February 21, 2006 "Carlo Domeniconi Interview"
This week's edition of Classical Guitar Alive! features music and an interview with Italian guitar
composer Carlo Domeniconi (b. 1947).
Public Radio Satellite System uplink:
Born in Cesena, Italy, Carlo Domeniconi studied music in West Berlin. He visited Turkey and became
enamored with its people and its culture. He was a professor of guitar in Istanbul, and much of his
music shows a Turkish influence.
In this exclusive interview, Carlo Domeniconi relates the meaning behind his Turkish-inspired solo
guitar composition, "Koyunbaba" (pronounced with accent on the second syllable), and his
astonishment at the enormous world-wide popularity of his mysterious and hypnotic work.
"Koyunbaba" literally means "sheep-father", or "shepherd", but also refers to many different things,
including: a 13th Century mystical saint-like figure whose grave is decorated with colored bits of
cloth by Turkish villagers seeking his help with family problems. "Koyunbaba" is also the family
name of his descendants, who still reside in the area. "Koyunbaba" is the name of a wild, dry area
in SouthWest Turkey. Domeniconi relates the story of how the area is seemingly cursed- numerous
people who have attempted to rent or purchase the land from the Koyunbaba family have died or been
stricken ill. Domeniconi tells of two persons: one was a German woman who wanted to keep the area
in its natural and unspoiled state, but was soon stricken with cancer. The other was one of three
sons of the Koyunbaba family, who suddenly sold some of the land, but then hung himself.
The program closes with "Sonatina Mexican" for flute and guitar, performed by England's Campbell Duo.
Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2006 at 1300 Eastern Time digital stereo channel:
B67.0
Program ID# 06-D65-00008
Title: Carlo Domeniconi Interview
Total length: 56:34
In Cue: MUSIC IN "Hello and welcome to.."
Out Cue: MUSIC IN "...another edition of Classical Guitar Alive!"
Program Length: 56:34
INTRODUCTION:
Bizet: Carmen Suite: Prelude
Los Romeros (Philips 412-609)
PROGRAM BEGINS:
Domeniconi: Concerto Mediterraneo
Amadeus Guitar Duo
Halle Staatsorchester
Marc Piollet, cond.
(Fono 97767)
Interview:
"It's two words: the first is 'koyun' and the second is 'baba'. Of course 'father', and 'koyun'
is sheep- 'shepherd'. This has different meanings. Two things: in the SouthWest of Turkey there
is a very dry, very wild place called 'koyunbaba'... ....it's strange that this kind of wild
nature piece affects people from Norway, or from Argentina, or from Spain, or from Japan, or from
China. Really, I don't understand this, but it seems to be like that."
Domeniconi: Koyunbaba
John Williams, guitar
(Sony Classical 60586)
Domeniconi: Sonatina Mexicana
Vicky Campbell, flute
Hugh Campbell, guitar
(Rimaz 5012)
CLOSING THEME/FUNDING CREDITS
