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Inside the Music: Dolce Far Niente

7/11/2025

1 Comment

 
Picture
Aboard a ferry on Lago d'Iseo in Northern Italy.
"Dolce far niente" is an Italian phrase that translates to "the sweetness of doing nothing" or "sweet idleness". I first learned the phrase from my brother Arnie and sister-in-law Marie who is of Italian heritage. It describes a state of relaxed enjoyment and appreciation of leisure. It's not about being lazy, but rather about savoring and finding contentment in the present moment. 
My wife Lisa and I had a full dose of "dolce far niente" this past March in Italy where we savored the simple opportunity to rest, reflect and recharge. 
In my composition "Dolce Far Niente" I try to capture this simplicity. Just a few chords with melody played on alto saxophone, an accordion included to add some Italian seasoning.
I hope you'll enjoy three minutes of "sweet idleness" as you take a listen! 
*****************
From the album Pop Songs, Poetry & Other Flights of Fancy.

Sheet music available on the Original Music page.

Listen on YouTube, Spotify, Amazon Music, Apple Music, 
Pandora, iHeart Radio and all streaming platforms.
​​
Click the image below to listen to the song on YouTube. 
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1 Comment
    Picture

    Author

    Bruce Abbott

    I am often asked questions about my music such as "What is this composition about?" and "What inspired this piece?" 
    To answer these questions I have created a blog feature called "Inside the Music". Each entry includes a photo or two, some information about the composition, and a link to hear the music. I hope you enjoy them.
    As always, thanks for listening!
    ​Bruce


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