Performed by the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra conducted by Giordano Bellincampi
Nightingale Photo: Carlos Delgado CC4.0
In The Birds, Respighi transcribes and then reinvents vocal and instrumental music from the baroque composers, Bernardo Pasquini, Jacques de Gallot, Jean-Philippe Rameau, and Jacob van Eyck.
After the first movement Prelude, each of the four other movements is named after a type of bird: the Dove, Hen, Nightingale and Cuckoo.
The Prelude is based on an aria by Italian Baroque composer, Bernardo Pasquini
La Colomba (The Dove) – a beautiful oboe melody is inspired by the French composer and lute-player Jacques de Gallot
La Gallina (The Hen) – derived from a harpsichord work by Jean-Philippe Rameau and features entertaining clucking in the strings and rooster calls in the woodwind instruments.
L’usignolo (The Nightingale) – an anonymous 18th century English melody transcribed by Dutch musician Jacob van Eyck.
And finally, Il Cucu (The Cuckoo) – after the two-note call by the flute and other wind instruments we hear the return of the original Pasquini tune.
Programme Note: Carey McDonald
Recorded by RNZ Concert in Auckland Town Hall, 15 July 2021
Engineer: Adrian Hollay; Producer: Tim Dodd
