The Damiano Cozzella Collection at CDMC/UNICAMP: a preliminary analysis

Abstract

The Damiano Cozzella Collection at Contemporary Music Documentation Coordination (CDMC) from University of Campinas (UNICAMP) was created from a donation of sheet music made in 2019 by the family. This paper aims to evaluate and disseminate this material. The donation includes 24 compositions that are the focus of this article, and 46 arrangements from two sources: the compositions were part of Damiano Cozzella‟s personal collection, while the orchestral arrangements were collected in the Campinas Symphonic Orchestra‟s archive. From a preliminary analysis, we divided his compositions into three groups of aesthetic orientations: works centered on musical writing; works in which irony and a critical attitude towards consumer society and artistic practice are evident; and pieces that have characteristics related to popular music. The research around the donated collection aims to shed light on a decisive composer for Brazilian and Latin American music. Mostly known for his choral arrangement work, his authorial compositions and orchestral arrangements are to be researched. Thus, with this paper, the process of disseminating Damiano Cozzella's work and personality has been started, seeking to lead him to a deserved prominent position in contemporary Brazilian music historiography.