Remembering Roberto Leydi (1928-2013)

Following the tribute to Cathy Berberian on the thirtieth anniversary of her death, the Centro Studi Luciano Berio wishes to honour another major figure in the world of 20th century music, the ethnomusicologist Roberto Leydi, who died ten years ago. Hailed by Berio as his "initiator" in the universe of folk music, the friendship and collaboration with Leydi were fundamental for the composer, above all in the years of fervour and intense research in post-war Milan, which also saw the participation of a third artistic and companion and close friend, Bruno Maderna (to whom our Centre will soon pay due tribute). When called on to recall his ethnomusicologist friend following his decease, Berio wrote: «I have always known Roberto Leydi, even before I actually met him during the fifties, when we were working with Jacques Lecoq on Mimusique. Tre modi per sopportare la vita, or again with Bruno Maderna on Ritratto di città in the fledgling Studio di Fonologia della RAI in Milan. I have always known him because a part of me - I’m not sure which - seems to have been born and to have grown up with him ». Among the collaborations involving Berio and Leydi we should also mention Questo vuol dire che..., composed in 1968-69 for the Premio Italia using creative and performative modalities which at the time were truly new.

Roberto Leydi is the subject of a series of meetings currently taking place in Milan, coordinated by Nicola Scaldaferri of the Dipartimento di Beni Culturali e Ambientali in Milan University (for further information see the attached pdf).