The Pines of Rome
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936)
THE STORY
In 1924, Respighi composed Pines of Rome, his second tone poem inspired by the city where he had lived since 1913. The pines that “so characteristically dominate the Roman landscape” unify four locations experienced from mid-day to evening, as described by the composer:
The Pines of the Villa Borghese—Children are at play in the pine groves of the Villa Borghese, dancing the Italian equivalent of “Ring Around a Rosy.” They mimic marching soldiers and battles. They twitter and shriek like swallows at evening, coming and going in swarms.
Pines Near a Catacomb—We see the shadows of the pines, which overhang the entrance of a catacomb. From the depths rises a chant, which echoes solemnly, like a hymn, and is then mysteriously silenced.
The Pines of the Janiculum—There is a thrill in the air. The full moon reveals the profile of the pines of Gianicolo’s Hill. A nightingale sings.
The Pines of the Appian Way—Misty dawn on the Appian Way. The tragic country is guarded by solitary pines. Indistinctly, incessantly, the rhythm of unending steps. The poet has a fantastic vision of past glories. Trumpets blare, and the army of the Consul bursts forth in the grandeur of a newly risen sun toward the Sacred Way, mounting in triumph the Capitoline Hill.
LISTEN FOR
- The resplendent shimmer of woodwinds, triangle, celesta, harp, piano, and glockenspiel in Villa Borghese
- The noble Sanctus theme played by an offstage trumpet in Catacomb, followed by the unmuted “chant” initiated by the lower strings
- The nightingale’s song near the end of Janiculum played by a recording (unprecedented until this composition!)
- Ground tremors of the Roman military suggested by the organ and brass
INSTRUMENTATION
Piccolo, three flutes, two oboes, English horn, two clarinets, bass clarinet, two bassoons, contrabassoon, four horns, three trumpets, four trombones, timpani, percussion, piano, celesta, organ, harp, strings (offstage: four trombones, two trumpets)
Notes on the music by Joanna Chang
