Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36
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- Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908)
- Editors: Clinton Nieweg, Nancy Bradburn
- Instrumentation: Orchestra
- Work: Russian Easter Overture (Светлый праздник), Op. 36
Description
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1844-1908) overture Russian Easter Festival was written in 1888, at the same time as the composer's well-known suite for orchestra, Scheherazade. Both works include short violin cadenzas to separate some of the sections.
For the context of the Russian Easter Festival overture, Rimsky-Korsakov was inspired by two Biblical passages that preface the score: Psalm 68 and a passage from the Gospel of St. Mark. The music was based on an eighteenth-century collection of Orthodox church canticles, including a chant for Russian Easter known as Obikhod (Christ is arisen).
The work premiered in St. Petersburg on December 15, 1888 at a Russian symphony concert.
Instrumentation: 3(1dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Hp: Str(9-8-7-6-5 in set).
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