Claudio Ferrara: Rio Bo (SA, piano, percussion)

Claudio Ferrara’s Rio Bo is a playful and imaginative choral miniature for children’s choir, bringing Aldo Palazzeschi’s whimsical poem to life through music, movement, and body percussion. The poem describes a tiny village with three little houses, a small stream, a cypress tree, and—above it all—a magnificent star. Ferrara captures this charming world with a lively musical language that invites the singers to become part of the scene.

Written for children’s choir (SA), piano, and body percussion, the piece combines clear vocal writing with an active piano accompaniment and simple physical gestures. The score incorporates stomping, clapping, chest percussion, hand movements, pointing, and expressive gestures, making the performance both musical and theatrical. 

A delightful choice for children’s choirs looking for contemporary repertoire that is accessible, expressive, and highly engaging in performance. The work was a prize-winning piece of the “Nuove Musiche dalla Livenza” Composition Competition 2022.