ANGELO RICCIARDI
Angelo Ricciardi is a saxophonist and composer who does not look down on electronics or computers. A self-taught composer and painter, producer and creator of multimedia performances, Ricciardi has participated in various concerts of World music, New Age and Jazz. As a composer, he has made music for documentary films, exhibitions, and music therapy courses.
In 1989 he co-founded a national society for multimedia projects specialising in musical software, called Soundware. In 1991 his interest turned to African polyrhythms. This became the synthesis of his rhythmic research, and led to the formation of the group Dunia, comprising Senegalese musicians and dancers, with whom Angelo toured extensively.
Already a practitioner of Tibetan Buddhism, in 1993 he dedicated himself to the sacred and profound study of Tibetan music and culture.
Mantras, prayers, rituals, traditional songs - the traditional instruments of Tibetan culture - and a love and devotion for the Buddhist teachings, all became a font of inspiration for the sound and music of Angelo Ricciardi. More a spiritual study than a musical one, his introspective, sacred use of energy and electronics is intimately linked to healing and to the growth of self awareness. The music is an exchange of open sacred experimentation, in which a new artistic language takes form, between the kinetic energy of advanced technology and the emotional quality of acoustic instruments. Moreover, the voices of Matteo Silva, a master of overtone singing, and Simona Eugenelo, the featured soloist in the final track, make an excellent contribution to the emotional warmth of the production. Angelo's lyrical saxophone phrases glide discreetly over a wheel of sound continuums and emotional colours in a delicate and intuitive state of mystical contemplation. In the time and space allotted to each track one perceives a subtle intensity; from the sounding of Om Ah Hum by a Tibetan yogi to the blowing of telescope trumpets or the light hearted whistle of a shepherd amidst his flock in Cham, eastern Tibet. Also worthy of mention are the fine tabla breaks (by Rashmi Bhatt) in Pilgrim's Way, Song of Enlightenment and Words of Truth. The entire production provides the soundtrack for Angelo's multimedia performance of the same title.
Song of Enlightenment is dedicated to H.H. the XIV Dalai Lama and to the Tibetan people who remain in exile. In the hopes of a brighter future for the Tibetan people this record would like to offer a small but precious contribution, a sign of great respect, of love and of peace.
Tse Mey Yon Ten (Words of Truth) was composed by H.H. Tenzin Gyatzo, the XIV Dalai Lama, during the autumn of 1960, a year and a half after his forced exile in India. It is one of the most important prayers for Tibetans today. It is recited every morning and on special occasions. Tse Mey Yon Ten is dedicated to the regeneration of peace, to the Buddhist teachings, to the culture and self-determination of the Tibetan people, and it is also an invocation of compassion for all beings who suffer; oppressors and oppressed alike. The Tibetans recite these lines so that their culture and the Buddhist teachings on universal compassion should not be wiped out, rather on the contrary, that they should flower again in the world.
