Composer

:

Ottorino Respighi

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Tone Poem

Compose Date

:

1928

Average_duration

:

24:41

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Feste Romane, P. 157 is a symphonic poem composed by Ottorino Respighi in 1928. It is the final piece in a trilogy of symphonic poems that also includes Fontane di Roma and Pini di Roma. The piece is dedicated to the memory of the Italian composer Giuseppe Martucci. Feste Romane is divided into four movements, each depicting a different scene from ancient Rome. The first movement, "Circenses," portrays the excitement and energy of a chariot race in the Circus Maximus. The music is fast-paced and rhythmic, with brass fanfares and percussion representing the thundering hooves of the horses. The second movement, "Il Giubileo," is a solemn procession of pilgrims making their way to St. Peter's Basilica for the Jubilee celebration. The music is slow and majestic, with a prominent organ solo representing the grandeur of the church. The third movement, "L'Ottobrata," is a lively depiction of a harvest festival in October. The music is playful and dance-like, with woodwinds and strings imitating the sounds of folk instruments. The final movement, "La Befana," is a raucous celebration of the Epiphany, with children running through the streets and fireworks lighting up the sky. The music is fast and frenzied, with brass and percussion creating a cacophony of sound. Overall, Feste Romane is a vibrant and colorful depiction of ancient Rome, with Respighi's use of orchestration and rhythm creating a vivid picture of the city's sights and sounds. The piece premiered on March 21, 1929, in Rome, conducted by Bernardino Molinari.

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