Ludovico Einaudi - A Short Guide

Having been a fan of his music for the last few years, I thought a little peice on the man and the music may in some small way introduce more people to his music. And maybe 'that peice of music you heard' on tv (ie Top Gear), or in a movie, may well have come from the man himself. My writing style will be simple and easy, and I will get down to the main details, including some recommended listening from my own personal likes.

Ludovico was born in Italy, in the city of Turin, on the 23rd November, 1955. His mother taught him piano, and his father, was a publisher. His great grandfather was Luigi Einaudi, the President of the Italian Republic, between 1948 and 1955. His musical training began at the Conservatorio Verdi in Milan, where he gained a diploma in composition, and also studied with Luciano Berio. His music is often classed as minimalist, but to many, is a beautiful mixture of piano, classical, electronic and orchestral.

I have included the main selection of Einaudi's works here, but is only a part of his whole collection - there are also movie albums and live concert releases. For those that also wondered on alot of the Italian titles, I have included approximate translations for most tracks. (English titled tracks being obvious).

 

The album Le Onde (The waves) is based on the book by Virginia Woolf, and is Ludovico's first major release, being very popular in his home country and particularly in the U.K.

1. "Canzone popolare (1500 ca.)" – Folk Song
2. "Le onde" – The Waves
3. "Lontano" – Far
4. "Ombre" – Shadows
5. "La linea scura" – The dark line
6. "Tracce" – Tracks
7. "Questa notte" – Tonight
8. "Sotto Vento" – Downwind
9. "Dietro l'incanto" – Behind the magic
10. "Onde corte" – Short waves
11. "La profondità del buio" – The depth of the dark
12. "Passaggio" – Passage
13. "L'ultima volta" – Last

The album Eden Roc was released in 1999. The title could be a reference to placenames, hotel names, or possibly a Hawaiin place name called Eden Roc. A mixture of piano and string instruments make up the most of this album, with some great solo piano too. The track "Fuori Dal Mondo", appeared in the movie "This is England".

1. "Yerevan" - Yerevan
2. "Eden Roc" - *
3. "Fuori Dalla Notte" - Out of the night
4. "Due Tramonti" - Two sunsets
5. "Nefeli" - Nefeli
6. "Odessa" - Odessa
7. "Ultimi Fuochi" - Last tycoon
8. "Giorni Dispari" - Odd days
9. "Julia" - Julia
10. "Fuori Dal Mondo" - Outside World
11. "Ultimi Fuochi II" - Last tycoon 2
12. "Un Mondo A Parte" - A world apart
13. "Password" - Password
14. "Yerevan II" - *
15. "Exit"

 

"The days" was recorded and released in 2001, with the title song I Giorni being one of the important tracks of the album, of which it comprises all piano solo peices. 

1. "Melodia Africana I" – The  african melody
2. "I Due Fiumi" – Two rivers
3. "In Un'Altra Vita" – In another life
4. "Melodia Africana II" – The african melody 2
5. "Stella Del Mattino" – Morning star
6. "I Giorni" – The days
7. "Samba" – Samba
8. "Melodia Africana III" – The african melody 3
9. "La Nascita Delle Cose Segrete" – The secrets of birth
10. "Quel Che Resta" – Remains
11. "Inizio" – Start
12. "Limbo" – Limbo
13. "Bella Notte" – Good night
14. "Canzone Africana IV" - Canzone Africana IV

Released in 2003. This was a collaboration between Einaudi and the Malian musician Ballake Sissoko on the Kora.

1. "Laissez moi en paix" - Leave me alone
2. "Entre nous" - Between us
3. "Soutoukou" - Soutoukou
4. "Chanson d'amour" - Love song
5. "Chameaux" - Camels
6. "Ma mere" - My mother
7. "A l'ombre" - The shade
8. "Niger blues" - Niger blues
9. "Mali sajio" - Mali sajio
10. "Dessert dans le desert" - Dessert in the desert

 

"One morning", released in 2004, is another solo piano album, with some wonderful peices. "Dietro casa", appearing in the movie "This is England".

1. "Una mattina" – One morning
2. "Ora" – Now
3. "Resta con me" – Stay with me
4. "Leo" – Leo
5. "A fuoco" – Focus
6. "Dolce droga" – Soft drugs
7. "Dietro casa" – Backyard
8. "Come un fiore" – Like a flower
9. "DNA" – DNA
10. "Nuvole nere" – Black clouds
11. "Questa volta" – This time
12. "Nuvole bianche" – White clouds
13. "Ancora" – Still

Divenire - "To become", was released in 2007, and proved to be Ludovico's most successful album yet. Combining his usual piano with the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and a hint of electronic, the combination helped create a wonderful album.

1. "Uno" - One
2. "Divenire" - To become
3. "Monday" - Monday
4. "Andare" - Go
5. "Rose" - Rose
6. "Primavera" - Spring
7. "Oltremare" - Overseas
8. "L'origine Nascosta" - Hidden origin
9. "Fly" - Fly
10. "Ascolta" - Play
11. "Ritornare" - Return
12. "Svanire" - Vanish

 

The album "Nightbook" was released in 2009, and a return to a more piano and electronic based music. A successful album, which has wonderful tracks including "Nightbook" and "Crane Dance".  

1. "In Principio" - In principle
2. "Lady Labyrinth" - Lady Labyrinth
3. "Nightbook" - Nightbook
4. "Indaco" - Indigo
5. "Snow Prelude No.15" - Snow Prelude No.15
6. "Eros" - Eros
7. "The Crane Dance" - The Crane Dance
8. "Snow Prelude No.2" - Snow Prelude No.2
9. "The Tower" - The Tower
10. "Reverie" - Reverie
11. "Bye Bye Mon Amour" - Bye Bye Mon Amour
12. "The Planets" - The Planets
13. "Solo" (Hidden Track)

This hub is simply here to try and introduce more people to Einaudi's music, and by listing each of his main works, with a little detail and bolded favourites, hope that this helps.

I have many favourites throughout all of his works, so is very hard to choose between any one album or peice. All I can suggest is to set the first video playing, then have a scan through the rest of the article and see what else takes your ears away to another place.