Ettore Desderi

Ettore Desderi
(b Asti, 10 Dec 1892; d Florence, 23 Nov 1974). Italian composer. He studied the piano and composition under Perrachio, obtained his composition diploma under Alfano (1921) and undertook further study with Pizzetti (1921–2).

In 1920 he took a degree in architecture at the Politecnico in Turin. He contributed criticism to Il pianoforte and Rassegna musicale, and in 1928 represented the Italian section of the International Association of Sacred Music. He taught composition at the conservatories of Bolzano (1941) and Milan (1941–51), and his pupils include Castiglioni and Donatoni. He was director of the Liceo Musicale in Alessandria (1933–41) and the Bologna Conservatory (1951–63).

Desderi moved easily from an Impressionistic style through a Reger-like chromaticism, a Pizzettian vocal manner and neo-classicism before achieving an individual voice with the cantata Job and the Sinfonia davidica. His leanings were towards sacred music, and he wrote many pieces for unaccompanied choir in a vocal style inspired by Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony. His instrumental works, on the other hand, reveal an interest in structural concerns, and occasional influences from jazz and folk music.