20,000 Vinyl LPs 298: Ottorino Respighi ~ The Pines of Rome, The Appian Way, Fritz & Obiko

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Ottorino Respighi ~ The Pines of Rome

cover photos photographer unknown 

photo of album cover by Styrous®

Today is the birthday of Ottorino Respighi who was born on July 9, 1879, at 8 Via Guido Reni, an apartment building to the side of Palazzo Fantuzzi in Bologna, Italy. 

 

My favorite work by Respighi is the Pines of Rome, a four-movement symphonic poem for orchestra completed in 1924. The piece, which depicts pine trees in four locations in Rome at different times of the day, is the second of Respighi's trilogy of tone poems based on the city, along with the Fountains of Rome (1917) and Roman Festivals (1928). The Pines premiered on the 14th of December in 1924 and although Respighi wrote wonderful operas and ballets it is this trio of music for which he is primarily remembered. The Pines is an amazing orchestral work to hear and especially to see (the tympani player is a knockout!) in a live performance(link below).    

     

I was fashion show production coordinator for the art to wear boutique, Obiko, for over fifteen years. The shows always ended with a bridal section that opened with a procession of ten or more bridesmaids and Mother-of-the-Bride fashions with the Bride entering last. I always avoided using traditional wedding music for it and Sandra Sakata, the owner of Obiko, loved that!     

 

Sometime in the early eighties I used the fourth movement from Respighi's Pines work, The Pines of the Appian Way, performed by Fritz Reiner and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, for the bridal section; it was recorded at the pinnacle of Reiner's career and is a stunning version of the work. The movement is Respighi's representation of the past glories of the Roman Empire and begins VERY quietly with tympani, double bass and piano establishing a moderate speed march beat, then woodwinds enter and an oboe creates an exotic, almost Scheherazade-like touch (perhaps from his studies in Russia with Rimsky-Korsakov) followed by brass all of which build to a grand finale that is utterly glorious (link below). It was the perfect ending for the show.       

 

The Appian Way (Via Appia) was named after Appius Claudius Caecus, who was the Roman censor that began and completed the first section of a military road in 312 B.C. His nickname Caecus was given to him in his old age when he lost his eyesight.    

 

 

Appius Claudius Caecus
 

 

The road was constructed for creating a fast communication between Rome and Capua, which is near Naples. The Appian Way began at the Circus Maximus and passed along the Baths of Caracalla, and eventually, the Aurelian Wall. Its distance was 132 miles and it took 5 to 6 days to travel it. The Appian Way was revolutionary for that period of time and was the first Roman road to feature the use of lime cement.                 

The Appian Way

The Aurelian Wall

 

 

 

Ottorino Respighi ~ The Pines of Rome

vinyl LP, record label, side 1

photo by Styrous®

Ottorino Respighi ~ The Fountains of Rome

vinyl LP, record label, side 2

photo by Styrous®

   

Tracklist:

Side 1:

        Pines Of Rome   
A1        The Pines Of The Villa Borghese    4:00
A2        The Pines Near A Catacomb    5:51
A3        The Pines Of The Janiculum    5:13
A4        The Pines Of The Appian Way    5:57

Side 2:

        Fountains Of Rome   
B1        The Fountain Of Valle Giulia At Dawn    4:37
B2        The Triton Fountain At Morn    2:24
B3        The Fountain Of Trevi At Mid-day    6:22
B4        The Villa Medici Fountain At Sunset    2:08

Companies, etc.

    Pressed By – RCA Records Pressing Plant, Indianapolis

Credits:

    Composed By – Respighi*
    Conductor – Fritz Reiner
    Engineer – Lewis Layton
    Liner Notes – Roger Dettmer
    Orchestra – Chicago Symphony Orchestra*
    Producer – Richard Mohr

Notes:

 Original US stereo release from 1960 w/ red shaded dog label.

Indianapolis pressing, as indicated by I stamped in runouts.

