In its quest to understand a poetic text, the process of setting words to music is not unlike transmedia adaptation or transposition. As it occurs in all forms of translation, we isolate a set of possible interpretations and attempt to convey the meaning of the source text within a different communicative register. The musicalization of poetry is, therefore, a hermeneutic exercise affording the opportunity to vitalize and vivify the inherent total form of a poetic text, and at the same time produce new dramatic musical compositions. This re-creation process is especially valuable when supporting the understanding of culturally diverse lyrical voices whose messages might be lost amidst unreconcilable codes, thus supporting the efforts of international education and cultural diplomacy.
This interdisciplinary pathway, coordinated by Dr. Louise Thomas and Dr. Federico Pacchioni, aims to generate new musicalization of contemporary Italian poetry and provide new interpretations of its emotional content. The art songs created will be showcased at events and recorded for publication. Any interested faculty and students with backgrounds in poetry and composition are encouraged to reach out.
Lead: Dr. Louise Thomas and Dr. Federico Pacchioni