Pesaro is certainly entitled to be called ‘la città della musica’ (‘the city of music’). The composer Gioachino Rossini was born here (his birthplace in Via Rossini is a little ‘jewel’ you should not miss if visiting the Marche region). Besides, Pesaro has an important Music Conservatory inside a beautiful 18th century building, Palazzo Oliveri (hosting the ‘Tempietto Rossiniano’ with memorabilia and autographs by Rossini), and the Rossini Opera Festival (celebrating its 39th edition this year).
However, my favourite ‘music place’ in Pesaro is the workshop of the violin maker Daniele Canu (whom I have already written about), and his adjoining Music Educational Museum inaugurated in February (the ‘Museo Didattico Musicale L’Arco Sonoro). As far as I know it’s a unique situation in Italy.
The aim of the museum is that of creating a space where visitors have the opportunity to learn about the string instruments that made music history. The so-called ‘added-value’ of the museum is that Daniele, who works in the nearby workshop, takes personally the visitors on a guided tour, explaining them the process of violin-making, from the kind of wood to the varnish used.
The museum also organizes seminars on the history of the various instruments with the collaboration of scholars and researchers.
During the guided tour organized for schools there will always be a musician playing on their arrival, and each student will be able to try an instrument and get to visit Daniele’s workshop.
Daniele Canu is going to organize a ‘Music Festival’ in the heart of Pesaro (on Saturday, June 1st) where different music groups playing different kinds of music will perform in via Sabbatini (the street where his workshop is located in Pesaro) and in the nearby streets. Starting from 4.00 pm people passing by will be ‘offered’ free open-air concerts (a cello soloist will perform, together with a young pop music band and many other groups).
Where Lemons Blossom will be there taking pictures of the event and, around 6.00 pm, I will be playing my violin together with the ‘orchestra da camera sabbatini’ right in front of the String Instruments Museum.
Feel like joining us?
A couple of days before the event I’ll write more detailed info about the Music Festival. I just wanted to let you know in advance, so that you may ‘save the date’ on your agenda!
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It’s still a mystery to me why Italy does not value Rossini as much as it should. Today as back in the 1800s for some reason Rossini is still ignored near home as much as it is venerated abroad. He is one of my all-time favourite composers as well as one of the Italian personalities I am most proud of.
By the way, what are you going to play? 🙂
I totally agree with you. Unfortunately Italy is not so good at promoting (and preserving) its treasures! As far as the music we are going to play is concerned, it is going to be simple pieces. As we are an amateur orchestra – and as there will be plenty of professional musicians playing that day – we decided to stick to an easy programme, leaving Rossini, Bach or Vivaldi to professionists. There will be a little of Charpentier, Lully, Mangani (a contemporary composer from Urbino), Piazzolla and Morricone. Here’s a link to “Gabriel’s oboe” we played in a church last January (by the way, I’m in the back, on the left, black-haired).
Beauty and simplicity often go hand in hand.
Which is what I also repeat to myself when I leave hardest parts to others 😉
Beauty and simplicity often go hand in hand. You are absolutely right. Must keep that in mind and use your ‘trick’ when leaving the hardest parts to others 😉
I love your writing and the layout and presentation of your blog. I look forward to following your journey.
And I am fond of your pictures! I particularly loved the one on cats (the fourth cat looks exactly as my beloved ‘Pflip’!). Thanks for your kind words. I’ll stay tuned too.
how wonderful – I love to also visit Cremona for the violin history. My daughter is playing violin with her school strings program and I look forward to sharing this with her.
Thank you for sharing my post on my violin-maker friend, Daniele Canu, with your daughter, and best wishes for her violin study!
we just came back from the Musical instrument museum in Phoenix, so we are delighted to see your post about this interesting museum
beautiful photos and information. reminds me a nice place in England where i used to live…Thanks for sharing. Love your blog and writting
Simona, I am really enjoying your blog, so glad I found it. I love the mix of music and pasta I’m finding here! Looking forward to more. Although I have not been to ‘this’ museum, my last trip to Athens included a most memorable visit to the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments – http://www.instruments-museum.gr which anyone who loves music can appreciate.
Hi Neal. Thank you for your kind words, and thank you for sharing the information on the Museum of Greek Folk Musical Instruments in Athens with us! I have never been to Greece, but we actually might go there next Summer. If we do, I’ll certainly go and visit it!
[…] If you do visit the exhibition, you had better stop at Daniele Canu‘s violin laboratory as well (one minute away from Ezia’s violins), in Sabbatini street, in front of the music conservatory. You will be able to admire his beautiful instruments, and actually try them if you play!, in his music laboratory, and you can also visit his unique string instrument museum! […]