 
Barcode and Other Identifiers

    Matrix / Runout (Side A label): K2RY-4735
    Matrix / Runout (Side B label): K2RY-4736
    Matrix / Runout (Side A stamped, variant 1): K2 RY4735 15S I A1
    Matrix / Runout (Side B stamped, variant 1): K2 RY4736 14S I D2
    Matrix / Runout (Side A stamped, variant 2): K2 RY4735-1S I A1
    Matrix / Runout (Side B stamped, variant 2): K2 RY4736-1S A1 I
    Matrix / Runout (Side A stamped, variant 3): K2RY-4735-17S I A2
    Matrix / Runout (Side B stamped, variant 3): K2RY-4736-175 I A1
    Pressing Plant ID (Stamped in runouts; RCA Indianapolis Plant): I

 

Respighi* – Reiner* / Chicago Symphony* – Pines Of Rome / Fountains Of Rome
Label: RCA Victor Red Seal – LSC-2436
Series: Living Stereo
Format: Vinyl, LP, Album, Stereo, Indianapolis Pressing
Country: US
Released: 1960
Genre: Classical
Style: Modern   

         

Viewfinder links:        

        

Obiko         

Ottorino Respighi     

Fritz Reiner         

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov     

Sandra Sakata        

        

Net links:        

        

Imperium Romanum ~ Appius Claudius Caecus     

Interlude ~ Trees of History Respighi: Pini di Roma      

Houston Symphony ~  Respighi’s Pines of Rome       

LA Philharmonic ~ Pines of Rome        

        

YouTube links:        

         

Georges Pretre ~ The Pines of the Appian Way (live)                

Fritz Reiner ~ The Pines of the Appian Way    

        

        

        

       

       

“. . . the century-old trees which dominate 

so characteristically the Roman landscape 

become testimony

for the principal events in Roman life.”
                        ~ Ottorino Respighi 

        

        

       

       

        

Styrous® ~ Friday, July 9, 2021       

       

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Obiko fashion show history

 

For seventeen years it was my extraordinary fortune to work on the production of the Obiko fashion shows for Sandra Sakata in various roles from providing only sound design to complete production coordination. I was also involved with satellite shows that featured Obiko designers. Some of these shows were video taped and I will write about them and post the videos at some point.   

1979   
July 25   
KAISIK WONG, sound design, promotional fashion show, Hilton Hotel, Caracas, Venezuela. 


1980   
Apr. 10   
OBIKO, sound design, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, John Casablancas School of Modeling, San Francisco, California 

Sept. 18   
OBIKO, sound design, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, John Casablancas School of Modeling, San Francisco, California 

Nov. 11   
OBIKO,sound design , fashion show to benefit Aid To Adoption Of Special Kids, Obiko designers, John Casablancas School of Modeling, San Francisco, California 


1981   
Sept.   
OBIKO, sound design, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, John Casablancas School of Modeling, San Francisco, California 

1982   
Mar. 21   
AT THE WILTERN, sound design, fashion show to benefit The Wiltern Theater, Obiko designers, The Wiltern Theater, Los Angeles, California   
 
Sept. 22   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Aid To Adoption Of Special Kids, Obiko designers, The Galleria, San Francisco, California 

Dec. 8   
A HIGH TEA FASHION SHOW, sound design, Gibson Palermo, Obiko & Zoftig, fashion show to benefit The Attic Theater, The Attic Theater, San Francisco, California  
   

1983   
April 4   
HELGA HOWIE, MIKI, OBIKO & THREE BAGS FULL, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion show, San Francisco, California 

Nov. 7   
FIBER, FABRIC & FASHION, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Pacific Basin School Of Textile Arts, various designers, Berkeley Repertory Theater, Berkeley, California  
   

1984   
Sept. 19   
GALA FASHION PRESENTATION, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit Aid To Adoption Of Special Kids, Obiko designers, The Galleria, San Francisco, California  

Sept. 27   
OBIKO, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, The Metropolitan Club, San Francisco, California 

Oct. 11   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit Aid To Adoption Of Special Kids, Obiko designers, The Galleria, San Francisco, California  


1985   
Jan. 30   
OBIKO, production coordinator, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, The Galleria, San Francisco, California   

Feb. 8   
ANTIQUITY TRANSFORMED, sound design & choreography, fashion show to benefit The Chinese Cultural Foundation Of S. F., Obiko designers, Empress Of China, San Francisco, California  
   

1986   
Feb. 3   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Ladies Aid To Retarded Citizens, Obiko designers, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California   

