The Composer – Mario Giovanoli
Self-employed composer, multi-instrumentalist and lyricist.
Born on 29 September 1953 at 11pm in Chur/Switzerland. First recorder lessons at the age of five. Five years later began to play the flute, from 1966 with Brigitte Kronjäger-Bryner. Founded first rock band as a drummer in 1967. Involved with the Orchestra Association Chur under Willy Byland for many years as first flutist. After finishing school began and continued to teach for 13 years at various music schools. 1971 employed as a theater musician at the Stadttheater Chur. Learned how to play the saxophone (autodidactically) in 1975. In 1977 studied for four semesters at the Winterthur Music Academy with Heinrich Keller (main instrument flute). From 1978 to 1983 singing instructor for secondary school students in Adliswil. Highly active as a concert performer with various chamber music formations and rock, blues, jazz and folk music groups (i.e. La Lupa, Walter Lietha, Linard Bardill, Paulin Nuotclà, Fritz Trippel). Various LP and CD recordings as well as film scores. From 1971 to 1991 numerous compositions for theater music and musical direction at theaters in different German-speaking countries (under the direction of Jean Grädel, Johannes Peyer, Franz Weber, Günter Wissemann etc.). Since 1984 a number of assignments composing chamber and orchestra music. 1986 Works Contribution Grant from the Canton Grisons for three chamber music premiere performances. In 1991 received the Advancement Award of the Canton Grisons. Member of SUISA – the Swiss Society for the Rights of Authors of Musical Works – since 1975. Since 1999 as well compositions for animated films, internet, advertising, presentations at fairs, multi-vision shows etc.
«My varied training has formed me into what could be called a multi-instrumentalist. The way I play my recorders is based upon subtle, carefully controlled breathing, filigree finger movement and exacting tone sensibility. These qualities support the precise rendition of the notes on the flute or the saxophone. Through this, a light agility is possible during moments of improvisation. Familiarity with the drums and percussion instruments provides an element of excitement and creative interpretation to all musical styles. With accented flowing lines on the electric bass guitar I add harmonious, rhythmic foundations and create bridges to the fine nuances of the compositions and the expansion of the melodies. The knowledge of the various instruments and of the multi-faceted ‹musical landscapes› they can produce inspired me to get acquainted with many differing musical genres. This has facilitated the realisation of my ideas in connection with visual or movement-oriented art. Musical styles do not happen by chance; they are exposed to past and present influences, to history, culture, society and environment, and to the development of the musical instruments themselves. Music changes; it is multifarious, alive and worthwhile. As a multi-instrumentalist I reach my audiences at all different levels through the use of these components.»
Translated by Lynne Mathews
List of Works of Mario Giovanoli
Works for Theater 1971–1991
C = as a composer, M = as a musician
| Die zwei Edelleute aus Verona (Shakespeare) | Chur | M | 1971 |
| Der Damenkrieg (Scribe) | Chur | M | 1973 |
| Iphigenie auf Tauris (Goethe) | Chur | C/M | 1974 |
| Helden, Helden (Shaw) | Chur | M | 1975 |
| I do, I do (Hartog) | Chur | M | 1977 |
| Drei mal Georges (Burkhard) | Zürich | M | 1978 |
| Iphigenie auf Tauris (Goethe) | Bern | C | 1979 |
| Die Glasmenagerie (Williams) | Chur | C | 1980 |
| Equus (Shaffer) | Chur | C | 1981 |
