al niente is an instrumental quartet focused on tones, noises, and quiet. The ensemble explores pure improvisation alongside text-based contemporary composition, cultivating a sparse and quiet sonic poetics. The recordings feature two composed works—»some, 1-4« by Stefan Thut and »Umbra« by Gabriele Pagliano—interleaved with three collective improvisations. The pieces invite attentive listening to the temporal and spatial unfolding of sound, emphasizing micro-dynamics, timbral detail, and the interplay between gesture and acoustic environment. Quiet is treated as an active element, framing sound as perceptually contingent and relational rather than predetermined.

Stefan Thut writes: »What remains here of traditional notation is the succession of two elements and the vertical arrangement as in a four voice setting. At first glance the columnar image receives a liquefaction as it expands through the action of making sound. But the repeated actions of the four performers also bring it back to the static of the image yielding an impression.«

Gabriele Pagliano writes about »Umbra«: »Umbra – an open piece composed in the spring of 2024 – is developed as a reflection on the nature of performative sound, its spectrum, and the gesture that generates it. The core of this process is represented by the relationship between a generative sound and its shadow. As in photography, we refer to these sounds as positive and negative. Through a circular and bipartite structure, this series of positive sounds and their negatives are played as in an inner dialogue with quiet.«

The improvisations traverse texture, resonance, and spatial interaction, revealing instruments as extensions of listening. Each performer negotiates the acoustic environment, shaping sound while responding to fellow musicians. Listeners are invited to engage with these emergent sonic relationships, experiencing the persistence of tone and the delicate architecture of sound and quiet.

Beatrice Miniaci – flute, bass flute Born 1998, Brescia. Trained as a classical flutist at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam and later specialized in Sonic Arts at the University of Rome Tor Vergata. Miniaci’s practice emphasizes listening as a relational and ecological process. She has performed at Santarcangelo Festival (ITA), Boska Komedia (PL), and Opera Forward Festival (NL) and collaborated with Jacopo Benassi, Alessandra Eramo, and Maria Magdalena Kozłowska.

Cosimo Fiaschi – soprano saxophone Born 1998. Dedicated to exploring the timbral spectrum of the soprano saxophone, particularly multiphonics. Active in both improvised and contemporary music contexts, solo and in ensembles. Released recordings on INSUB.records, Dinzu Artefacts, Granny Records, Zoomin’ Night, Sofa label, Shhpuma, and 901 edition.

Gabriele Pagliano – double bass Born 1992. Active in creative and improvised music; co-founder of Tabula Arsa collective. Collaborated with Ken Vandermark, Ludus Gravis, Eugenio Colombo, Christof Kurzmann, Marco Colonna, Anacleto Vitolo. Participates in national and international festivals, blending jazz, improvised, classical, and ancient music practices.

Luca Venitucci – accordion, objects Multi-instrumentalist with over thirty years of experience in experimental music. Co-founded Ossatura in 1995 with Fabrizio Spera and Elio Martusciello. Former member of Zeitkratzer Ensemble; collaborated with Alvin Curran, Peter Kowald, Keith Rowe, Otomo Yoshihide, Axel Dörner, and Phil Minton. Extensive touring and recordings across Europe, the US, and Canada.

Beatrice Miniaci, flute, bass flute Cosimo Fiaschi, soprano saxophone Luca Venitucci, accordion, objects Gabriele Pagliano, double bass, objects Recorded in Rome, 16–18 July 2024 Tracks 1, 3 and 5 collectively improvised by al niente Track 2, »some, 1-4«, composed by Stefan Thut Track 4, »Umbra«, composed by Gabriele Pagliano