Ottorino Respighi was an Italian composer who lived from 1879 to 1936. He is best known for his orchestral works, including the symphonic poems Pines of Rome and Fountains of Rome. Respighi was also a musicologist and a teacher.
Respighi was born in Bologna, Italy, in 1879. He studied music at the Liceo Musicale di Bologna and the St. Petersburg Conservatory. After graduating from the conservatory, Respighi moved to Rome, where he taught music and composed.
Respighi's music is characterized by its rich orchestration and its use of Italian folk melodies. He was influenced by the music of the Baroque period and by the Russian composers Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Igor Stravinsky.
Respighi's most famous works are the symphonic poems Pines of Rome (1924), Fountains of Rome (1916), and Roman Festivals (1929). These works are tone poems, which means that they are programmatic pieces of music that are intended to evoke a particular mood or scene.
Respighi also composed operas, ballets, and chamber music. His music is still performed today, and he is considered one of the most important composers of the early 20th century.