Abstract
This thesis sheds light on the piano work of the composer Gino Marinuzzi Jr. (1920-1996), who lived an intense artistic life in Rome. Well known as a teacher of composition, he also became a pioneer in electronic music and a prolific screen music composer. He never dismissed his background as a classical music writer. Today, however, many of Marinuzzi’s works are either unpublished, out of print, or in need of correction; equally, his output is only partially recorded. Furthermore, biographical literature surrounding the composer remains incomplete.
I address this gap by producing a critical edition of four of his piano works; I then outline my methodological approach and identify the challenges of my research. I also present a short biography of Marinuzzi and a brief account of his works in the context of post-war Italy. Further, I contribute to the dissemination of Marinuzzi’s outputs by recording some of his piano works, following an initial release in 2012 of the CD Gino Marinuzzi Piano Works (Tactus).
This study will contribute to the understanding of Gino Marinuzzi Jr. and the context of his work. It aims to recognise his role within the history of music, and to identify the importance of his contribution within the development of Italian music after WWII. The outcome of my research represents a sound foundation for further work and could be useful to performers, academics and anyone interested in the culture of post-war Italy.