Caucasian Sketches
Encyclopedia
Caucasian Sketches is a pair of orchestral suites written in 1894 and 1896 by the Russian composer
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
. The Caucasian Sketches is the most often performed of his compositions and can be heard frequently on classical radio station
s. The final movement of the Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, entitled Procession of the Sardar , is often heard by itself, and is a favorite of "Pops" concerts.
folk songs that Ippolitov-Ivanov heard during his years as director of the music conservatory
and conductor of the orchestra in Tbilisi
, the principal city of Georgia
and during his visits to the surrounding Caucasus Mountains
.
Ippolitov-Ivanov had studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
, a master of orchestration
, whose style of beats and chimes is reflected in the songs of the Caucasian Sketches.
s in the once Turkish
Caucausus and Circassia
n regions such as Adygea in Russia
, and one can here 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.
. The suite contains an introduction and four sketches. The first sketch is the tantalizing, oppressive Lamentation of Princess Ketevana. It is followed by Berceuse (French for lullaby
). Then comes Lesghinka, a manic song that becomes rambunctious near the end. And the final sketch is the Georgian March, a very lively song which sounds like a military march and makes much use of the woodwinds and chimes.
Suite No. 2 is also called Iveria
(Iberia), 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.
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov was a Russian composer, conductor and teacher.- Biography :...
. The Caucasian Sketches is the most often performed of his compositions and can be heard frequently on classical radio station
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
s. The final movement of the Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, entitled Procession of the Sardar , is often heard by itself, and is a favorite of "Pops" concerts.
Influences of the Caucasian Sketches
The orchestral songs of the Caucasian Sketches were influenced by the GeorgianGeorgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
folk songs that Ippolitov-Ivanov heard during his years as director of the music conservatory
Music school
The term music school refers to an educational institution specialized in the study, training and research of music.Different terms refer to this concept such as school of music, music academy, music faculty, college of music, music department or conservatory.Music instruction can be provided...
and conductor of the orchestra in Tbilisi
Tbilisi
Tbilisi is the capital and the largest city of Georgia, lying on the banks of the Mt'k'vari River. The name is derived from an early Georgian form T'pilisi and it was officially known as Tiflis until 1936...
, the principal city of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
and during his visits to the surrounding Caucasus Mountains
Caucasus Mountains
The Caucasus Mountains is a mountain system in Eurasia between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea in the Caucasus region .The Caucasus Mountains includes:* the Greater Caucasus Mountain Range and* the Lesser Caucasus Mountains....
.
Ippolitov-Ivanov had studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory under the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
, a master of orchestration
Orchestration
Orchestration is the study or practice of writing music for an orchestra or of adapting for orchestra music composed for another medium...
, whose style of beats and chimes is reflected in the songs of the Caucasian Sketches.
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 (1894) consists of four "songs" or parts. The suite begins with a vibrant song, In a Mountain Pass, which is characterized by a steady ambitious beat suggesting the steep Caucasus Mountains and makes one feel like a bird flying over them. The second song, In a Village, has a steady beat and becomes more vibrant near the end. The title of a third, In a Mosque, reflects the abundance of mosqueMosque
A mosque is a place of worship for followers of Islam. The word is likely to have entered the English language through French , from Portuguese , from Spanish , and from Berber , ultimately originating in — . The Arabic word masjid literally means a place of prostration...
s in the once Turkish
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
Caucausus and Circassia
Circassia
Circassia was an independent mountainous country located in the Caucasus region of Eurasia and was the largest and most important country in the Caucasus. Circassia was located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe between the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea...
n regions such as Adygea in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, and one can here the Muezzin
Muezzin
A muezzin , or muzim, is the chosen person at a mosque who leads the call to prayer at Friday services and the five daily times for prayer from one of the mosque's minarets; in most modern mosques, electronic amplification aids the muezzin in his task.The professional muezzin is chosen for his...
's call to prayer in the music. The most famous and admired portion is the final piece, Procession of the Sardar
Sardar
Sardar is a title of Indo-Aryan origin that was originally used to denote feudal princes, noblemen, and other aristocrats. It was later applied to indicate a Head of State, a Commander-in-chief, and an Army military rank...
, a Persian
Persian language
Persian is an Iranian language within the Indo-Iranian branch of the Indo-European languages. It is primarily spoken in Iran, Afghanistan, Tajikistan and countries which historically came under Persian influence...
title for a military commander, leader or dignitary.
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 2
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 2, Op. 42 Iveria (1896) was written after the composer moved to MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
. The suite contains an introduction and four sketches. The first sketch is the tantalizing, oppressive Lamentation of Princess Ketevana. It is followed by Berceuse (French for lullaby
Lullaby
A lullaby is a soothing song, usually sung to young children before they go to sleep, with the intention of speeding that process. As a result they are often simple and repetitive. Lullabies can be found in every culture and since the ancient period....
). Then comes Lesghinka, a manic song that becomes rambunctious near the end. And the final sketch is the Georgian March, a very lively song which sounds like a military march and makes much use of the woodwinds and chimes.
Suite No. 2 is also called Iveria
Caucasian Iberia
Iberia , also known as Iveria , was a name given by the ancient Greeks and Romans to the ancient Georgian kingdom of Kartli , corresponding roughly to the eastern and southern parts of the present day Georgia...
(Iberia), the name given by the Greeks and Romans to the ancient kingdom of Kartli
Kartli
Kartli is a historical region in central-to-eastern Georgia traversed by the river Mtkvari , on which Georgia's capital, Tbilisi, is situated. Known to the Classical authors as Iberia, Kartli played a crucial role in ethnic and political consolidation of the Georgians in the Middle Ages...
, corresponding roughly to the eastern and southern parts of the country of Georgia
Georgia (country)
Georgia is a sovereign state in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded to the west by the Black Sea, to the north by Russia, to the southwest by Turkey, to the south by Armenia, and to the southeast by Azerbaijan. The capital of...
today.
External links
- Liner notes to the Caucasian Sketches (Suites Nos. 1 and 2) and other orchestral works by Ippolitov-Ivanov, performed by National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, conducted by Arthur Fagen (NaxosNaxos RecordsNaxos Records is a record label specializing in classical music. Through a number of imprints, Naxos also releases genres including Chinese music, jazz, world music, and early rock & roll. The company was founded in 1987 by Klaus Heymann, a German-born resident of Hong Kong.Naxos is the largest...
8.553405)