Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1

Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 (Russian: Кавказские эскизы, Сюита №1) is an orchestral suite composed in 1894 and one of the most representative works by Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov. Its final movement, titled Procession of the Sardar (French: Cortège du Sardar; also popularly known as March of the Sardar or Sardar's March), is often performed as a standalone composition and is a favorite in pop concerts.

Composition

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, graduated from the St. Petersburg conservatory in 1885. He secured for himself the directorship of the orchestra of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and spent up to seven years learning about Georgian folk music. Some of the style and melodies of that region are included in his Caucasian Sketches.[1] It is dedicated to I. Pitoéff, at that time President of the Russian Musical Society on Tiflis.

Structure

This orchestral suite consists of four movements, namely:

  • I. In a Mountain Pass. Allegro moderato - Moderato assai - Tempo I
  • II. In a Village. Larghetto - Allegretto grazioso - Tempo I
  • III. In a Mosque. Adagietto
  • IV. Procession of the Sardar. Allegro moderato. Tempo marziale[2]

The suite begins with a vibrant piece, In a Mountain Pass, which is characterized by a steady ambitious beat suggesting the steep Caucasus Mountains. The second movement, In a Village, begins with a slow tempo and, after a cadenza, gains a steady beat and becomes more vibrant near the end, when after a second cadenza, slows its tempo down again. The title of a third, In a Mosque, reflects the abundance of mosques in the once Turkish Caucasus and Circassia, and the listener can hear the Muezzin's call to prayer in the music. The most famous and admired portion is the final piece, Procession of the Sardar, a Persian title for a military commander, leader or dignitary.

Notable recordings

Notable recordings of this suite include:

Orchestra Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
New York Philharmonic Orchestra Leonard Bernstein Sony Music Entertainment 1976 CD[3]
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Christopher Lyndon-Gee Marco Polo 1990 CD[4]
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Arthur Fagen Naxos Records 1995 CD[5]

See also

References
  1. Michael Jameson. "Information about the work hosted at allmusic.com". Santa Clara: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  2. Lippold, Max; Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov (1903). Caucasian Sketches, Orchestral Suite, No. 1 (PDF) (in Russian). Moscow: P. Jurgenson. pp. 2–21. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  3. discogs.com/Leonard-Bernstein-Age-Of-Gold/release/3543841
  4. "Tracklist from the CD 8.220369 from the Naxos catalogue". Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd. 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  5. "Tracklist from the CD 8.553405 from the Naxos catalogue". Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd. 1995. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
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