Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov By: Lisa Fritz Music 1010 Craig Ferrin

BIOGRAPHY Born: March 18 1844 in Tikhvin, Russia Died June 21, 1908 from Angina Married: Nadezhda Rimskaya-Korsakova.  They had 7 Children. Studied piano but chose a naval career. Nicolai’s family was considered poor but also aristocratic. His mother and grandmother came of what was considered “peasant stock”. He learned his love of Russian folk and religious music from them. But, though he is was very talented at music, his childhood dream was to follow his oldest brother into the Navy. In 1859, Nicolai  friend and mentor introduced him to the French pianist Theodore Canille, and this greatly inspired Nicolai. In 1862 after he graduated form the naval school, Nicolai went to sea for two and a half years. He devoted all his free time to composing music. After completing 3 years in the Navy, Nicolai returned to St. Petersburg just in time; and his friend Balakirev was able to conduct Nicolai’s First Symphony, which was hailed as the first important symphonic work by a Russian composer. From the 1870s on, Nicolai taught a many of the Russian composers. The most famous were Alexander Glazunov and Igor Stravinsky. The year after Rimsky's death, Stravinsky debuted in Paris with The Firebird, which shows his mastery of his teacher’s style, and surely would have pleased Nicolai greatly had he lived to hear it. Nicolai was appointed professor of composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1871. The directors, impressed by his early work, didn’t realize how little formal training he actually had because of how well his music was written. Because of this Nicolai raced through the textbooks to keep one lesson ahead of his pupils. Eventually he become a “master of his craft”, and even wrote some textbooks himself. The following year, he married Nadezhda Purgold, a pianist. In 1873, Rimsky-Korsakov left active duty, becoming inspector of navy orchestras, a job which he held until 1884.

BIOGRAPHY Notes in his manuscript scores all in Italics Wrote his First Symphony in Navy. Part of "The Mighty Handful“. Professor at St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1871. Notes in his manuscript scores all in Italics Nicolai was part of a now famous group of five famous Russian composers known as "The Mighty Handful" (as in five fingers). Though usually steeped in Russian folk and liturgical tradition; his style was lighter and brighter than that of his fellow “Fivers.” He’s best-known for his operas, a large number of orchestral suites drawn from them, and his symphonic poems. An interesting fact about Nicolai as a composer was that the notes in his manuscript scores all slant evenly to the right. He’s been called the only composer to write music entirely in italics. After seeing a production of Richard Wagner's Nibelung's Ring; Nicolai got a jolt of creative energy. He studied Wagner's scores and then sat down and decided to write operas. During this time, some personal tragedies struck and two of his children died; and his wife suffered a serious illness. However, being well connected with the Private Opera, assured his operas continued to get the first-class productions, which popularize many of them. Some of these were world premieres of Sadko (1897), Mozart and Salieri (1898), The Tsar's Bride (1899), The Tale of Tsar Saltan (1900), and Kaschey the Immortal (1902). Many people feel that he was one of the most brilliant and colorful orchestrators in the history of classical music. In 1905; In the wake of the abortive revolution of that year, Nicolai forcefully supports the students’ cause in a strike against the Conservatory. The authorities fire him as a professor. As many as 300 students left the Conservatory with him in a show of support. Because of these uproar he was rehired back on at the Conservatory. Even though he faced countless struggles and oppression during his productions, he continued to make daring and, at times, conservative musical harmonies that in sighted government restrictions and censorship. And early on in 1890, Nicolai began to develop angina problems and he succumbed to the illness. His death left behind a long list of followers who were moved and inspired by his radical music.

BIOGRAPHY Raced to keep one lesson ahead. 'The Flight of the Bumblebee’. Belyayev Circle organized Russian Symphony Concerts. He produced a total of15 operas. As a prominent member of The Belyayev Circle (a group of composers and musicians under the patronage of Belyayev - a rich industrialist) he organized the Russian Symphony Concerts. Nicolai was appointed professor of composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1871. The directors, impressed by his early work, didn’t realize how little formal training he actually had because of how well his music was written. Because of this Nicolai raced through the textbooks to keep one lesson ahead of his pupils. Eventually he become a “master of his craft”, and even wrote some textbooks himself. A burst of creativity, 1887-1888: In almost one swoop, Rimsky composes his three greatest orchestral works -- musical pictures of exotic lands, from the Arabia of the symphonic poem Scheherazade to the equally exotic (for a Russian) Spain in the Capriccio Espagnol. And the Russian Easter Overture explores his Orthodox religious heritage A listing of all his works: 11 symphonic works including: - 3 symphonies - Sadko (symphonic poem) - Scheherazade - Symphoniette on Russian Themes - Capriccio Espagnol 15 operas including: - The Snow Maiden - Mozart and Salieri - The Tale of Tsar Sultan (which includes the Flight of the Bumblebee and The Wedding March) - Le Coq d'Or 3 concertos including: - Trombone Concerto - Piano Concerto - Fantasia for Violin 79 Romances (voice and piano) 2 collections of Russian folk songs Other works including sacred music, piano pieces and instrumental works. 3 Books including: - Text book on Harmony - The Principles of Orchestration - The Legend of My Musical Life

Russian Easter Overture Composition History Russian Easter Overture Russian Easter referred as “The bright holiday”. Intermixed Russian and Folk with western world. Nicolai Rimsky- Korsakov, was a brilliant composer who liked to intermix Russian Tradition and Folk Songs with a slight influence from the western world. Traditionally Easter in Russia is referred as “The bright holiday”. It celebrates the rebirth after the winter’s dark days. Embracing Christian ritual and pagan enthusiasm with the idea of rebirth; Nicolai Rimsky- Korsakov took us through a truly Russian Style with Russian Easter Overture.

