15007 – Pini di Villa Borghese from Pines of Rome

Ottorini Respighi (1879-1936)

Arranged for 12 part trumpet ensemble by Roger Harvey

Difficulty: Virtuoso

Price: £25.00

Programme notes:

Resphigi is best known for his sparkling orchestral scores, a spell as a student of Rimsky-Korsakov being clearly seen in his masterful orchestration. The Pines of Rome was written in 1924 and is the second part of his popular trilogy, which also includes Fountains of Rome and Roman Games. The movements give sound pictures of 4 sites in Rome where pine trees are significant. The Pines of the Villa Borghese is the first movement in which children play in the pine grove, dancing in circles, act out soldiers’ marches and battles and become generally excited.

The original orchestration of this movement does not include any bass instruments so it is ideally suited to transcription for trumpet ensemble.

Performance notes:

Play this music in a light but very bright style; if articulations become too heavy and dynamics too strong there will be insufficient textural clarity.

 The tempo should be lively and the effect playful; avoid playing with panic or too much intensity.

Percussion 1: Triangle, ratchet, tambourine with side drum stick

Percussion 2: Glockenspiel; if large glock is not available play octave lower or higher as necessary.