Spartiti Mancanti

In the 18th century, Naples was one of the most important musical centres in Europe. The four conservatories in the city gave rise to the so-called partimenti method, now almost forgotten and no longer in use for centuries. This method involved writing only some parts for certain instruments, leaving others out: it was assumed that students would be able to figure out the missing parts thanks to oral tradition and their musical training.
Maestro Gioacchino Longobardi, an Italian-American pianist and conductor, has devoted much of his life to studying and rediscovering this method, transcribing several unpublished scores from the 18th century and conducting the orchestra of the San Pietro a Majella Conservatory in Naples during two days of rehearsals, culminating in a final concert that restored their lost sound.