2:26 me trying to remember where I put my car keys. 3:18 Getting frustrated that you cant find them 4:20 decide to take your row boat instead 5:35 remembered that you just forgot your grocery list at home.

My favorite parts are when he solemnly takes the baton into his two hands and starts shaking it like no tomorrow and when he stabs the air. PRICELESS.

It's one thing to hear this piece, but it's a COMPLETELY different feeling to play it. I have never loved to play a piece so much in my life.

We string players know we're the life of the party, but let's be real, once this thing gets rolling we could just leave and let the brass finish and you'd never hear our absence.

playing this piece is the best feeling in the world

I believe it's one of the most beautiful rendition of this piece. I've heard dozens of them and this is by far the most coloured, nuanced and explosive of all. Prêtre is a genius, and his eccentric conducting is clearly a part of his talent. I'll always remember him dancing a little while conducting the Radetzky March during the NYE concert, this makes him incredible. Each conductor had a "patte" ; Bumpy-Bernstein, Karajan, eyes shut ; Furtwängler and his left hand and so on...

This piece is the reason for a symphonic orchestra to exist

Not many people know that the Pines of Rome is a symphonic poem about the life of a Roman man. To quote Charles Langar, he says "The first movement represents the boy playing in a village, then to him being forced into monastic life in the 2nd movement. The third movement is about his love for a girl who he cannot marry, because of his forced military service in the Roman legions. The fourth movement is about the man marching back to Rome via the Appian Way, the first portion of the movement is the grimace of enemies slain, slaves tortured, men and women slaughtered by the numerous Roman armies that have come and gone. The call sounded by the 1st Bassoon, Bass Clarinet, and Bass Trombone is a call from a distant legion, approaching Rome, with our main character in their ranks- the responding call comes from the plains surrounding the Appian way, possibly a neighboring legion signaling that Rome is nearby. As time progresses, the army approaches Rome, bringing with them captured slaves, weapons, valuables, women, and other spoils of war, and as the army marches to the capitol hill, the man who was once a small boy playing in the Villa Borghese is again reunited with his lover"

I happen to be a conductor myself, so there's no need to patronize me. A good conductor knows when to keep time and when to lead the orchestra in an expressive manner. In this case, the timpanist's relentless eighth notes is all that is needed to keep time and the conductor's job is to draw out the sound he wants by whatever means necessary. And damn it if he didn't help the musicians create the best performance of this piece that I've ever heard! His conducting is glorious.

Just played this in my college's wind ensemble less than an hour ago. My heart is still racing. The bass bone part is just incredible.

Wow! THAT is tutti crescendo. My hair is standing on end. I can feel the power of a Roman legion marching down the Appian Way. Interesting side note about the conductor, Georges Prêtre: His interests include riding, swimming, aviation, judo, and karate (Wikipedia). So you know he gets exactly what he wants from an orchestra.

4:49 should be the thumbnail for this video

This conductor DEMANDS perfection from his orchestra and he got it BIG TIME !!!

The Roman army is returning home, victorious but worn out. Their uniforms are torn and dirty. Their brass is dull and a disgrace. The lines of the soldiers are crooked and out of step. Faces are unshaven and filthy. But as they sight Rome, the uniforms become clean and in perfect condition. The marching is precise. Faces are shaven. Brass begins to sparkle. The Roman army is returning home. To me this composition is the definition of a tone poem. The first time I ever heard this was a live performance. I know it can't be true, but I feel as if I held my breath the entire time. I have had many people tell me that they are envious of me because of that. When ever I want to introduce someone to classical music I use this.

This what music making is all about! Bringing the notes off the paper and into the hearts and minds of the audience. The conductor became the Roman General leading his warriors towards the spoils of war. What a performance and what a finish!!!! Bravo!!!!!

My high school got a new bass drum this past March (how fitting), so we played this piece as a final salute to it, and the director said to our percussionist, on the day of the concert, for the final bass drum hit, smash it so hard it tears. Have you ever heard a bass drum tear? It was anti-climactic at first, but then the echo hit us like a brick wall. Nevertheless, chills for a solid 3 minutes.

Perfect musicians and perfect conductor. Conducting by facial expressions is near brilliance.

My music teacher recommended it to us. This is absolutely amazing! I have nothing else to say.

I recently found this. I get chills. It is 90 degrees here.

By far one of my favorite pieces of music of all time. This has to be the best rendition of Movement IV, Pines of the Appian Way I have ever heard, you can tell from the body language of the orchestra and the composer that they were all really into the spirit of this piece. Despite the original meaning and intent of this piece of musical heaven, Every time I hear it, I always imagine the Apollo XI mission, from launch to landing, the Journey of American astronauts, Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin and Michael Collins, bringing Humanity to ultimate achievement in the cosmos, putting the first humans on another celestial body! That is what is so specular about music, its the ability of us being able to weave our own stories around it with or despite what it was written for.

