The Poetic Voice of the Flute: Corrado Cristaldi’s Pasacalle minima Wins Top Prize at the Clementi Competition
- WOMCO
- 18 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Composer Corrado Cristaldi from Italy has been awarded the Best Musician of the Season Prize at the Clementi International Music Competition, Season 3 (2025), for his composition Pasacalle minima for flute. The competition took place from June 15 to September 15, 2025, with results announced in October 2025.
About the Composition
Pasacalle minima is a refined and evocative solo flute work that reimagines the Baroque passacaglia form through a contemporary voice. Dedicated to Claudio Barile, First Flute (solo flute) of the Buenos Aires Philharmonic Orchestra, who performed it in Buenos Aires in July 2023, the piece unfolds as a lyrical and introspective monologue suspended between tonality and atonality. Its contrasting sections—marked by rubato flexibility, shifting dynamics, and rhythmic drive—highlight both expressive depth and technical virtuosity. Incorporating extended flute techniques such as harmonics and tongue/pizzicato articulation, Cristaldi expands the instrument’s timbral range, evoking delicate shades that feel distant yet intimate. In just over a minute, the piece captures a timeless dialogue between freedom, memory, and modern expression.
About the Composer
music scene, strongly committed to teaching and promoting contemporary chamber music and children's music. He earned a diploma in flute from the Catania Music Institute and continued his education with various courses. He has had a long career in music teaching, holding the flute chair in state schools and holding positions at specialized music schools. His composer's output includes chamber music (primarily for flute) and compositions for children (short compositions and musical fairy tales). His music has received numerous awards (Chiostro d'Argento '87 and the Peace Music Initiative '93 in New York, the St. Petersburg International Music Competition, the Clementi Prize, the Strawinsky Competition, and the VCMA in Vienna). He is dedicated to research and experimentation with new languages and extended techniques for the flute, often in collaboration with flautists and other instrumentalists. He has published theoretical and practical manuals for the flute, such as "Il flauto: manuale teorico e pratico" (1991), and “50 studies for trans position”. His compositions, such as "Heraei", "Pasacalle", "Ànemos", "Ricercare n.2" and "Dos Flautas al despertar", have been premiered at international festivals. He collaborates with international flute competitions as an author/composer (e.g. the "Young Virtuoso" Competition in St. Petersburg) and has served as a jury member at international competitions (the "Singing Flute" in Moscow) and the Global Flute Excellence Awards. He has received awards at international music competitions (1st Prize at the Novagrant Foundation International Music Competition 2025, Best Musician of the Season prize at the Clementi International Music Competition, Honorable Mention Prize Vienna CMA). He has also been active as a cartoonist and worked as a book illustrator. As a satirical author, he has exhibited his drawings at musical events of great artistic importance (the “Scarlatti” Conservatory of Palermo, the “Cutò” Palace - Bagheria, the “Castellarte Festival” - Mercogliano, the “Santa Cecilia” Conservatory - Rome. He has published: “Suonafavole”, “Tra il serio e il placebo”, “Flauto dolce flauto” (Garassino-Rome 2013). In short, Corrado Cristaldi is a multifaceted figure in the Italian musical scene, specializing in the flute and composition, with a strong commitment to teaching and promoting contemporary chamber music and music for children, and with international recognition.
Appendix
Publisher: Edizioni Novecento
Product link: https://www.edizioninovecento.it/prodotto/pasacalle/
Editorial Director: Prof. Antonio Aprile