Ancient Airs and Dances

For the last few mornings, I have been rediscovering the work of composer and musicologist Ottorino Respighi, especially his Ancient Airs and Dances, a set of three orchestral suites based on the work of various Renaissance composers. These pieces are exceptional, and masterfully blend the old with sympathetic and complementary new work of his own.

My personal favorite is the second movement of Suite no. 1, a ‘gagliarda’ (a type of dance), which Respighi attributes to Vincenzo Galilei, the father of a certain Galileo Galilei.

This piece, and the remaining other movements of the three Suites, makes for a perfect morning reflection and inspiration, and couldn’t we all benefit from a measure more beauty in our daily experience?