May 17   
CRDC ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Chinatown Resources Development Center, various designers, The Gift Center, San Francisco, California  

Sept. 17   
HAUTE COUTURE, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Peninsula Auxiliary of The Medical Mission Sisters, Obiko designers, Hillsborough, California  

Sept. 24   
OBIKO, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, Stephen Wirtz Gallery, San Francisco, California  

Dec. 10   
OBIKO, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, Ginsberg Showroom, San Francisco, California  
   

1987   
Feb. 11   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit Theta Delta Xi, Obiko designers, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California  

May 14   
JEANNE-MARC, OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Fiberworks Center for the Textile Arts, Marco Polo Showroom, various designers, San Francisco, California  

Aug. 25   
OBIKO, sound design, in-store ethnic fashion presentation, Obiko designers, San Francisco, California  

Sept. 16   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Ladies Aid To Retarded Citizens, Obiko designers, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California  

Oct. 25   
THE SILK ROAD, production coordinator, Bergdorf Goodman fashion show for The Intercoiffure convention, Obiko designers, Essex House, New York, New York  

Dec. 8   
OBIKO, sound design, in-store ethnic fashion presentation, Obiko designers, San Francisco, California  
   

1988   
Mar. 1   
OBIKO, sound design  & choreography, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, St. Francis Yacht Club, San Francisco, California  

Mar. 30   
A SPRING COLLECTION, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Children's Cancer Research Institute, Obiko designers, Hotel Nikko, San Francisco, California  

May 14   
OBIKO, sound design & choreography, fashion show to benefit The Asian Art Museum Society For Asian Art, Obiko designers, Metropolitan Club, San Francisco, California  

July 18   
JUN'ICI ARAI, sound design  & choreography, fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California   

Aug. 25   
OBIKO, sound installation, ethnic presentation, Obiko designers, Obiko, San Francisco, California 

Sept. 19   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit Theta Delta Xi, Obiko designers, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, California  
   

1989   
Feb. 15   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Ladies Aid To Retarded Children, Obiko designers, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California   

Apr. 30   
TRIBAL VISIONS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit The Fort Mason Museums, Obiko designers, San Francisco, California    

Sept. 20   
SCARBOROUGH FAIRE, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Peninsula Auxiliary of  The Medical Mission Sisters, Obiko designers, Hillsborough, California  

Sept. 26   
OBIKO, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, Hornblower Yachts, San Francisco, California  
   

1990
ARTWEAR: THE BODY ADORNED, Music Consultant for KQED video presentation of wearable art, various designers, San Francisco, California 

Feb. 14   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Ladies Aid To Retarded Children, Obiko designers, Mark Hopkins Hotel, San Francisco, California  

May 11   
SPRING PROMENADE, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit The Chinese Cultural Center, Obiko designers, Palace of Fine Arts Theater, San Francisco, California  

May 22   
KUBA, sound design, in-store ethnic fashion presentation, Obiko designers, Obiko, San Francisco, California   

July 13   
NEW THREADS, production coordinator, fashion show, Handweavers Guild of America Convergence, various designers, San Jose Center For The Performing Arts, San Jose, California  

July 16   
JUN'ICI ARAI, sound design & choreography, fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California   

Sept. 19   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Children's Cancer Research Institute, Obiko designers, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, California  

Oct. 18   
KUDO, sound design & choreography, fashion show to benefit Ocean Alliance, Obiko designers, British Motors, Inc., San Francisco, California  


1991   
Apr. 27   
THE EMERGING WOMAN, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit The Square & Circle Club, Obiko designers, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, California  

May 20   
THE GOLDEN DOOR, sound design, Obiko promotional fashion show, Obiko designers, San Diego, California   

Sept. 21   
TRANSFORMATIONS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit The Japanese-American Cultural League, Obiko designers, St. Francis Hotel, San Francisco, California  

Nov. 25   
OBIKO, sound design,  choreography & staging, fashion show to benefit The California Crafts Museum, Obiko designers, Ghirardelli Square, San Francisco, California  
   

1992   
May 2-3   
ART IN FASHION, sound design & choreography, promotional fashion shows for various art-to-wear designers, Marin Civic Center, San Rafael, California    

May 22   
KUBA, sound design, in-store ethnic fashion presentation, Obiko designers, Obiko, San Francisco, California  

