Description
Ottorino Respighi (1879-1936), Italian composer, musicologist and violinist penned the Ancient Airs and Dances-Suite #1 in 1917 for orchestra. He based the works on Renaissance Italian works for lute unearthed by the musicologist Oscar Chilesotti. As the guitar has often been referred to as the orchestra “through the wrong ends of opera glasses) I thought this work would adapt well. In a way it returns it to its roots but with more color and power than a lute. My mother, modern dance choreographer, Nancy Hauser used the suite in
1960 fr a work and as a young lad of 9, the tunes stayed in my head until 20 years later when I found the Chilesotti originals.
The first movement is based on the work by Simone Molinaro—a Balleto detto “Il Conte Orlando”.
The second, a combination Gagliarda and Saltarello by Vincenzo Galilei-the astronomer Galileo’s father.
The Villanella and Passo Mezzo-Mascherada are anonymous. Respighi did more than simply orchestrate the lute works and I have endeavored to follow the orchestral score as closely as possible.