A superlative performance without one second of weakness, as Respighi had intended. I have CDs of this but none that builds to the crescendo so well. You can feel the power of the Roman legions returning home on the Appian Way after conquering the world.

If you think Pretre is being an "exhibitionist" in this performance, you've never seen Bernstein conduct. I believe Pretre is simply reacting to the emotional content of the piece, which is quite immersive. Oddly, we musicians must learn to keep our emotions in check when we play lest we express those emotions instead of the music itself, where the emotional impetus is located. By the way, a good conductor is much more than a metronome. Conveying emotional intent is good conducting.

This movement must serve as an excellent back ground score for any film featuring a grand fleet in progress right before the dawn breaks, about to conduct a massive invasion to unleash hell.

this conductor is awesome XD

Georges Prêtre gets the tempo just right! Too many conductors rush this march, but the Legions here march in good order. He was an underappreciated *Maître*.

I played this piece for the closer of my marching band show my freshman year of high school. I still feel the euphoria of those days when I listen to this.

Thanks for re-uploading this. I thought I'd never hear and see this version again after it was removed from KZfaq a couple of weeks back. :) This is by far the best version available on KZfaq. Conductor is absolutely insane. :)

I love the trumpets in this work--so freeing, brilliant, soaring.

Such an amazing version of this piece. I personally think it's superior to the Toscanini as I find this version much better paced. I find that the Toscanini is to fast and so doesn't sound so much as a legion returning, but rather a series of competing sounds. Where as this, with the proper march tempo and the way that Pretre conducts this piece, it makes it, even on youtube through headphones, a emotionally charged piece. Every time I listen to this, the hairs on the back of my neck stand up.

Every time I hear this movement it makes me think of what it depicts . A column of legionaries with the standard bearers with the legion numeral and the script SPQR at the front,soldiers with pilums over their shoulders caring oblong shields marching with the tread that conquered the known world. Hail Caesar !!!!!!

I played this piece in the Chicago Chamber Orchestra. Percussion section made "Marching Machines"-Michael McClary, Professor of Trumpet 🎺, Georgia Perimeter College and GSU

I can't help myself. I watch this over and over and over!

Goosebumps....

Thanks Twoset Violin for bringing me here! :D

RIP Georges! Che il tuo arrivo nell'Olimpo dei musicisti sia accompagnato da questa composizione.

It brings home like no other work of art the glory that was Rome.

I agree with you. Most of the other versions on KZfaq begin too loud. There is a version that starts too loud but makes up for it at the end. The entire floor of the stadium is ringed with brass players who put so much into it. WOW!! What a sound. There is an extra for me. My soul mate is overcome and wiping her eyes at 3:11. It happens to me every time I listen to this music. Search for "Pini di Roma - Andre Rieu". Time is 5:02.

treasure of humanity:) wonderful, magnificent !!! BRAVO!!!

I like the way the conductor grips his baton with both hands as if rowing a boat !!!!

The best version of this movement, ever! Tks a lot!

Thanks for re uploading!! I was afraid! O.o Such a great piece.

I want to like this five million times. Such a relentless march, and such a satisfying resolution! I will forever love this piece (and silently wish it was choral)

Thank you very much. For me its probably best performance of Pines of Rome I´ve ever heard. Intense, exact, strong... I hope someone post again all four pieces together...

THE BEST version of this I've ever heard. Outstanding!

Wow! Goosebump time. A thrilling performance. My favorite has always been Lorin Maazel with the Cleveland Orchestra, but this one is also top drawer. Thanks for posting it!

What an astounding piece of music!

This video is amazing to me -- because of the grandeur and power of the music but also because of the drama of the conductor's movements and affects...I think, one of the most wonderful videos on KZfaq :^)

Anyone heard a better version than this one here on KZfaq? There's other 'bigger' named orchestras on here doing it but this one captures the emotional core of the piece/movement perfectly.

Dude, I have chills!

Amazing, thank you for doing this. God bless you and your music.

When I hear this I close my eyes and see the Roman Legions marching along the Via Appia, SPQR!!!

Beginning of video: Bang bang bang bang bang End of video: BANG BANG BANG BANG BANG

This is the best version there is on KZfaq!

4:29 - boy, that bass drum player is sure working up a sweat. What a windup for each beat.

Best interpretation of this movement I’ve ever heard!

Finest version of this piece I can find.

Played this song in my high school district's honor band say 9 years ago. I was first chair trumpet and every time I listen to this again I just remember how awesome band was and trumpets rule!

