Composer

:

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Genre

:

Orchestral

Style

:

Suite

Compose Date

:

1888

Publication Date

:

1889

Average_duration

:

43:05

Movement_count

:

4

Movement ....

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov's "Scheherazade, for orchestra, Op. 35" is a symphonic suite composed in 1888. It premiered on November 3, 1888, in St. Petersburg, Russia, conducted by the composer himself. The piece is inspired by the tales of "One Thousand and One Nights," also known as the Arabian Nights. The suite consists of four movements, each depicting a different story from the Arabian Nights. The first movement, "The Sea and Sinbad's Ship," begins with a powerful brass fanfare that represents the sea. The music then transitions to a lyrical melody played by the strings, representing Sinbad's ship. The movement is characterized by its use of exotic scales and colorful orchestration. The second movement, "The Story of the Kalendar Prince," is a slow and melancholic piece that features a solo violin representing Scheherazade, the storyteller. The violin weaves a tale of a prince who falls in love with a princess but must overcome many obstacles to win her hand. The third movement, "The Young Prince and the Young Princess," is a romantic and lush piece that features a duet between the solo violin and solo cello. The movement is characterized by its use of lush harmonies and delicate orchestration. The final movement, "Festival at Baghdad - The Sea - The Shipwreck," is a lively and energetic piece that brings the suite to a thrilling conclusion. The movement features a fast and frenzied dance that represents the festival in Baghdad. The music then transitions to a stormy section that represents a shipwreck before returning to the festive dance. Overall, "Scheherazade" is characterized by its use of exotic scales, colorful orchestration, and lush harmonies.

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