Listening Guides Published under Naxos, recorded in 1988. Russian Easter Overture Published under Naxos, recorded in 1988. Released on the Album “Russian Festival” . This album features “Russian 5”. Performed by CSR Symphony Orchestra Anthony Bramall as the Conductor.  The composition I found to listen to was published under Naxos and was recorded in 1988. It was released on the Album “Russian Festival” . This album features Russian Artists Aram Il'yich Khachaturian (1903 - 1978), Alexander Porfir'yevich Borodin (1833 - 1887), Reyngol'd Moritsevich Gliere (1875 - 1956), Mikhail lvanovich Glinka (1804 - 1857) and Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (1844 -1908). It is performed by CSR Symphony Orchestra under Anthony Bramall as the Conductor.  

Listening Guides Introduction: Lento Mistico 0:00- 0:15 The violins with Low String Pizzicato accompaniment 2:16- 2:38 Goes from strings into a cello solo 0:16- 0:38 The violins play light depict the first rays of morning 2:21- 2:37 The hymn momentarily resumes 0:39- 0:59 The winds with string accompaniment play hymn style 2:37- 2:57 The chirping flute with harp 1:00- 1:17 The flute is added 2:58- 3:13 The flute cadenza depict birds and animal life awakening 1:18- 1:33 The clarinet solo Accompaniment with violins, flute and harp 3:14- 3:29 The strings with hymn intoned 1:34-2:15 Is a horn added in 3:30- 3:49 The trombones, violin cadenza with harp accompany 3:50-3:57 The hymn returns played by tuba and bassoons

Theme 1 Time What I hear 3:58- 4:20 Theme 1: New Hymn 4:20- 4:32 This is Dramatic syncopations 4:32- 4:44 Is the Tuba/bassoon with winds/strings

Theme 2 Time What I hear 4:45- 4:56 Theme 2: New Hymn symbolizing Christ’s resurrection paces picks up switches between strings/winds 4:57-5:06 The Bell like pizzicato 5:07- 5:45 The strings intensify going faster and faster building 5:46-6:20 The trumpets continue to increase 6:21-6:23 The Percussion instruments 6:37- 3:43 The trumpets return 6:44- 7:05 The timpani slows

Theme 2 Continued Time What I hear 7:06- 7:19 The triangle begins 7:20- 7:40 Dramatic hymn version 7:41-7:55 Is string wind melody rising falling 7:56-8:18 Is winds with string accompaniments 8:19-9:04 Is a trombone solo 9:05-9:19 Vigorous dramatic passage begins violin and strings 9:20-9:40 Is trombone and winds

Theme 2 Continued Time What I hear 9:40-10:04 Is the trombones and tuba 10:05-10:22 Is the strings and winds rising and falling increasing faster.

Coda Time What I heard 10:23-10:40 Coda: The trombones and tuba percussion strings intensifying 10:41-10:55 Is the trumpet and triangle with Piccolo 10:56-11:03 The violins are punctuated 11:04-11:39 Is the ringing trumpet and trombone

Theme 2 returns Time What I hear 11:39- 11:48 Theme 2 hymn tune 11:40-11:59 Is trumpets 12:00- 12:21 Is violins 12:22-12:35 Pizzicato with trumpets Triangle cymbals, tam-tam strings 12:36-12:51 Big build up in brass 12:52- 13:12 Ringing depicting joy of Christ’s resurrection winds, triangle, flute 13:13- 13:46 Tone light and joyous in nature

Theme 2 returns Time What I hear 13:47- 13:55 The Strings return 13:56-15:25 The intensity builds with winds, bells percussion, string, and horns. 15:26 It builds to Climax 15:27-15:33 Ends and completed

Bibliography http://www.allmusic.com/artist/nikolai-rimsky-korsakov-mn0000250057 http://www.thefamouspeople.com/profiles/nikolai-rimsky-korsakov-433.php http://russiapedia.rt.com/prominent-russians/music/nikolay-rimsky-korsakov/ http://www.classicsforkids.com/pastshows.asp?id=34 https://www.sfcv.org/learn/composer-gallery/rimsky-korsakov-nikolai http://www.52composers.com/rimsky-korsakov.html Music: http://us.napster.com/artist/various-artists/album/russian- festival?ocode=social_user&pcode=social_user&cpath=Link&rsrc=album <iframe width="355" height="440" src="http://us.napster.com/embedded- player/?g=4C4BF059379F5352E050960A380311ED&ocode=social_user&pcode=social_user&cpath=Embed&rsrc=album #/albums/alb.127031"></iframe>