A recently rediscovered masterpiece among Giacinto Scelsi’s (1905 – 1988) archives, [Kamakala] was premiered by Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin on January 26th 2014 in Berlin. Now the Spoleto Festival USA Orchestra performs the US premiere in Charleston on June 1, 2015.

Written between 1955 and 56 during a period of reflection and experimentation, [Kamakala] was formative in Scelsi’s development of his very personal style, which we see in Quattro Pezzi su una nota sola (1959).

[Kamakala] (the place of desire, the art of desire) is organized in three movements, and orchestrated without flutes, oboes or violins. The piece reveals, even in his choice of title, Scelsi’s very strong interest in Eastern disciplines and philosophies.

The discovery of this work was very exciting: fully completed, never published, remaining «mute » for decades among the Maestro’s archives. The score has been organized and made available for the musical community through the careful work done by the Éditions Salabert in collaboration with the Fondazione Isabella Scelsi of Rome.