Cimelio

Composer's Note:

Cimelio was composed during the tail end of a three-year pandemic. It is intended as a memorial, an heirloom memory to the people in my own life who have left us: family, friends, colleagues, loved ones, mentors, and more. The work is formally dedicated to my brother Paul J. Smaldone, Jr. who left us in September 2022. He left too soon but his mark will remain as his memory is an especially cherished heirloom. Each of the sections of Cimelio celebrates an aspect of his memory.

The work was composed for the Maryland Classic Youth Symphony, conducted by Simeone Tartaglione. The first performance was at the Strathmore Theater in Bethesda MD, May 14, 2023. I am grateful to Maestro Tartaglione for his excellent musicianship, and his advocacy of young musicians.

Cast in a single movement, Cimelio begins with a marking "Contemplativo," building slowly in a kind of steady, peaceful march. This is the peaceful Paul: philosophical, centered. Throughout his life it was sometimes more of an aspiration than a fact, but it was a state he cherished. After a raucous climax, and a brief quiet interlude, this gives way to a longer section marked "con Spirito" dominated by a steady groove from the percussion section and a lively interchange among the various corners of the orchestra. Pinpoint coordination and energy mark this extended section as a series of coordinated actions and reactions among the players, like a brilliantly executed dance. Paul loved to dance and inspired many people with his energy both on and off the dance floor. A short introspective section follows, which features a short solo for violin. (The highs and lows of life's experiences are an ongoing challenge for us all.) This is followed by an extended contrapuntal section marked "Risoluto," with the most angular and dissonant music. This makes me think of the resolve my brother had through the last 20 years of his life, to hold onto what he could of the energy and fire of his youth. This leads back to a brief restatement of the opening music and contemplative mood, followed by a quiet coda. Like a life well-lived, Cimelio moves in a steady arc from introspective quiet, through sections of intense activity, and ending, as it began, in peace and calm.

May the memories of all loved ones be held in our hearts like a cherished heirloom, a precious Cimelio.