Porrino, Ennio

Porrino, Ennio , Italian composer and teacher; b. Cagliari, Sardinia, Jan. 20, 1910; d. Rome, Sept. 25, 1959. He studied at the Accademia di Santa Cecilia in Rome with Mule, and later took a course with Respighi (1932–35). He subsequently taught in Rome, Venice, and Naples, and from 1956 he was director of the Cagliari Cons.

Works

DRAMATIC: Opeta : Gli orazi (Milan, 1941); L’organo di bambu (Venice, 1955); I shardana (Naples, 1959). Ballet : Proserpina (Florence, 1938); Altair (Naples, 1942); Mondo tondo (Rome, 1949); La bambola malata (Venice, 1959). ORCH.: Tartatin de Tarascon, overture (Rome, 1933); Sardegna, symphonic poem, based on Sardinian folk themes (Rome, 1933); Trumpet Concertino (1934); La visione di Ezechiele (1935); Sinfonia per una fiaba (1936); Notturna e Danza (1936); 3 canzoni italiane for Chamber Orch. (1937); Preludio in modo religioso e ostinato (1942; also for Piano); Sinfonietta dei fanciulli (1947); Sonata drammatica for Piano and Orch. (1947); Ostinato for Piano and Strings (1951; Milan, Feb. 3, 1952); Nuraghi, 3 primitive dances (1952); Concerto dell’Argentarola for Guitar and Orch. (1953); Sonar per musici for Harpsichord and Strings (1959). OTHER : I canti dell’esilio, 15 songs for Voice and Chamber Orch. (1947); Il processo di Cristo, oratorio (1949); other songs; chamber pieces, including Preludio, Aria e Scherzo for Trumpet and Piano (1942).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire