Neoclassicism is the name of the game today, as we celebrate two composers who made their biggest splash appropriating styles and themes of the past.
Ottorini Respighi composed not only his “Ancient Airs and Dances” suites, but works – while not strictly speaking Neoclassical (in fact, more orgiastic) – evocative of Rome’s illustrious and/or notorious past. He also composed music redolent of the Catholic Church, with works influenced by Gregorian modes. Even his ballet, “Belkis, Queen of Sheba,” is set 3000 years ago.
The American composer David Diamond was asked by the conductor Dimitri Mitropoulos in 1944 for a new work. The only stipulation was that the piece be of a happy disposition, in defiance of the unsettling events unfolding in the world at large and in music in particular. (Mitropoulos was depressed from conducting too much 12-tone music.)
The result was the clear, cool “Rounds for String Orchestra,” which went on to become Diamond’s best-known music, a bona fide American classic.
Happy birthday, Ottorino Respighi (b. 1879) and David Diamond (b. 1915)!
Here’s violinist Uto Ughi in Respighi’s “Concerto Gregoriano”: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWSKB8aZ884
And Diamond’s “Rounds for String Orchestra” (well worth it, if you can ignore the images): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6iF70Sn-4E
PHOTOS: Duo pianists Respighi (top) and Diamond