I know what the song was/is really about, but when I first heard this song, I imagined getting lost in a deep, dark pine forest in the beginning, and as you walk along, it's dark and menacing, but around 2:18 you see some glimmers of light through the trees. but then around 3:25 you emerge into the light, and see a beautiful landscape of hills, cliffs, forests, and valleys for miles and miles around.....that's what I picture when I hear this song.

I played this piece in college, playing Bari Sax. Having played several instruments at the time, I played Bari Sax and Bass Clarinet that semester. I really wanted to play the Trombone part but was needed on Woodwinds.

That was absolutely magnificent.

That was fucking amazing. It had my heart pounding.

even if i watch this 100 times, i will still be amazed. i love it!

3: 57 when everything starts to go up...amazing.

I love "Pines of Rome." I get chills at 2:18

No composer, including John Williams and Alan Sylvestri, could achieve the impressive evocative power of the final section,5:01 which brings the novel completely before our eyes in this episode!. Magnificent!...

It's so beautiful 😢😢😊😁😊

WOW! Really impressive.

in a sea of old men those two bassoons are beautiful

The mostwonderful piece of music I have heard, I could just picture thr roman legions coming back along the Appian Way in victory after battle,WOW

The heroic and solemn melody of the pines of Via Appia are outclassing The depths of my emotion is immeasurable

I think this is the best movie in You Tube. I won't forget the time I watched this for the first time.

Pines of the Appian way is just the greatest ending of the year

Absolutely freaking awesome.

We're playing this in my school band, and my director has a great idea of this. He says that the low people with the steady parts are the roman army, and the main melody is like their heroic thoughts while they're returning home

Finally some sense out of someone. Thank you sir!

I'm glad to find this again thx

Imagine seeing a legion of Roman soldiers (about 4,000+ men) marching, getting closer and closer and you really get an idea of what this is about. 3:26 the key change is so epic!

Can someone explain what the conductors gestures at 4:25 up through 4:28 mean? Does that mean he wants the orchestra to perform the heimlich maneuever, followed by the pumped of a well?

восхитительно...

Morning operations at YSSY, as the sun rises from the sea. 4:13. An Airbus A380 is cleared to enter Runway 34L, ready for takeoff. 4:29. The A380 starts its take off roll. It has to clear the runway to make way for incoming traffic - A Boeing 747 on final approach. 4:45 The A380 is airborne, and flies its route as it clears the departure area. 5:02 The B747 is on short final, as it glides over the Runway Threshold. 5:18 B747 flares its nose for a gentle touchdown. 5:20. The Boeing 747 butters the landing - Main landing gear touches the runway. 5:23. Four in reverse, spoilers deployed. 4:29 from this actual recording/performance is my ringtone.

Pretre will be remembered through this masterpiece!

(2/2) And there's absolutely no way his conducting "hurt" the performance. This is hands down the most emotional, expressive recording of Pines of Rome I've ever heard. There's nothing wrong with critiquing music from a critical perspective, but calling Georges Prêtre's conducting "preposterous" and "stupid" is a rabid, unnecessary way to express one's opinion. Especially over the beautiful works of Respighi of all topics. For the record, I am a musician myself.

Kills the whole ending if you hold the last note for so long that the trumpets have to come off the high note.

If you ever go to Italy and see the Appian Way, you can picture in your mind the Roman Army marching into Rome, framed with rows of Cypress trees, the flags waving in the breeze, and the Appian Way lined with throngs of Romans cheering the conquering heroes returning home after many years absence. Spectacle indeed.

so moving I cried

magnificent

Is that audience on valium? What a lukewarm response to a great rendition of this masterpiece's awesome finale!

Wow! Never heard this before!

Wonderful

Georges has turned this Mercedes-Benz of an orchestra into his own Pretre dish.

I play in the wind symphony of an orchestra with a bunch of ensembles, including an orchestra and only strings orchestra. Us and those 2 will be combining. To play this and I am super excited :))) it sounds so cool with just 2/3 ensembles

If I were in an orchestra of this caliber and maestro started gritting his teeth during the most awesome crescendo, I'd probably smile and play harder. I think people are missing that it's more of a "Hell yeah!" moment than a "What the hell?!" one. Prêtre isn't driving the bus in tempo, but you can see in his eyes where he hears a legion of soldiers marching home in victory.

The way I heard it this is a ghost story, hence the nightingale at the beginning to show it's dark and a ghostly legion marches once more under the pines on long forgotten business.

I LOVE THIS!!!!!!!!!!

String players are not nearly as loud- but they do add an exciting physical element!

I would have loved to watch Bernstein conduct this.

In my world the returning fleet basking in victory

I don`t like the part after 5:41

I love the English horn solo

i lOVE THIS!!