A masterpiece by Alexander Borodin. Popular classical music.
Here is an introduction to Alexander Borodin, a composer known as one of the “Mighty Handful” (the Russian Five) in the world of classical music.
While many classical composers are full-time musicians who make their living performing or composing, Borodin was an exceptional figure: he entered the medical faculty at the University of St.
Petersburg, graduated at the top of his class, and went on to serve as an assistant professor and then professor of biochemistry at his alma mater—his primary profession was that of a chemist.
He even called himself a “Sunday composer,” and because he composed in the intervals between his scientific work, his output is not large.
Nevertheless, he left many remarkable works, including the Polovtsian Dances and his String Quartet No.
2.
Here, we present Borodin’s masterpieces, movement by movement, paired with outstanding performances.
Please enjoy these superb works that you’d never guess were written by someone whose day job was chemistry!
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A masterpiece by Alexander Borodin. Popular classical music (41–50)
‘Polovtsian Dances’ from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin
This piece is from Act II of the opera Prince Igor, written by the Russian composer Borodin and based on the Russian epic The Tale of Igor’s Campaign.
It depicts the lavish songs and dances at a banquet hosted by the enemy commander Khan Konchak to entertain Prince Igor and his son Vladimir, who have been captured by the nomadic Polovtsians.
The melodies for woodwinds and harp are particularly striking, aren’t they?
Polovtsian Dances from the opera Prince IgorAlexander Borodin
Among the works of the Russian composer Borodin, this is one of the most popular pieces and is often performed on its own.
It is also frequently chosen as a free selection in wind band competitions, as it has been arranged for concert band.
The beautiful oboe melody is particularly striking.
Symphony No. 2Alexander Borodin
Although Borodin was a Russian composer, he did not receive formal musical training and can be considered an amateur composer.
His Symphony No.
2 was completed in 1876, the same year as Brahms’s Symphony No.
1.
The hallmark of this work is its straightforward simplicity: there are no complex passages, and every section features accessible melodies supported by clear, easy-to-understand harmonies.
Polovtsian Dances from Prince IgorAlexander Borodin
Nowadays often called the “Polovtsian Dances,” this famous Borodin piece is well known from covers and commercials.
It originally comes from an opera.
Its exotic melodies that evoke Central Asia and its dance rhythms make it a delightful work.
Incidentally, Borodin’s main profession was scientist.
From ‘Petite Suite’, No. 7Alexander Borodin
From Petite Suite, No.
7: Nocturne – Andantino, subtitle: The girl falls asleep, content in love.
This Petite Suite bears the subtitle “A Little Poem of a Young Girl’s Love,” and each piece also has its own subtitle.
Piano performance by Ines Sabatini.