Aug. 5   
THE CRAFT OF THE COSTUME, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Cowell Theater, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California  

Dec. 17   
OBIKO, sound design, Christmas fashion presentation, Obiko designers, Canterbury Hotel, San Francisco, California  
   

1993   
Dec. 10   
OBIKO, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit DrawBridge, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California  


1994   
Aug. 4   
METAMORPHOSIS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California  

Nov. 10   
AROUND THE WORLD, production coordinator, Musée de Noel, Obiko & Bernini  fashion show to benefit the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, various designers, Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California   


1995   
May 4   
MARIAN CLAYDEN, sound design, Golden Shears Award Ceremony fashion show, The Fashion Center, San Francisco, California    

Oct. 5   
NOMADS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Theta Delta Xi Women's Auxiliary, Obiko designers, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, California  

Oct. 7   
KAISIK WONG TRIBUTE, 1995 Golden Ring Awards, production coordinator, fashion show to benefit the Asian American Arts Foundation, Center for the Arts Theater, Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco, California  
   

1996   
Mar. 10   
HATS OFF! production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit Yu-Ai Kai, various designers, Fairmont Hotel, San Jose, California  
 
May 16   
MINGEI, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Asian Art Museum, Obiko designers, Asian Art Museum, Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, California   

July 18   
DRESSED IN TIME, production coordinator, fashion show, Handweavers Guildof America Convergence, various designers, Portland Convention Center, Portland, Oregon  
 
Aug. 28   
GUJARAT TO ORISSA, production coordinator, Obiko and Anokhi fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California 

Oct. 9   
IRRESISTIBLE MUSEÉ, production coordinator, Musée de Noel,, Obiko & Bernini fashion show to benefit the St. Luke's Hospital Auxiliary, various designers, Sheraton Palace Hotel, San Francisco, California 
   
  
1997
May 3   
TRIBAL VISIONS, sound design, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Medallas Endowment Fund at the Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, Obiko designers, Disneyland Hotel, Los Angeles, California 

June 6   
TRIBAL VISIONS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Asian Health Services, Obiko designers, Marriott Hotel, Oakland, California   

Aug. 27   
SHIBORI, sound design, staging & choreography, Obiko fashion show to benefit the
San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, Obiko designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California  

Sept. 4   
PORTRAITS, production coordinator, Obiko fashion show to benefit the Theta Delta Xi Women's Auxiliary, Obiko designers, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, California  

post Obiko

   
1998   
August   
DANCE OF THE CICADA, music composition for Cicada art-to-wear fashion store, San Francisco, California  

Sept. 19   
CICADA, sound design, staging & choreography, in-store grand opening fashion show, Obiko designers, Cicada, San Francisco, California 

Dec. 11   
FUSION ARTWEAR, sound design & staging, Cicada fashion show to benefit the Oakland Museum of California, Obiko designers, Oakland Museum, Oakland, California    
   

1999   
Mar. 22   
ART FOR WEARING, fashion show consultant, Cicada fashion show to benefit the San Jose Museum of Art, Obiko designers, San Jose, California    

Apr. 9   
ART WEAR FOR THE NEXT MILLENNIUM, sound design, staging & choreography, Cicada fashion show to benefit the Palo Alto Art Center, Obiko designers, Palo Alto, California  

June 23   
ADORNMENT OF ART, sound design, staging & choreography, Cicada fashion show to benefit the San Francisco Craft & Folk Art Museum, various designers, Fort Mason, San Francisco, California  
   

2000   
Dec. 23   
MARIEN CLAYDEN, sound design, fashion show, Los Altos, California   

         
2013   
Sept 21   
OBIKO ART WEAR PROJECT, fundraiser, video installation, Obiko fashion shows, Textile Arts Council Library, San Francisco, California   


2014   
Jan 29 - Apr 27    
METAMORPHOSIS ~ CLOTHING & IDENTITY, video installation, Obiko fashion shows, San Jose Museum of Quilts & Textiles, San Jose, California       

   

2019 - 2020   

Nov 9, 2019 - May 17,2020    

Off the Wall: American Art to Wear, video installation, Obiko fashion shows, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania     

 

What a great time it was!

      


Styrous® ~ Friday, October 28, 2016

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