Parts of the Appian Way road to Rome are still visible and tree-lined — and popular as a walking trail for tourists and Italians.
At a Glance PINES OF ROME Respighi wrote his symphonic poem Pini di Roma [“Pines of Rome”] in 1923-24. It was first performed on December 14, 1924, in Rome, conducted by Bernardino Molinari. Pines of Rome runs about 25 minutes in performance. Respighi scored it for 3 flutes (third doubling piccolo), 2 oboes, english horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 3 trumpets, off-stage trumpet, 4 trombones, 6 buccine (Roman trumpets), timpani, percussion (triangle, small cymbals, tambourine, rattle, cymbals, bass drum, tam-tam, bells, celesta), gramophone (for recorded nightingale), harp, piano, organ, and strings.
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gram notes: “While in his preceding work, Fountains of Rome, the composer sought to reproduce by means of tone an impression of Nature, in Pines of Rome he uses Nature as a point of departure, in order to recall memories and vision. The century-old trees, which so characteristically dominate the Roman landscape, become witnesses to the principal events in Roman life.” In the printed score, the four sections of Pines of Rome are described as follows: I. The Pines of Villa Borghese: Children are at play in the pine grove of Villa Borghese; they dance in a circle, they mimic marching soldiers, and battles; they chirp with excitement like swallows at evening; they run away in a swarm. Suddenly the scene changes . . . II. Pines Near a Catacomb: . . . and we see the shadows of the pines that crown the entrance of a catacomb. From the depths rises a dolorous chant that spreads solemnly, like a hymn, and then mysteriously dies away. III. The Pines of the Janiculum: There is a tremor in the air. The pines of Janiculum Hill are profiled in the full moon. A nightingale sings. IV. The Pines of the Appian Way: Misty dawn on the Appian Way. Solitary pines stand guard over the tragic landscape. The faint, unceasing rhythm of numberless footsteps. A vision of ancient glories appears to the poet’s fantasy: trumpets blare and a Roman consular army bursts forth, in the brilliance of the newly risen sun, toward the Sacred Way, mounting step by step by step in triumph to the Capitol. —David Wright © 2016
About the Music
The Cleveland Orchestra