A collection of short pieces consisting of six movements: "Valse caressante", "Canon", "Nocturne", "Menuet", "Etude", and "Intermezzo-Serenata". Initially compiled as a collection of five pieces, the sixth movement, "Intermezzo-Serenata", was later added, completing the set of six short pieces. It appears to have been composed around 1903, but the exact year of composition is unknown.

When one thinks of Respighi, what often comes to mind first is his colorful orchestration rather than his piano works. Respighi's orchestral and chamber works, such as the "Roman Trilogy" (Fountains of Rome, Pines of Rome, Roman Festivals), as well as Ancient Airs and Dances for Lute and String Quartet in D minor, "Dorian", are globally acclaimed for their outstanding orchestration and continue to be cherished by many. However, despite the existence of many excellent pieces, his piano works have not received as much attention until now.

Respighi's piano works include original compositions such as the Piano Sonata in A minor, Suite, and Preludes, as well as arrangements based on early music, such as Ancient Airs and Dances for Lute and Three Preludes on Gregorian Melodies. Many of these were composed during his time at the Bologna Conservatory and into his youth. However, because researchers previously did not consider Respighi to be a precocious genius, his early works received little focus. But on the 25th anniversary of his death, his wife, Elsa Respighi, donated many of his autograph scores, bringing numerous early works to the attention of researchers. Consequently, Respighi's early piano works have been re-evaluated in recent years.

Let's now delve into each of the six short pieces.

No. 1 "Valse caressante"

Written in A-B-A-C-A rondo form. As the title suggests, it is a beautiful, salon-style waltz with a sweet melody. The triplet-based prelude is particularly brilliant and eye-catching, but overall, it is written in a relatively straightforward manner compared to other piano works by Respighi.

No. 2 "Canon"

Written with a polyphonic texture, this piece, as expected from Respighi, who hails from Italy, the "land of opera," features a beautiful, lyrical main melody. This piece was also used as the second movement of his Suite, composed in 1903.

No. 3 "Nocturne"

A piece in A-B-A ternary form. While "Nocturne" means "night piece," the tonality and sonic atmosphere of this work evoke Debussy's Clair de lune. Section A depicts a clear night enveloped in silence, while section B expresses grandeur through wide-ranging arpeggios and harmonies, giving it the feel of "Respighi's Italian Modern Impressionism."

No. 4 "Menuet"

Like the first piece, Valse caressante, this is a triple-meter piece, but it is a neoclassical work written in a traditional dance form. Respighi seems to have been fond of this piece, as he later arranged it for orchestra.

No. 5 "Etude"

While occasionally evoking an Italian sound, it is written in a French style and is generally based on Chopin's Etudes. It is intricately crafted, and the chords that move freely and leap across the keyboard require considerable technique.

No. 6 "Intermezzo-Serenata"

This is an arrangement for piano of a melody that was originally an intermezzo from Respighi's first opera, Re Enzo. It showcases Respighi's characteristic gentle and flowing melodies.

The year 1903, when this piece is believed to have been composed, coincides with the creation of works that can be considered the culmination of his youth, such as the Piano Concerto (1902) and Slavonic Fantasy (1904), marking a period when Respighi's creative activity began to flourish. These six pieces are gems that overflow with Respighi's passion for the piano.