable sorrow and gratitude my wife and I will feel when, one day, we bid farewell to this astonishing city. From this seed, the project grew. A visit to San Miniato al Monte inspired musings about how a visitor’s experience might be expressed as a musical portrait. Later, over coffee with a curator from the Museo Marino Marini, the vision for the project crystallized, and the album began to take shape.
Translating Florence into music
Each track in Portraits of Florence represents a work of art, a historical monument or a uniquely Florentine experience. The goal, however, was not merely to depict these subjects but to convey my authentic responses to them—emotions, reflections and physical sensations. This approach posed a challenge. Florence’s immense cultural and historical weight demanded a deliberate effort to look beyond each subject’s grandeur to discover its more personal impact. Achieving this required staying fully present and attuned to my internal state as I explored the city’s countless wonders.
Highlights from the album
Two tracks stand out as favorites. Flowing Gently By captures the gentle ripples and steady progress of the Arno River. Composing this piece proved more challenging than expected, but an uncommon 5/4 time signature ultimately brought it to life. Listening to it now, I am instantly transported to the river’s edge, contemplating its perpetual flow through the city. The track, Marini, was both technically demanding and immensely rewarding to compose. Inspired by the Museo Marino Marini, it captures the journey through the artist’s diverse works and the beautiful structure that houses them. Creating a cohesive piece with multiple themes to reflect a lifetime of Marini’s artistic output was complex, but the result is deeply satisfying. Of all the tracks on the album, it is perhaps the one of which I am most proud.
The spirit of Florence
A prominent theme of the album is time, examining Florence’s longevity and legacy. Two pieces exemplify this idea. They Wake at Dawn envisions the sculptures of the Loggia dei Lanzi awakening each morning to share their stories with travelers, a ritual they have faithfully performed for centuries. Standing Watch, by contrast, pays homage to the city’s gates. Although their walls no longer connect them, these proud structures continue to stand guard over Florence—steadfast, though their task was completed long ago.
Composing for Florence’s most iconic landmarks—the Duomo, the David and the Ponte Vecchio—was particularly daunting. Evening Reverence, dedicated to the Duomo, was one of the most challenging pieces to conceptualize. After months of reflection, I eventually realized that my most meaningful experiences with the cathedral occur during nighttime walks, after the crowds are gone. This realization inspired the piece’s intimate tone, capturing not the Duomo’s grandeur, but its solemnity. In a similar vein, Encounter does not attempt to describe the historic and artistic importance of Michelangelo’s David. Instead, it conveys the inner state evoked during my first visit to the Galleria dell’Accademia—the rush of anticipation, the quiet reflection and the awe of standing before such a singular, timeless masterpiece.
Connecting with listeners
As a transitory visitor to this extraordinary city, I recognize that my perspective is one of countless others, and that this work represents only my own truth. Through Portraits of Florence, I hope to share my reverence for the city and inspire listeners to reflect on or explore its rich history and culture. The album also invites a personal connection: What emotions does Florence evoke for you? What memories or images emerge? By expressing my authentic internal responses, I hope to encourage others to explore their own.
Reflections on the journey
This project has been a journey of discovery, deepening my connection to Florence’s cultural history and learning how best to honor it musically. It’s also a significant milestone in my life as a composer. Though I began composing decades ago, Portraits of Florence is the first album I have formally released. Sharing it with the world has been a deeply fulfilling experience. The album has been well-received, with tracks featured in Friends of Florence’s 25th anniversary video and streamed by listeners around the world.
With Portraits of Florence, I hope to add a small note to the symphony of voices celebrating this remarkable city, inviting others to see, feel and hear Florence in a new light.
Tune into The Artistic Expression of Storytelling: Portraits of Florence online via Zoom on March 9 at 13:55 CET. The event is free, but registration is reserved for Internations members. Join here.
