Biography of Leonardo de Lorenzo (1875-1962)

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29.08.1875

Born in Viggiano (Southern Italy)

1883

Start of ernest flute studies with Giacomo Nigro

lots of compositions, pedagogical works and the book Complete Story of the Flute (about 500 pages) including very detailed biographies of important flutists.

1892

Move to America, living from odd jobs, for example playing in a 4-man-band

1896

Return to military services, playing in a military band in Alessandria (Piemont) in Italy, casually playing for the cities opera orchestra

1897

Journeys to Egypt, Southern Africa, Britain and France

1899

Flutist of a Kapstadt orchestra and friendship with Edward de Jong and with John Lemmoné

1903

Change to the Böhm flute, but playe a wooden flute for all his live.

1907

Belated flute diploma in Naples after studies with De Nardis

03.11.1909

Arrives again in USA

1910

First flutist of New York Symphony Orchestra (together with Barrère, playing also under Mahler.

1914

For five years changing to the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra

04.02.1917

The Los Angeles Flute Club plays a musical to honor him and makes him their first Honorary Member.

1919

Los Angeles Symphony Orchestra

1920

Solo flutist of Los Angeles Philharmonic

1923

Teacher of Eastman School Rochester and solo flutist of Rochester Philharmony

1935

Retires and returns to California

28.06.1935

Premiere of the Divertimento flautistico for five flutes at the Eastman School of Music on the occassiion of his leave taking

1947

Completes his book My Complete Story of the Flute

1951

Publication of the book

25.10.1953

Gives all his notes to the University of Southern California

1953

Honorary doctorate of the Washington International Academy of Rome and godfather for the newly formed flute club in Milan

1954

The first addendum to the book is published

29.08.1955

The Los Angeles Flute Club organises a concert with his compositions for his 80th birthday

1955

The second addendum is published

1957

Third addendum to the book

29.07.1962

Dies in Santa Barbara

Further information/Sources:

• → Leonardo de Lorenzo bei Wikipedia
• → Sibley Digital Scores
• → CDs by/of Leonardo de Lorenzo bei JPC (mit Hörproben)
• → Music by/with Leonardo de Lorenzo at amazon.de
• → Books about or by Leonardo de Lorenzo

Sheet music for flute:

9 Grosse Künstlerstudien (Etüde)

(flute)

Zimmermann, ZM 12430

Rating: difficult

Capriccio - for 4 Flutes op. 82, No. 3

(4 flutes)

Edition Peters, 6280a

Rating: difficult

1. Allegro vivo - Moderato - Adagio - Allegro moderato e scherzando

Only parts, no score.

Due Divertimenti brillanti op. 24, 29 (F-Dur, A-Dur)

(flute, clarinet, bassoon)

Zimmermann, 11491

Rating: difficult

1. Divertimento (Allegro brillante)
2. Divertimento (Allegro con spirito)

Regrettably no score.

Sounds a bit like Italian opera. I liked it very much. It would be quite a lot of work to get it properly running for example for a concert.

I Seguaci di pan - (Die Jünger Pans) Capriccio fantastico Op. 32

(4 flutes)

Zimmermann, ZM 32450

Rating: very difficult

1. Allegro energico
2. Andante mosso

Parts and score

First edition in 1930.

Il Non plus ultra del Flautista - 18 Capricci per Flauto op. 34 (Etüde)

(flute)

Zimmermann, ZM 10010

Rating: difficult

1. Übungen
2. Wie im Zeitmaß eines Perpetuum Mobile
3. Trauergesang
4. Chromatische Fantasie
5. Übergänge in verschiedene Tonarten
6. Andantino placido
7. Burlesk
8. Fantastisches Solo
9. Der unverbesserliche Schelm
10. Auf dem Lande
11. Adagio patetico
12. Grillenfängerei
13. Eine verzwickte Geschichte
14. Allegro di "Concerto drammatico"
15. Abkürzungen
16. Gegenbewegung und Präludium
17. Futuristischer Traum
18. Der schiefgeratene Capriccio

Il Pastorello Polacco op. 68 (g-moll)

(flute, piano)

Edition Peters, 6283

Rating: difficult

1. Allegro alla Polacca - Andante cantabile - Allegro amabile - Andante cantabile - Coda - Piu presto

Virtuosic

Improvviso op. 72 (B-Dur)

(flute, piano)

Edition Peters, 6272

Rating: mid-grade

1. Lento a piacere
2. Allegro moderato
3. Lento a piacere

Pizzica-Pizzica - Saltarello op. 37/27

(flute (clarinet), piano)

Zimmermann, ZM 34030

Rating: mid-grade

1. Pizzica- Pizzica (Prestissimo)
2. Saltarello (Presto)

Trio Eccentrico op. 76

(flute, clarinet, bassoon)

Edition Peters, 6274

Rating: difficult

Very difficult for all parts. Unfortunately no score and very modern.

Literature von/über Leonardo de Lorenzo

• Adorján, András:  Lexikon der Flöte
  Flöteninstrumente und ihre Baugeschichte - Spielpraxis - Komponisten und ihre Werke - Interpreten
  1. edition Laaber: Laaber-Verlag,
  2009. - ISBN: 978-3-89007-545-7
• Goldberg, Adolph:  Portraits und Biographien hervorragender Flöten-Virtuosen, -Dilettanten und -Komponisten
  Celle: Edition Moeck,
  1987. - ISBN: 3-87549-028-2
• Lorenzo, Leonardo de:  My Complete Story of the flute
  The instrument - the performer - the music
  9. edition Lubbock: Texas Tech University Press,
  - ISBN: 0-89672-285-6