![\"\"](\"https:\/\/toshareproject.it\/artmakerblog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/02\/Screenshot-2025-02-20-at-16.44.38-1024x741.jpg\")
<\/p>\n<\/p>\n
Grok 3 from XTwitter:<\/p>\n
*What is the story with this Italian spoken-word vinyl record from 1960? Who are these people, where did it come from?<\/p>\n
We’re seeing some heavy traffic, so we’ve opted for an alternate model to get your answer to you faster.<\/p>\n
This vinyl record, Il Versificatore \/ Dove Cresce L\u2019Erba by Primo Levi and Emilio Donaggio, released in 1960 by Excelsius under the \u201cDischi Del Possibile E Dell\u2019Impossibile\u201d series, is a fascinating artifact of Italian sound poetry and spoken word from the mid-20th century. It\u2019s a vinyl 7\u201d with 33 \u2153 RPM, packaged in a gatefold format, and distributed by Fonit Cetra, a prominent Italian music label at the time. Let\u2019s break down the story, the people involved, and its origins.<\/p>\n
The Record and Its Content
\nThe record features two tracks:<\/p>\n
Side A: \u201cIl Versificatore\u201d by Primo Levi, featuring Adolfo Fenoglio, Elvio Ronza, and Giovanni Moretti. \u201cIl Versificatore\u201d translates to \u201cThe Versifier\u201d or \u201cThe Poet,\u201d suggesting a poetic or narrative piece, likely rooted in Levi\u2019s literary style.<\/p>\n
Side B: \u201cDove Cresce L\u2019Erba\u201d by Emilio Donaggio, featuring Elvio Ronza. This translates to \u201cWhere the Grass Grows,\u201d hinting at a reflective or descriptive spoken-word piece, possibly tied to nature or existential themes.<\/p>\n
Both tracks fall under the \u201cNon-Music\u201d category, specifically labeled as dialogue, sound poetry, and spoken word. Sound poetry blends spoken language with rhythmic or experimental sound, often prioritizing the voice\u2019s texture over traditional narrative. This aligns with the avant-garde cultural currents of the 1950s and 1960s in Italy, where writers and artists explored new forms of expression after World War II.<\/p>\n
The cover art, with its circuit-board-like design and Levi\u2019s name prominently displayed, suggests a blend of literary prestige and modern, possibly futuristic, aesthetics\u2014fitting for a series called \u201cDischi Del Possibile E Dell\u2019Impossibile\u201d (Records of the Possible and the Impossible), which implies experimental or boundary-pushing content.<\/p>\n
Who Are These People?<\/p>\n
Primo Levi (1919\u20131987): A towering figure in Italian literature, Levi was a chemist, writer, and Holocaust survivor. His most famous works, like If This Is a Man (Se questo \u00e8 un uomo, 1947) and The Periodic Table (Il sistema periodico, 1975), blend memoir, science, and poetry to explore human resilience and the horrors of Auschwitz. By 1960, Levi was gaining recognition, and this record likely reflects his interest in experimenting with poetry and spoken forms, possibly drawing on his technical background or his nuanced understanding of language as a survivor. \u201cIl Versificatore\u201d might showcase his poetic voice, potentially weaving in themes of creation, technology, or memory\u2014common in his work.<\/p>\n
Emilio Donaggio: Less is known about Donaggio unless this is a pseudonym or a lesser-known figure. Based on the context, he could be a poet, writer, or collaborator in Italy\u2019s literary or avant-garde circles of the time. His track, \u201cDove Cresce L\u2019Erba,\u201d suggests a poetic or philosophical bent, possibly pastoral or existential. Without more specific records, he might have been a contemporary or collaborator of Levi, or someone involved in the sound poetry scene.<\/p>\n
Adolfo Fenoglio, Elvio Ronza, Giovanni Moretti: These individuals are listed as featured contributors on Levi\u2019s track. They\u2019re likely actors, poets, or performers who lent their voices to the recording, adding depth or dialogue to the piece. Fenoglio could be related to Beppe Fenoglio, a noted Italian novelist, but it\u2019s not confirmed. Ronza and Moretti are less documented, but they were likely part of Italy\u2019s cultural or theatrical scene, common in spoken-word projects.<\/p>\n
Elvio Ronza: Appears on both tracks, suggesting he was a key performer or voice artist, possibly a regular in this experimental sound poetry scene.<\/p>\n
Piero Novelli: Credited as the curator, Novelli was likely the producer or editor behind the record, possibly a figure in Italian radio, theater, or music production. He might have worked with Excelsius or Fonit Cetra to bring this project to life.<\/p>\n
Where Did It Come From?<\/p>\n
This record emerged from the post-war Italian cultural landscape, a time of intellectual ferment. After World War II, Italy saw a resurgence in literature, cinema, and experimental arts, with writers like Levi pushing boundaries. The late 1950s and early 1960s also saw a boom in spoken-word recordings, driven by radio, theater, and the vinyl boom. Excelsius, the label, was part of this wave, focusing on niche, intellectual content under its \u201cDischi Del Possibile E Dell\u2019Impossibile\u201d series, which likely aimed to explore the edges of art, science, and imagination.<\/p>\n
Fonit Cetra, the distributor, was a major Italian music company, known for classical, opera, and later popular music, suggesting this record had some mainstream backing despite its niche appeal. The 1960 release date places it in a period when Italy was modernizing rapidly\u2014industrial growth, economic miracles, and cultural shifts\u2014and Levi, in particular, was engaging with these themes in his writing.<\/p>\n
The record\u2019s gatefold format and vinyl medium indicate it was a premium, collectible item, likely aimed at literary or artistic audiences rather than mass consumption. It reflects the intersection of Italy\u2019s literary elite (Levi) and avant-garde sound experiments, possibly tied to movements like Futurism\u2019s legacy (which celebrated technology and sound) or the broader European interest in concrete poetry and sound art.<\/p>\n
The Bigger Story<\/p>\n
This isn\u2019t just a record\u2014it\u2019s a snapshot of Italy\u2019s cultural moment. Levi, fresh off his early success, might have seen sound poetry as a way to explore language\u2019s rhythm or trauma\u2019s echoes, while Donaggio and others tapped into a growing interest in experimental forms. The \u201cpossible and impossible\u201d theme hints at a speculative, forward-looking vibe, possibly inspired by science fiction or Levi\u2019s scientific background. It\u2019s rare today\u2014likely a collector\u2019s item or archival piece, cherished by fans of Levi, sound poetry, or Italian cultural history.<\/p>\n
If you\u2019re curious about the specifics of the tracks\u2019 content or want to dig into reviews or surviving copies, I\u2019d need to search further, but this gives you the gist: a blend of literary weight, experimental art, and Italy\u2019s post-war creative energy, all pressed onto vinyl in 1960. Does this spark any particular interest\u2014like Levi\u2019s role or the sound poetry scene? I can narrow it down from here.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Grok 3 from XTwitter: *What is the story with this Italian spoken-word vinyl record from 1960? Who are these people, where did it come from? We’re seeing some heavy traffic, so we’ve opted for an alternate model to get your answer to you faster. This vinyl record, Il Versificatore \/ Dove Cresce L\u2019Erba by Primo […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5435","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorised"],"yoast_head":"\n