Francesco Di Giandomenico

The Dragonfly

The Dragonfly is divided into three parts. The first section has a brilliant and virtuosic character, inspired by the rapid and whirling flight of dragonflies and the struggle that males engage in for reproduction. With rapid and violent attacks alternating with moments of stasis, in which males face off against each other from a distance. The second part has a broad and relaxed character and evokes the transition from the larval stage to the adult stage. It is the moment when the dragonfly leaves the earth, where it has lived in the larval stage, and discovers the boundless spaces of the air. The final section is a variation of the first, with the return of the tension related to the conflict, leading to a final crescendo that explores and pushes the acoustic limits of the guitar, seeking to expand the dynamic possibilities beyond its natural limits. The use of the natural resonances of the guitar and writing based on the mechanics of the instrument allows for a wide range of dynamics, from pianissimo to the final crescendo. This piece is dedicated to Silvana Piersanti, an entomologist at the University of Perugia, who has devoted pioneering studies to dragonflies, and to our two wonderful children.