Setting the tone with arpeggiated and immersive keys, Riccardo Pietri opens Tenth with intrigue and a sense of nostalgia. As the high keys come into play, we are immersed a more dimensional feeling as the artist evokes a cinematic energy.
Bold chords deliver drama, whilst the arpeggios stay consistent with nuanced changes as the high notes take on the role of the protagonist in the thought provoking composition. The piece features a final astral riff near the conclusion, and the final moments of the opus are a minimalist and brooding breakdown.
We learn that Riccardo Pietri is a self-taught pianist and composer, born and raised in Milan. He confesses, “I have never had the fortune to study or take piano lessons, therefore I’ve always played literally only following my instinct not knowing how to read or write notes on a score.”
He adds, regarding the healing nature of music, “Not being able to justify my total lack of respect for the theoretical study of the instrument, I can only tell you that recently I went through several difficult phases of my life and the piano has always been the only way to reach a balance that often seemed to be lacking in my life.”
Riccardo Pietri expands with reference to his artistry and compositions, “The birth of each of these melodies has always been dictated by what I felt and perceived at the precise moment I was playing them. Any of these melodies contains a meaning for me, or retraces a fragment of my life.”
We appreciate the depth that he shares, and we often find that self-taught instrumentalists have a deeper and more profound connection with the instrument. The case of Riccardo Pietri and his artistry is a perfect example of this.
He cites Ludovico Einaudi and Roberto Cacciapaglia as some of his influences, which we can feel come through in the dynamics of the pieces, although it is abundantly clear that Riccardo Pietri is creating a universe of his own.
We have added Tenth to our New Music Spotlight playlist, whilst we explore Riccardo Pietri‘s wider discography including Rehearsals for My Future and Luminous Island.