Rachmaninov was delighted by Respighi's orchestration of his Études-Tableaux and even provided Respighi with programmatic explanations for the pieces, which he usually kept secret from the public.
Composer Biography
Ottorino Respighi, alongside Puccini, was one of the best-known Italian composers of the first half of the twentieth century.
Compositional Technique
Respighi's orchestral arrangements of Bach's organ works were called "orchestral interpretations" by the composer, reflecting a common early 20th-century practice of adapting older works to contemporary tastes.
Composition History
Serge Koussevitzky, a conductor and publisher known for commissioning new works and arrangements, initiated Respighi's orchestral arrangement of Rachmaninov's Études-Tableaux.
Cultural Impact
Respighi's orchestration of Bach's 'Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme' is so rich it could fit a Hollywood score, and film composer John Williams (Star Wars, Indiana Jones) counts Respighi as a major influence.
Composition History
Arturo Toscanini, a renowned conductor, persuaded Respighi to orchestrate Bach's Passacaglia and Fugue in C minor for a European tour, with Respighi completing the work in just nine days.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Respighi's musical tastes were wide-ranging, influenced by studies with Giuseppe Martucci (a Wagnerian), Luigi Torchi (a pioneer in ancient music), Rimsky-Korsakov, and Max Bruch.
You might also enjoy...
Hoyland: In Transit & Vixen
Messiaen: L'Ascension, Le Tombeau resplendissant, Les Offrandes oubliées, Un sourire
John Adams: Absolute Jest & Naive and Sentimental Music
Schönberg: Fünf Orchesterstücke / Variationen für Orchester
Eduardo Reck Miranda: Mind Pieces, Sound to Sea. Computer-Aided Symphonic Works
