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Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157

192824 min

This guide follows Respighi’s Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157 (1928) in three parts: Circenses, Il Giubileo and La Befana (sonata form).

Recording: Auckland Philharmonia with musicians from the Australian National Academy of Music, Giordano Bellincampi (2024)

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AnalysisComments
  1. ICircenses
  2. IIIl Giubileo
  3. IIILa Befana · Sonata form
ICircenses0:07–4:16

Respighi's programme sets the scene: a threatening sky over the Circus Maximus and a crowd hailing Nero. In A the buccine blare savage fanfares as the iron gates open, and the orchestra roars like the wild beasts. B brings the Christian martyrs' song, a calm, -like melody in the strings and woodwinds that spreads and grows in confidence. A′ lets the fanfares and roaring , and in the the is drowned in violent chords over a pedal note on the organ.

  1. A
  2. B
IIIl Giubileo4:17–11:01
IIILa BefanaSonata form19:02–24:09

Section boundaries in music are not always sharp; a transition may be felt over a pause or a held chord.

At a glance

  1. I. Circenses4 min · 126 bars
  2. II. Il Giubileo7 min · 130 bars
  3. III. La BefanaSonata form · 5 min · 439 bars · half note ≈ 107 bpm

Instruments: Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Bass clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Glockenspiel, bells, Piano, Organ, Strings, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello, Double bass

Ottorino Respighi, Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157, I. Circenses: first page of the score
Full score

Questions

How long is Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157?
About 24 min in this recording, in 3 movements: I 4 min, II 7 min and III 5 min.
What form are its movements in?
III: sonata form.
Which instruments play in Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157?
Piccolo, Flute, Oboe, English horn, Clarinet, Bass clarinet, Bassoon, Contrabassoon, Horn, Trumpet, Trombone, Tuba, Timpani, Percussion, Glockenspiel, bells, Piano, Organ, Strings, Violin I, Violin II, Viola, Cello and Double bass.
How fast is it played?
In this recording, measured from the score: III half note ≈ 107 bpm.
Is there a score of Ottorino Respighi's Roman Festivals (Feste Romane), P 157?
Yes, of every movement.

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In the catalog

Ottorino RespighiOrchestral worksLate Romantic periodSonata form

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