THE PINES OF ROME great acclaim in London by soprano Kirsten Flagstad . An exceptionally generous donation by the Maharaja of Mysore made it possible for the debut performance of the cycle to be recorded on acetate discs .
Many regard the Four Last Songs as some of Strauss ’ s finest work . Each one is full of depth , poignancy , and a breathtaking sense of tranquil finality that one might only fully understand in the final years of life . The composer masterfully intertwines the voice and orchestral timbres , bringing each word off the page . “ Spring ,” the first song , is full of hopeful anticipation portrayed through exquisite , floating high notes . Cool rains and decaying gardens usher in “ September ,” which Strauss depicts through especially lush harmonies . One of the highlights of the third song , “ When Falling Asleep ,” is the shimmering violin melody that sounds as the protagonist expresses gratitude for the starry night . The final song , “ At Sunset ,” which was Strauss ’ s inspiration for the cycle , features trilling flutes that are representative of a pair of loving larks .
Ottorino Respighi
Born July 18 , 1879 in Bologna , Italy Died April 18 , 1936 in Rome , Italy
PINES OF ROME [ 1924 ]
When he moved from his hometown of Bologna to Rome in 1913 to become a composition professor , Ottorino Respighi recalled that Rome ’ s “ umbrella-like pines that appear in every part of the horizon spoke to my imagination above all .” These magnificent evergreens along with other Roman sights inspired the three tone poems that brought Respighi into the international spotlight as a composer . His 1924 Pines of Rome is the second work in his Roman trilogy , bookended by the 1916 Fountains of Rome and the 1928 Roman Festivals . Each of the four movements in Pines of Rome portrays a specific location in the city where Respighi was particularly drawn to the trees . The locations of each movement traverse in a counter-clockwise tour around Rome ’ s perimeter .
The first movement is set near the pine trees in the Villa Borghese gardens , which house a monument to the powerful 17th century Borghese family . Children gleefully sing nursery rhymes , dance , and frolic among the trees . Respighi transcribed songs his wife Elsa sang while playing in these very gardens as a child and incorporates them into this movement . The children vanish at the beginning of the second movement , as a grandiose dirge conjures images of the towering pines at the entrance of a Roman catacomb ( underground burial chamber ). This movement prominently features melodic fragments from two Gregorian chants . Subterranean sounds are conjured by the lower orchestral instruments , and the trombones , horns , and trumpet portray chanting priests .
A resplendent full moon shines on the pines on the Janiculum hill at nightfall in the third movement . The second-tallest hill in contemporary Rome , an ascent to the summit provides a stunning view of the city . Respighi ’ s request that the song of a nightingale be played on a phonograph during this movement is the first known instance of combining electronic sounds with an orchestra in Western classical music . The clarinet solo at
the opening of the movement is meant to be played “ as if in a dream .” In the fourth movement , we are transported to the Appian Way , the great military road leading into Rome . Triumphant soldiers march along the Way basking in the new dawn , and their entrance to the city is heralded by six buccine ( ancient circular trumpets , which are now typically represented by flugelhorns ). Low sounds from the organ and orchestra rumble the floors , making it seem as though an entire army is parading by .
Instrumentation Three flutes , three oboes , three clarinets , three bassoons , four horns , three trumpets , three trombones , tuba , timpani , bass drum , cymbals ( pair ), ratchet , small glockenspiel , tambourine , orchestra bells , snare drum , triangle , harp , celeste , organ , piano , and strings .
Maximilian Franz
MAY-JUN 2024 / OVERTURE 39