Respighi! Composer of the most incredible piece I have ever had the pleasure to sing.

Ottorino Respighi, Laud to the Nativity (1930).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sNopqAYGq-c

Ottorino Respighi; the man behind the music

            I thought I would do a bit of research of who Respighi was… I am singing this song in the choir I am in... it is incredible! Besides being born in Italy in 1879, being an active composer and performer who traveled a lot, living through the First World War, and dying on the eve of the Second in 1936, I found out that Respighi’s work was not widely celebrated until, well, recently.  I could not fathom why… but this excerpt details the history behind it…

            from Ian Lace, The Case for Respighi:

…; Respighi has attracted much adverse criticism. Ian Lace argues that most of his large and little known output is seriously undervalued

I know I shouldn't like his music; yet I have a sneaking regard for it....it is often just film music, vulgar.

This is typical of the sort of comment one would read in reviews of Respighi's music a few years ago. It was (and, to some extent, it still is) fashionable among "politically correct" musical opinion-makers to belittle and patronise Respighi's music. They considered it to be strident or derivative and accused Respighi of being just a pasticheur lacking a distinctive, personal style. Most damaging of all, he was accused of being a supporter of Mussolini.

The truth is that the shy and retiring Respighi was not interested in politics; he much preferred to be left alone to get on with his music. Yet he was condemned because his music was associated with the fascist cause. Even in 1979 his centenary celebrations met with Italian political opposition. It was only in 1986, on the 50th anniversary of his death, that the tide began to turn…

            Clearly, Respighi’s music is beautiful (if not stunning and the most impactful piece I have ever had the pleasure to sing). Why was Respighi’s music viewed as less than?  People were making assumptions of who he was as a person… his music was somehow associated with the fascist Mussolini regime of 1922 and people lost sight of Respighi’s message, and his talent, and as a result, his humanity.

            My reaction was “oh gosh, I cannot believe that happened! That’s ridiculous that someone so talented was boycotted because of other people’s perceptions and misperceptions.”  As I thought about it, though, I realized this happens all the time in our daily lives- perhaps not to the extent that Respighi’s work was jettisoned, but on an individual basis of belief, practice, opinion… etc and this causes division among people.  [I guess I am specifically thinking politics given the current elections].  How often do we judge someone based on who they align with politically and the conceptions and misconceptions derived from this?  For some, none, for others A LOT: I just ask that we remember there is always a person behind an opinion and that this person is more than his/her positions.  I hope that I can internalize this example of Respighi and realize that a person is so much more important than politics or opinion.  The focus of this song is on Jesus and the miracle of Christmas even though 50 years ago this song, just because it was written by Respighi, would have been viewed as fascist propaganda.  Similarly, I want to live my life in a way that remembers the miracle of Christ and the reality of everyone’s worth, regardless of belief, values, or political position held.