Composer
Alongside his career as a pianist and teacher, Giuseppe Devastato is a composer whose works are published by Universal Edition (Vienna). He studied composition under Prof. Giacomo Vitale and holds a diploma in Composition from the “D. Cimarosa” Conservatory.
His musical language extends tonality, builds on the tritone and draws on the research of the Neapolitan composers. Written from the perspective of a performing pianist, his works explore the expressive and technical possibilities of the instrument and are performed in Europe, America and Asia.
Musical language
His Toccata (2015), premiered at Shanghai Symphony Hall, received a Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards in Los Angeles and has been adopted as a compulsory piece in several international piano competitions. Built on a tritone sequence, it combines an ostinato left hand, repeated-note figures and double octaves in a compact, virtuosic structure.
At his Carnegie Hall debut in New York (2014) he presented the Sembazuru Fantasy, dedicated to the victims of the Japanese tsunami: a work in which pentatonic harmonies evoke the calm before the wave, the catastrophe and, finally, the strength to rise again.
Featured works
Toccata (2015) – for piano · 3’
A virtuosic showpiece built on a tritone sequence; Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards and a set piece in international piano competitions.
View score at Universal Edition →
Sembazuru Fantasy (2014) – for violin and piano · 12’
Dedicated to the victims of the Japanese tsunami; presented at Carnegie Hall, New York.
View score at Universal Edition →
“Keylings” – Piano Etudes (2025) – for piano · 15’
A progressive cycle of études for young pianists, built on finger articulation, wrist rotation, touch and phrasing – the principles of his teaching method.
View score at Universal Edition →
Catalogue – Universal Edition
- Hommage à Mozart – for bandoneón and piano (2026) · 5’
- “Keylings” – Piano Etudes – for piano (2025) · 15’
- Toccata – for piano (2015) · 3’
- Piano Works – Dimitri – Romanza “Hommage à Mozart” – À la manière de Ravel – Notturno in G – Toccata (2015) · 11’
- Rachmaninoff: Georgian Song, Op. 4 No. 4 – transcription for piano (2015) · 6’
- Sembazuru Fantasy – for violin and piano (2014) · 12’
- Image – for string quartet (2007) · 3’
- Notturno “La Gondola” – for piano (2004) · 5’
- Romanza “Hommage à Mozart” – À la manière de Ravel, for piano (2001) · 5’
His compositions are also recorded on the album “The Pianist Composer” (Da Vinci Classics), awarded a Gold Medal at the Global Music Awards 2015.