 Ottorino Respighi
(1879-1936)
Ancient Airs and Dances
Italiana
Arie di Corte
Sicialiana
Passacaglia
Respighi was born in Bologna, Italy and began
his serious music studies in that city’s Liceo. From 1900 until
1901 again from 1902 until 1903 he studied with Rimsky - Korsakov
in St. Petersburg. This master of orchestration played,
unsurprisingly, a huge role in forming Respighi’s own superb
orchestration skills. At this time Respighi was also the first
viola player at the opera in St. Petersburg. On return to Italy
he became professor of composition at the Conservatory Regio in
Rome. Apart from his spectacular works such as "Pines of
Rome", Respighi took great pleasure in collecting old Italian
music. The "ancient airs and dances" are the result of
his discovery of these pieces for lute. This is the only one of
the suites which is purely for strings. The incomparable writing
for strings creates wonderful colours. Respighi was active as a
conductor on both sides of Atlantic. He married the singer and
composer Elsa Olivieri–Sangiaromo and often accompanied her
recitals. In recent years there has been revival of her works and
it has been discovered that she too was very fine composer
copyright
© Lygia O'Riordan 2003
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