Composer

:

César Cui

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1887

Average_duration

:

38:45

César Cui's Suite for Orchestra No. 2 in E major Op. 38 was composed in 1886 and premiered in St. Petersburg, Russia on March 4, 1887. The suite consists of four movements: Prelude, Divertissement, Nocturne, and Scherzo. The Prelude is a lively and energetic introduction to the suite, featuring a bright and cheerful melody that is passed between the different sections of the orchestra. The Divertissement is a playful and whimsical movement, with a light and airy melody that dances around the different instruments. The Nocturne is a slower and more contemplative movement, with a hauntingly beautiful melody that is played by the strings. The Scherzo is a fast and lively movement, with a playful and energetic melody that is passed between the different sections of the orchestra. One of the characteristics of Cui's Suite for Orchestra No. 2 is its use of folk melodies and rhythms. Cui was a member of the "Mighty Handful," a group of Russian composers who sought to create a distinct national style of music that was rooted in Russian folk traditions. This influence is evident in the Suite for Orchestra No. 2, which features melodies and rhythms that are reminiscent of traditional Russian folk music. Another characteristic of the suite is its use of orchestration. Cui was a skilled orchestrator, and he uses the different sections of the orchestra to great effect in the suite. The Prelude, for example, features a call-and-response between the brass and woodwinds, while the Scherzo features a lively and intricate interplay between the different sections of the orchestra. Overall, Cui's Suite for Orchestra No. 2 in E major Op. 38 is a lively and engaging work that showcases the composer's skill as an orchestrator and his commitment to creating a distinct national style of music that was rooted in Russian folk traditions.

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