Fountains of Rome
Fontane di Roma (English "Fountains of Rome") is a 1916 work by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, now considered part of the Roman Trilogy of symphonic poems along with Feste Romane and Pini di Roma. Each of the four sections is meant to depict one of Rome’s fountains during different periods of the day and night. Arturo Toscanini originally planned to conduct the work in 1916, but the Italian composer refused to appear for the performance after a disagreement over his having included some of Wagner's music on a program played during World War I. Consequently, it did not premiere until March 11, 1917 where it appeared at the Teatro Augusteo in Rome with Antonio Guarnieri as conductor. Although the premiere was unsuccessful, Toscanini finally conducted the work in Milan in 1918 with tremendous success. The piece was first performed in the United States on February 13, 1919. Toscanini recorded the music with the NBC Symphony Orchestra in Carnegie Hall in 1951; the high fidelity recording was issued on LP and then digitally remastered for release on CD by RCA Victor. The work has since become one of the most eminent examples of the symphonic poem.
Contents |
[edit] Instrumentation
Fontane di Roma calls for the following large orchestra:
- woodwinds: piccolo, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, English horn, 2 clarinets in B-flat and A, bass clarinet in B-flat and A, 2 bassoons
- brass: 4 horns in F, 3 trumpets in B-flat and A, 3 trombones, tuba
- percussion: timpani, cymbals, triangle, bell in D, glockenspiel
- keyboards: organ (ad lib.), piano, celesta
- strings: 2 harps, violins i, ii, violas, violoncellos, double basses
[edit] Piano arrangements
Fontane di Roma is available for piano duet, transcribed by the composer.
[edit] Sections
- 1. "La fontana di Valle Giulia all'alba" (The Fountain of Valle Giulia at Dawn)
- 2. "La fontana del Tritone al mattino" (The Triton Fountain in the Morning)
- 3. "La fontana di Trevi al meriggio" (The Trevi Fountain at noon)
- 4. "La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto" (The Villa Medici Fountain at Sunset)
[edit] Descriptions
- The first section, "La fontana di Valle Giulia all'Alba", shows this fountain at daybreak in a pastoral landscape, in which cattle pass during the morning.
- In the second section- "La fontana del Tritone al mattino" - Naiads and Tritons dancing in the morning light, as figures of the Bernini fountain are seen nearby. Gods and goddesses using conch shells are portrayed by the French horn.
- The third section introduces "La fontana di Trevi al meriggio" and is ushered in by a triumph giving news of a recent victory by the god Neptune.
- The final section, "La fontana di Villa Medici al tramonto", portrays a much more melancholic atmosphere, as the brilliance of the sun fades.
[edit] References
Program notes by Stephanie von Buchau, written for Deutsche Grammophon's production of the recording by the Berlin Philharmonic, conducted by Herbert von Karajan.
