Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 2
Encyclopedia
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.
, 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. 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
).
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.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Кавказские эскизы, Сюита №2, «Иверия») is an orchestral suite by Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov was a Russian composer, conductor and teacher.- Biography :...
written in 1896, after he moved to Moscow
Moscow
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 work is more commonly known by the subtitle Iveria, 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.
Composition
After being a student of Nikolai Rimsky-KorsakovNikolai 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...
, Ippolitov-Ivanov moved to 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...
, 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. This suite, as Suite No. 1
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1
Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 is an orchestral suite composed in 1894 and one of the most representative works by Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov...
did, also presents re-used material from Georgian
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...
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
Colchis
In ancient geography, Colchis or Kolkhis was an ancient Georgian state kingdom and region in Western Georgia, which played an important role in the ethnic and cultural formation of the Georgian nation.The Kingdom of Colchis contributed significantly to the development of medieval Georgian...
, which became a meeting point of civilizations (Persian, Ottoman
Ottoman Turks
The Ottoman Turks were the Turkish-speaking population of the Ottoman Empire who formed the base of the state's military and ruling classes. Reliable information about the early history of Ottoman Turks is scarce, but they take their Turkish name, Osmanlı , from the house of Osman I The Ottoman...
and Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
).
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
Mikhail Glinka
Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka , was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country, and is often regarded as the father of Russian classical music...
Ruslan and Lyudmila; it is a typical dance
Lezginka
Lezginka or Lezghinka is a national dance of many people in the Caucasus Mountains. It derives its names from the Lezgin people; nevertheless, Georgians, Chechens, Lezghins, Ossetians, Circassians, Karachays, Balkars, Armenians, Abkhazians, Kabardins, Ingush, Ingilos, Azerbaijanis, Iranian...
from Lezghy tribes with oriental themes. The piece culminates in a war-march-style finale.
Notable recordings
Notable recordings of this suite include:| Orchestra | Conductor | Record Company | Year of Recording | Format |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sydney Symphony Orchestra Sydney Symphony Orchestra The Sydney Symphony Orchestra , commonly known as the Sydney Symphony, is an Australian symphony orchestra based in Sydney... |
Christopher Lyndon-Gee | Marco Polo Naxos Records Naxos 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... |
1990 | CD |
| National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine is one of the principle orchestras of Ukraine.... |
Arthur Fagen | Naxos Records Naxos Records Naxos 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... |
1995 | CD |