Palumedda

COMPOSITION FOR DANCE/THEATER WITH VISUAL INTEGRATION

TEATRO FONDERIA DELLE ARTI, ROME
28.07, 2025




Palumedda is an intermedia project that integrates sound, movement, and image within a single, organic performative structure.
The sound composition does not merely accompany the stage action but becomes an active part of the dramaturgy, contributing to the construction of the performance’s expressive language through a constant relationship with the dancers’ gestures.
Created using both analog and digital electronic instruments, the music unfolds as a narrative fabric capable of shaping the rhythm, intensity, and emotional atmosphere of the scene.

The sonic aesthetic arises from a research process dedicated to exploring evocative textures and immersive acoustic landscapes.
This research involved the use of synthesis, sampling, and digital manipulation techniques, integrated with the development of interactive systems programmed in Max/MSP.
These tools allow the sound to respond to the performers’ movements or to the energetic variations of the scene, transforming into a living presence in continuous dialogue with the choreography.
When required, the visual component also participates in this exchange, expanding the sensory dimension of the performance.

The project takes shape through ongoing dialogue with the choreographic material and with the company’s artistic vision.
The creation of the sound score progresses in parallel with the development of the choreography, adapting to the timing, narrative needs, and emotional evolution of the different chapters of the performance.
This integration makes it possible to establish a deep relationship between gesture and music, where sound influences movement and movement, in turn, shapes the musical structure.

The author’s contribution unfolds across three main areas: electronic composition, sound and visual research, and dramaturgical integration.
The score was created through electronic instruments and digital processes aimed at constructing sound spaces coherent with the performance’s language.
The research led to the development of interactive systems capable of modulating audio—and, when required, image—responding directly to the stage action.
The dramaturgical work stems from the collaboration with the Mandragora Dance Company, aimed at defining the temporal and emotional relationship between music and choreography.

Commissioned by the Mandragora Dance Company and presented at the Teatro Fonderia delle Arti in Rome, the project stands out for its ability to merge sonic experimentation with choreographic expressivity.
Palumedda proposes a vision in which sound, body, and image blend into a unique and immersive stage experience, guiding the audience through an emotional journey shaped by the synergy between gesture and electronic composition.

Choreography and direction: Andrea Palombi.