The Birds (Respighi)

The Birds (Italian: Gli uccelli) is a suite for small orchestra by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi. Dating from 1928, the work is based on music from the 17th and 18th century^[1] and represents an attempt to transcribe birdsong into musical notation, and illustrate bird actions, such as fluttering wings, or scratching feet. The work is in five movements:^[2][3]

• "Prelude" (based on the music of Bernardo Pasquini)
• "La colomba" ("The dove"; based on the music of Jacques de Gallot)
• "La gallina" ("The hen"; based on the music of Jean-Philippe Rameau)
• "L'usignuolo" ("The nightingale"; based on the folksong "Engels Nachtegaeltje" transcribed by recorder virtuoso Jacob van Eyck)
• "Il cucù" ("The cuckoo"; based on the music of Pasquini)

At least three of the movements make use of specific instruments picked to resemble birds. "La colomba" uses an oboe to resemble a dove. "La gallina" uses violins which are said to be "clucking in imitation of the gallinaceous beauty."^[4] "L'usignuolo" uses a woodwind over sylvan strings.^[4]

The suite was used for the ballet of the same name, with choreography by Cia Fornaroli, first performed at Sanremo Casinò Municipale on 19 February 1933; with choreography by Margarita Wallmann at the Teatro Colón, Buenos Aires, on 27 February 1940; and by Robert Helpmann, with design by Chiang Yee, by the Sadler's Wells Ballet at the New Theatre, London on 24 November 1942.^[5]

Between 1965 and 1977 the first movement was used as the opening and closing theme for BBC TV series Going for a Song. The music played along with the sound of a bird in a cage automaton.

Instrumentation

External audio
You may hear Respighi's "The Birds" with Antal Dorati conducting the London Symphony Orchestra in a recording from 1959 Here on archive.org

• Woodwinds: 2 Flutes (2nd doubling Piccolo), Oboe, 2 Clarinets, 2 Bassoons
• Brass: 2 Horns, 2 Trumpets
• Keyboard: Celesta
• Strings: Harp, 1st and 2nd Violins, Violas, Cellos, Double Basses

Reception

Discussing The Birds, John Mangum notes that it "serves as a reminder, in our own age of authenticity, that there are other ways to hear and enjoy Baroque music".^[6] Timothy Judd of the Listener's Club calls it "colorful, atmospheric, and cinematic"^[7]

References

1. Harry Beard, "Ottorino Respighi" (obituary), The Musical Times (June 1936), 77 (1120): pp. 555-556
2. "Respighi's "The Birds": A Technicolor Homage to the Baroque". The Listeners' Club. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
3. "Classical Sprouts: Partying with Respighi's 'The Birds'". Interlochen Public Radio. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
4. Lyons, James. The Birds; Brazilian Impressions (liner notes). MG50153.
5. Arnold Haskell (ed.), Gala Performance (Collins 1955) pg. 215
6. Mangum, John. "The Birds, Ottorino RESPIGHI". LA Phil. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
7. "Respighi's "The Birds": A Technicolor Homage to the Baroque". The Listeners' Club. 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2024-06-04.

External links

• San Diego Symphony program notes, November 2006
• Free scores at IMSLP