| Glückliche Reise (Künneke) | Stuttgart | M | 1981 |
| Das Jahrmarktsfest zu Plundersweilern (Hacks) | Luzern | M | 1982 |
| Der kleine Prinz (Saint-Exupéry) | Bergell | C/M | 1983 |
| Der Dra-Dra (Biermann) | Chur | C/M | 1984 |
| Königreich auf Erden (Williams) | Chur | C/M | 1984 |
| Bezahlt wird nicht (Fo) | Chur | C | 1984 |
| Der arme Cyrano (Rostand/Kohout) | Zürich | C/M | 1985 |
| Figaro lässt sich scheiden (Horvath) | Zürich | M | 1986 |
| City Sugar (Poliakoff) | Tournee | C | 1986 |
| Offene Zweierbeziehung (Fo) | Bremgarten | C | 1986 |
| Sindbad der Seefahrer (trad./Temperli) | Chur | C | 1987 |
| Was ihr wollt (Shakespeare) | Solothurn | C | 1987 |
| Wie es euch gefällt (Shakespeare) | Solothurn | C/M | 1988 |
| Elisabeth I (Foster) | Solothurn | C | 1988 |
| Irma la douce (Breffort) | Cazis | M | 1898 |
| Typhoid Mary (Federspiel/Bardill) | Zürich | M | 1989 |
| Bornhauser-Festspiel (Gansner) | Weinfelden | C/M | 1991 |
Compositions
| «Series of Nursery Rhymes I, II + III» for Melody- and Orff-Instruments | 1985 |
| «Orcho» for String Orchestra, Congas und Cymbals | 1986 |
| «So feurig» für Tenor-Voice, Flute, Violin and Organ | 1986 |
| «Piccola mattinata» for Recorders, Harpsichord und Double-Bass | 1987 |
| «Kleines Drei mal Eins» for Flutes, Pianoforte and Double-Bass | 1987 |
| «Algebro mordeato» for Clarinet and Pianoforte | 1988 |
| «Advents-Suite» for Baritone-Voice and String Orchestra | 1988 |
| «Saxophonie» for Saxophone-Quartet, Strings, E-Bass and Drums | 1989 |
| «Trauermusik für Hannes Domenig» for String-Quartet | 1990 |
| «Trionferno» for Flute, Bass-Clarinet and Harp | 1992 |
| «Quadro stagione» for Chamber Orchestra, Horn, E-Bass and Drums | 1992/93 |
| «Klariolosonett» for Solo-Clarinet | 1993/94 |
| «Durch die Ufertüre zum Orchodom» Suite for String Orchestra, 6 Wind-Instruments and Drummers |
1996 |
| «Fatima und der Traumdieb» Ballet-Music for (Children’s)Chamber Orchestra | 2006 |
| «Elegie» 7 Poems by Maria Lutz-Gantenbein for Mixed Choir and Chamber Orchestra | 2006/07 |
Discography
| LP «Asia Sound» Fritz Trippel | 1975 |
| LP «Plamp – und überhaupt...» Jazz-Rock | 1978 |
| SINGLE «Wilhelm and the hot pimps» Punk-Rock | 1978 |
| LP «Prazel» Musik und Lyrik | 1979 |
| LP «La Lupa – Con malizia e passione» | 1982 |
| LP «La Lupa – Cammino e canto» | 1984 |
| CD «Anavon» Alexi Nay und Marcus Hobi | 1990 |
| CD «Zyt isch do» Walter Lietha | 1990 |
| CD «Too stupid for business too ugly for love» Jellyfish Kiss | 1991 |
| CD « Frutti» Magaari | 1993 |
| CD «La Lupa – La gira la röda/Grazie alla vita» | 1995 |
| CD-Sampler «Blue Wonder» feat. 3rd Stone from tha Sun | 1996 |
| CD «Subzonic» Subzonic | 1997 |
| CD-Sampler «Ice» feat. 3rd Stone from tha Sun | 1997 |
| CD «Chanzuns & Tocs rocks» Paulin Nuotclà | 1998 |
| CD «Intoxicate» | 2000 |
| CD «Drowning» Intoxicate | 2001 |
| CD «Can’t ease this pain» Intoxicate | 2003 |
| Mini-CD «Mit 100 Tieren möchte ich leben» Mario Giovanoli feat. Nyna Cantieni | 2005 |
| Mini-CD «Freypass» Intoxicate feat. Base | 2005 |
| CD «Restart» Intoxicate | 2005 |
| Doppel-CD «Klangbauwerke – Soundtracks zu 3D-Animationsfilmen 1999 –2005» Mario Giovanoli 2006 | 2006 |
| CD «Kammer- und Orchestermusik» Mario Giovanoli | 2006 |
| CD «The Truth – live» Intoxicate | 2007 |
Music-Scores for Motion Pictures
| «Trilogie Morgenstern» by Elmar Brunner | 1977 |
| «Engiadina» by Christian Schocher | 1985 |
| «Bananas» by Charly Bieler/Walter Schmid | 1995 |
| «Pacific Crest Trail» Multivisionsschau by Andreas Kramer | 2003 |
| «SteinReich – Portrait Robert Ralston» by Evelyn and Hans-Jörg Riedi (DVD) | 2007 |
