Last time we
looked at Russian nationalism in the music of Alexander Borodin and discussed
“The Mighty Handful.” Today, let’s talk about another member of this Russian
group of composers: Nikolay Rimsky-Korsakov.
Rimsky-Korsakov
helped ensure that distinct Russian music carried on into the future by
editing, completing, and orchestrating works of other Russian composers. He
also taught key composers including Alexander Glazunov and Igor Stravinsky.
Like Borodin, Rimsky-Korsakov had nationalistic tendencies. One example can be
found in his Russian Easter Festival
Overture. This particular piece incorporates four themes from the Russian
Orthodox book of canticles. It’s no surprise that Rimsky-Korsakov chose this
holiday to depict in music as it’s known as the nation’s most significant
holiday and the composer most likely had memories of it from growing up in Russia.
You can even hear Easter bells toward the end of the work!
Here is a clip
with Russian Easter Festival Overture.
In your opinion, does it sound Russian?
