This musical piece Pines of the Appian Way was recommended to me by a friend of mine named Dan Merriman. I am not a musician, but Dan knew my interest in Ancient Rome and thought this might interest me. Dan in his spare time is a member of a local orchestra and plays one ‘mean’ trombone, and on the subject of music (and assorted other subjects) is very knowledgable. He was kind enough to recommend the piece to me, after hearing me rambling on about my blog site.
Music has the power to transport the listener, and though I am still working on that time machine…I have relied on such soundtracks as the music of Ben Hur and Cleopatra to fill in my imagination, and put my head in the right place to think about the past. The piece, Pines of the Appian Way was written by the Italian composer Ottorino Respighi. He is known for his orchestral Roman trilogy: Fontane di Roma, Pini di Roma, and Feste Romane.
Tell me upon listening to this that you can not visualize a Roman legion marching along the Appian Way. Tell me you can’t taste the morning air, and see the intense green of the pine trees as the sun rises in the distance. There is a slow pace at the beginning, sort of like a legion tramping along in the early morning surrounded by dense forest. As it reaches the end of its journey the sound of trumpets herald a moment of coming home.
I have experience this just a couple of times in my life, marching through a forest with a platoon and finally seeing the front gate of the fort where I knew it was time to rest.
I have found a concert by Herbert Von Karajan on YOU TUBE.
If there is a piece of music that transports you to another time and place, please share it with us here on the blog.
What music sends you to the early beginnings of empire, or to some ancient civilization?
Pines of the Appian Way was something totally new for me. Thanks Dan!
Either watch it here, or go to the link provided and see more.
It may be just me but the soundtrack ‘Storm’ from ‘Elizabeth: The Golden Age’ has always reminded me of Rome. Its grandeur brings to mind nothing better than the resplendence and magnificence of the Rome in her golden days. This video has ‘Storm’ as its background music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FwWiR0nFDDE
TRIARII – Legio vi ferrata (Legio sexta Ferrata, Sixth Ironclad Legion), was a Roman Legion formed in 65 BC, and in existence up to at least 3 Century. It served under Julius Caesar in the Gallic Wars (58–51 BC), and in the various Civil Wars of the Roman Republic in the years before and after Caesar’s assassination (49–30 BC). Sent to garrison the province of Judea, it remained there for the next two centuries.
TRIARII – Legio vi ferrata
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CRIxG_dgzNE
Some great suggestion here, including Jane’s. How about the soundtracks for “Gladiator” and the TV series “Rome”? I really enjoy both of those as well.
http://youtu.be/PYKA-xG9KK0
http://youtu.be/zuniVlOVUtc