Composer

:

Sergey Prokofiev

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Cantata

Compose Date

:

1938

Average_duration

:

38:35

Movement_count

:

7

Movement ....

Alexander Nevsky, Op. 78 is a cantata composed by Sergey Prokofiev in 1938. It was written for the film of the same name directed by Sergei Eisenstein. The cantata premiered on May 2, 1939, in Moscow, with the composer conducting the orchestra and chorus of the Bolshoi Theatre. The cantata consists of seven movements, each depicting a different scene from the film. The first movement, "Russia under the Mongolian Yoke," sets the scene with a mournful melody played by the strings. The second movement, "Song about Alexander Nevsky," is a choral piece that praises the hero of the film. The third movement, "The Crusaders in Pskov," is a march that depicts the arrival of the Teutonic Knights in Pskov. The fourth movement, "Arise, Ye Russian People," is a rousing call to arms that features a solo soprano and a chorus. The fifth movement, "The Battle on the Ice," is the most famous and dramatic movement of the cantata. It depicts the battle between the Russians and the Teutonic Knights on the frozen Lake Peipus. The music is intense and powerful, with pounding percussion and soaring brass. The sixth movement, "Field of the Dead," is a mournful elegy for the fallen soldiers. The final movement, "Alexander's Entry into Pskov," is a triumphant march that celebrates the victory of the Russians over the Teutonic Knights. The music of Alexander Nevsky is characterized by its use of Russian folk melodies and rhythms, as well as its dramatic and cinematic quality. Prokofiev's score perfectly captures the epic scale and emotional intensity of Eisenstein's film. The cantata has become one of Prokofiev's most popular works and is often performed in concert halls around the world.

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