Kodaly - Peacock Variations Rautavaara - Cantus Arcticus Sibelius - Two Pieces from Kuolema (Valse Triste, Scene with Cranes) Respighi - The Pines of Rome Join us for a celebration of composers who have been inspired by birds. Kodaly's Peacock Variations is based on an ancient Hungarian melody which was only re-discovered in 1937. Finish composer Einojuhani Rautavaara subtitled his Cantus Arcticus with "Concerto for Birds and Orchestra", the piece incorporates the composer's own tape recordings of birdsong. In his own words, "somber, stately, mysterious and mostly consonant". Sibelius originally wrote Kuolema as incidental music to a play, before revising some of the music as separate works. Our first piece "Valse Triste" is easily the most performed of the set; the lesser known "Scene with Cranes" wasn't published until 16 years after his death. The Pines of Rome, a tone poem penned by Italian composer Ottorino Respighi, is a spectacular tour around Rome drawing inspiration not just from the pine trees in the title, but also playing children, graveyards, and (of course) birds.