Respighi - St Gregory the Great - Church Windows (4/4) Four Symphonic Impressions

Respighi, who proved with his Roman triad that he was a man who composed well in the form of tone or symphonic poem, was out of character in writing his "Vetrate di chiesa" ("Church Windows"); the subtitle, "Four Symphonic Impressions", was odd as these were not "impressions" at all.

Respighi composed three pieces for piano while vacationing with his wife in Capri in 1919. The three piano pieces were titled "Tre preludi sopra melodie gregoriane (Three Preludes on Gregorian Melodies)".

Respighi revisited the pieces and transcribed them for large orchestra, adding a fourth piece in order to make the symphonic suite complete. The names of the pieces came long after, based upon the feel of the pieces. Respighi and his close friend, librettist and literature professor, Claudio Guastalla, worked together to provide titles that would tie each of the pieces to stained glass windows of churches in Italy; they went so far as to provide scriptural references or libretto-like religious texts to accompany the pieces.

But this was all done after the pieces were written...

Presented here is "San Gregorio Magno" ("Saint Gregory the Great"), the fourth and final piece of Respighi's "Four Symphonic Impressions"; the piece which Respighi wrote in addition to the 3 pieces he'd transcribed from his "Tre preludi sopra melodie gregoriane" ("Three Preludes on Gregorian Melodies"). Pope Gregory was, at least from what I understand (apologies, I am not Catholic), the source of what we now know as 'Gregorian Chant', or at least so some claim.

Respighi took the "Gloria" from the "Missa de Angelis", a medieval Gregorian Chant, and used it as the theme to write this piece. The work carried the libretto-like phrase, "Ecce Pontifex Maximus! ...Bless the Lord ... Sing the Hymn to God. Alleluia!"; "Ecce Pontifex Maximus" meaning (my humbly offered translation) "Behold the High Pontiff/Pope". Essentially, Respighi seemed to be composing a piece for a Pope's Ascension, naming the piece in honor of Pope Saint Gregory the Great as he was responsible for the creation of liturgical, plain or gregorian chant.

The piece is performed here by the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, led by Jesus Lopez-Cobos, a wonderful interpreter of Respighi's works, in my humble opinion.

Enjoy!

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ottorino
• Respighi
• St
• Gregory
• the
• Great
• San
• Gregorio
• Magno
• Church
• Windows
• Vetrate
• di
• chiesa
• Four
• Symphonic
• Impressions
• Gloria
• Missa
• de
• Angelis
• Gregorian
• Chant
• Tre
• preludi
• sopra
• melodie
• gregoriane
• Three
• Preludes
• on
• Melodies
• Cincinnati
• Symphony
• Orchestra
• Jesus
• Lopez-Cobos
• Classical
• Music
• Italy
• Italian
• Composer

[colinbunnell]

Where did you get these images?! They're fabulous.

[billystewart4]

@colinbunnell

I did a google search for windows and st gregory, saved all that I found, went back and verified that they were actually stained glass windows of St. Gregroy the Great and then posted them. It was time consuming, but I believe that Respighi deserves the best, authentic pictures to accompany his amazing music.

The man was a genius...

[SordidGuy]

When that MAGNIFICENT pipe organ enters at 4:30, it's ABSOLUTELY BREATH TAKING!!!!!!

[billystewart4]

Agreed. I can only compare it with Saint-Saens' Maestoso (2nd half of the 2nd movement). Breath taking is a perfect description...

[SordidGuy]

Billy - My only issue is that I cannot find the complete Maestoso of Saint-Seans" Organ Symphony". Each and every one I view do not make that final "jaw dropping and tear jerking" bass pedal note......Any suggestions???

[billystewart4]

I have at least 5 versions of that Sym. Let me take a look and get back to you. I'll post one that I like, but I'll also let you know what it is in case you want to buy...

Best,

Billy

[bd0g33]

AMAZING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[NinesTempest]

I played this in the Iowa State Symphony Orchestra, and man... it's been my favorite piece ever since. Thanks for having these posted.

[phineas117]

THAT's the music that ended all emerson lake and palmer concerts...WONDERFUL

[FERENCEFF]

There is a wonderful Mercury Living presence recording of Vetrate di Chiesa and Feste Romane by Antal Dorati and the Minneapolis Symphony Orchestra. I used it often to show off my HiFi system.

[phineas117]

emmmm that is the tune that emerson lake and palmer ended their concerts with!!!!!

[jrosen66]

Why does this not get performed more often? I had not heard of this piece until yesterday!

[ariastoteles]

Hace muchos años iba con mi madre a escuchar un concierto en el que se presentarían Los Vitrales de Iglesia de Respighi. Por el tráfico sobre Insurgentes, no pudimos llegar. Hoy gracias a billystewart4 es la primera vez que escucho los movimientos 2 y 4. Gracias por compartir.

[Vagabond1951]

The organ is certainly impressive, but for me, the culmination of this piece at about 8:40 still sends chills up my spine with the stereo cranked up all the way. Glorious!

[rredhawk]

@billystewart4 I'll have to check that one out (Saint-Saens' Maestroso). My other favorite powerful organ solo, besides this one by Respighi, can be found about half-way through the 4th movement of Vaughan William's Symphonia Antarctica (7th symphony).