Fernando Mencherini (Fermignano,
1949 - Cagli, 1997) studied at the Conservatory “G. Rossini”of
Pesaro, with particular emphasis on courses in electronic music by Walter
Branchi. Here are but a few of Mencherini’s many works: Notturno
for double-bass (1979), commissioned by Stefano Scodanibbio; his first Quartetto
d’archi (1980), awarded at the “Premio Bucchi 1981”;
Sei danze (SIMC, Aarhus, 1983), performed by the violinist Enzo Porta;
Crazy jay blue for clarinet (1985), commissioned by Ciro Scarponi;
Das Zweiter Zimmer for piano (1983), a tango commissioned by the American
pianist Yvar Mikhashoff; Per Limina for piano (SIMC, Budapest, 1986);
Open End (1986), a broadcast documentary for Radio 3 (the program
Un certo discorso, edited by Pasquale Santoli); I segreti del tempio
(1989), which received an award at the “Concorso Trio Basso Internationaler
Kompositions Wettbewerb,” Colonia, 1989); Vortex for flute,
violin, 11 strings and vibraphone (1993), commissioned for the “Festival
Nuova Musica Italiana;” How was it there? for brass, strings and percussion
(1993), commissioned by the Ensemble E. Varèse; Tutti i cappotti
for orchestra (1993).
In his last years, Mencherini had begun writing musicals for the stage (Sexy
Sadie, a flash opera for the “Europa Festival ’95,”
Ferentino) and for dance theater. Working with Arbalete, he composed the music
for the ballets Operai (1993), Le zattere, Per la finestra
nuova, Il meridiano (1994), and Ghirigori ovvero Io
non guardo mai il cielo (1996). He also worked with the vocal ensemble Laboratorio
Ottantasette, conducted by Paola Urbinati, writing music for poems from Laborintus
by Edoardo Sanguineti, among which were Ah, il mio sonno for six
voices (“XIV Rassegna di Nuova Musica,” Macerata, 1996) and Ritorna
mia luna for three male voices and soprano saxophone (“Progetto
Musica 96,” Rome). Mencherini’s works have been broadcast by several
European radio stations and recorded on VDM records, EdiPan, Col legno, BMG
Ariola, Contempo Records, Beatrecords. In 2007 and 2013 there were two international
competitions for performers of contemporary music dedicated to him.