Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 2

Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 2, Op. 42 (Russian: Кавказские эскизы, Сюита №2, «Иверия») is an orchestral suite by Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov written in 1896, after he moved to Moscow. The work is more commonly known by the subtitle Iveria, the name given by the Greeks and Romans to the ancient kingdom of Kartli, corresponding roughly to the eastern and southern parts of the country of Georgia today.

Composition

After being a student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Ippolitov-Ivanov moved to Tbilisi, where he tried to become the director of its conservatory and its orchestra. In these years, he composed both Suite No. 1, in 1894, and Suite No. 2, in 1896.[1] This suite, as Suite No. 1 did, also presents re-used material from Georgian folk songs. Plus, he re-wrote some fragments from his Armenian Rhapsody on National Themes, Op. 48. Moreover, the suite itself represents, more specifically, the region of the coastal kingdom of Colchis, which became a meeting point of civilizations (Persian, Ottoman and Russian).

Structure

The suite contains an introduction and four sketches. A typical performance of this work would last 20–25 minutes:

  • I. Introduction: Lamentation of Princess Ketevana. Largo - L'istesso tempo - Largo
  • II. Berceuse. Allegretto
  • III. Lezghinka. Larghetto - Allegretto - Allegro - Allegro vivo - Presto
  • IV. Georgian March. Allegro marziale

The Lezghinka had also been used in Glinka's Ruslan and Lyudmila; it is a typical dance from Lezghy tribes with oriental themes. The piece culminates in a war-march-style finale.[2]

Notable recordings

Notable recordings of this suite include:

Orchestra Conductor Record Company Year of Recording Format
Sydney Symphony Orchestra Christopher Lyndon-Gee Marco Polo 1990 CD[3]
National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine Arthur Fagen Naxos Records 1995 CD[4]

See also

References
  1. Michael Jameson. "Information about the work hosted at allmusic.com". Santa Clara: Rovi Corporation. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  2. Anderson, Keith (1995). Booklet from the CD 8.553405 from Naxos catalogue. New York: HNH International Ltd. pp. 3–4.
  3. "Tracklist from the CD 8.220369 from the Naxos catalogue". Hong Kong: Naxos Digital Services Ltd. 1990. Retrieved July 25, 2011.
  4. "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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