The Philadelphia Orchestra
conductor: Eugene Ormandy （1966）
The Birds (Italian: Gli uccelli) is a suite for small orchestra by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi (1879 - 1936) . Dating from 1928, the work is based on music from the 17th-century 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:
1. Prelude - is based on a harpsichord piece by Bernardo Pasquini (1637-1710), and it gives a preview of the themes that will return in later movements.
2. La colomba (The Dove) - is based on a lute piece by Jacques de Gallot (1625-1695). The Oboe sings the doves song.
3. La Gallina (The Hen) - is derived from a harpsichord piece by Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764), the hen clucking noisily and rushing about.
4. L'usignuolo (The Nightingale) - is based upon an anonymously written 17th Century melody; the piece allows us to hear the Nightingale as it murmurs and coos softly.
5. Il cucù (The Cuckoo) - is, like the the Prelude, based upon a keyboard piece by Bernardo Pasquini. A spirited conclusion to the suite, the bird "cuckoos" throughout; Respighi also appended a coda (at the end, obviously) that reprises the various bird-calls from all the movements.
