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III. Andante
mm. 4 - reh. A |
Skills & Techniques: Endurance, Phrasing, Rhythms, Slurring Flexibility, Soft Playing,
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Horn 1 (F)
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London Symphony Orchestra (1959)
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Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (1995)
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III. Andante
reh. N - end |
Skills & Techniques: Accuracy, Phrasing, Slurring Flexibility, Soft Playing
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Horn 1, 3 (F)
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London Symphony Orchestra (1959)
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Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra (1995)
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Composer & Composition Information
Alexander Borodin (1833-1887)
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Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin was a Romantic composer and chemist of Georgian-Russian extraction. He was one of the prominent 19th-century composers known as "The Five", a group dedicated to producing a "uniquely Russian" kind of classical music. Borodin is known best for his symphonies, his two string quartets, the symphonic poem In the Steppes of Central Asia and his opera Prince Igor.
A doctor and chemist by profession and training, Borodin made important early contributions to organic chemistry. Although he is presently known better as a composer, he regarded medicine and science as his primary occupations, only [practicing] music and composition in his spare time or when he was ill. As a chemist, Borodin is known best for his work concerning organic synthesis, including being among the first chemists to demonstrate nucleophilic substitution, as well as being the co-discoverer of the aldol reaction. Borodin was a promoter of education in Russia and founded the School of Medicine for Women in Saint Petersburg, where he taught until 1885. The text & image are reprinted from The Kennedy Center where more information about the composer can be found. |
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Symphony No. 2
Borodin’s first serious compositions, such as his First Symphony, were heavily influenced by Balakirev, who wrote of the First: "every bar of it was criticized and overhauled by me. . ." Rimsky-Korsakov, who became Borodin’s friend at the time of the completion of that work‘s first movement, was delighted and bewildered by the sound of it all. Though the symphony was dismissed by the press, the Russian public was enthusiastic at the premiere; it encouraged Borodin to produce a second symphony, as well as other works.
His teacher and friends were scarcely involved in the composition of Borodin’s Symphony No. 2 (1869-76), a work which is one of his most distinctive and original. It was a dismal failure in its 1877 premiere and, at Rimsky-Korsakov’s suggestion, Borodin revised it and launched it again in 1879, this time to great acclaim. At the time, Borodin called it his "Heroic Symphony."
The opening statement, which begins and ends the first movement (Allegro), is bold and triumphant, clearly influenced by Russian Orthodox chant (though some writers say that the tune was inspired by forgotten composer Robert Volkman’s First Symphony, which created a sensation on its premiere in Moscow in 1864).
The text is written by & reprinted from Dave Kopplin (Los Angeles Philharmonic) where more information about the composition can be found.
His teacher and friends were scarcely involved in the composition of Borodin’s Symphony No. 2 (1869-76), a work which is one of his most distinctive and original. It was a dismal failure in its 1877 premiere and, at Rimsky-Korsakov’s suggestion, Borodin revised it and launched it again in 1879, this time to great acclaim. At the time, Borodin called it his "Heroic Symphony."
The opening statement, which begins and ends the first movement (Allegro), is bold and triumphant, clearly influenced by Russian Orthodox chant (though some writers say that the tune was inspired by forgotten composer Robert Volkman’s First Symphony, which created a sensation on its premiere in Moscow in 1864).
The text is written by & reprinted from Dave Kopplin (Los Angeles Philharmonic) where more information about the composition can be found.
Notable Performances/Recordings:
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (2025)
Seattle Symphony (2011)
National Philharmonic Orchestra (2004)
New York Philharmonic (1952)
London Symphony Orchestra (1929)
Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (2025)
Seattle Symphony (2011)
National Philharmonic Orchestra (2004)
New York Philharmonic (1952)
London Symphony Orchestra (1929)