1 suite
1.1 composition
1.2 musical forces
1.3 structure
1.3.1 birth of kijé
1.3.2 romance
1.3.3 kijé s wedding
1.3.4 troika
1.3.5 burial of kijé
1.4 themes
1.5 performance, reception , adaptation history
1.6 recordings
suite
composition
soon after film s release, prokofiev received invitation moscow radio symphony orchestra create orchestral suite kijé film music—probably first instance of film score being adapted significant musical work. guiding light behind invitation boris gusman, assistant director of bolshoi theatre , leading film critic. gusman strong supporter of prokofiev s ambition rehabilitate himself in soviet union, , had negotiated moscow orchestra series of concerts showcase returned composer s talent.
prokofiev s task not straightforward; film s 15 minutes of musical material fragmentary, , scored small chamber orchestra. according prokofiev s own account, producing suite devilish job , which, said, gave me more trouble music film itself, since had find proper form, re-orchestrate whole thing, polish , combine of themes. wanted suite appeal soviet audiences hearing concert music first time. in article in izvestia in 1934 wrote of such music: above all, must melodious; melody must simple , comprehensible without being repetitive or trivial ... simplicity should not old-fashioned simplicity new simplicity . worked quickly, , had finished piece 8 july 1934. because published (op. 60) regular music publisher in paris, french form of kijé rather russian kizhe adopted in work s title.
musical forces
the kijé suite scored for: baritone voice (optional); piccolo; 2 flutes; 2 oboes; 2 clarinets; 2 bassoons; tenor saxophone; 4 horns; cornet; 2 trumpets; 3 trombones; tuba; bass drum; snare drum; triangle; cymbals; tambourine; sleigh bells; celesta; piano; harp; , strings.
structure
the 5 movements of suite organised , titled follows (bolded capitals identify specified themes):
birth of kijé
a distant, mournful fanfare (a), played on cornet representing bugle, followed brisk military march initiated duet side drum , piccolo (b). passage brass precedes introduction of theme or leitmotif associated phantom kijé which, after reprise of march , c major crescendo, repeated on tenor saxophone, instrument relatively new orchestra @ time. cornet fanfare returns close movement.
romance
the principal theme (c) movement based on old song, little grey dove cooing , prokofiev provided optional part baritone voice. song theme developed using range of instruments, before giving way second theme introduced tenor saxophone; in turn replaced, movement draws close, return of little grey dove tune, ornamented birdsong.
kijé s wedding
the movement begins , regularly visited broad, ceremonial , pompous melody (d), played on brass , woodwind. in between these formal-sounding statements cheerful cornet solo , various elaborations , variations on kijé theme, give movement celebratory feel, both boisterous , sentimental.
troika
a troika, traditional russian sled combination
the principal melody in movement (e) taken old hussar song, prokofiev provided optional baritone part. melody first appears in slow , dissonant statement, after pace quickens: sleigh bells, rapid pizzicato strings, , piano combine give impression of fast winter s journey means of troika, traditional russian three-horse sled. ride accompanied @ regular intervals song theme, brings movement close slow repetition of final phrase.
the burial of kijé
this final movement largely mélange of earlier themes, series of reminiscences of kijé s imaginary life. opening cornet fanfare returns, kijé s leitmotif, little grey dove , time intertwined wedding music. in orrin howard in programme note los angeles philharmonic describes wistful, touching farewell , music reaches conclusion distant rendition of fanfare.
themes
(a) opening fanfare
(b) march
(c) romance ( little grey dove )
(d) wedding
(e) troika
performance, reception , adaptation history
the boston opera house, 1942 ballet version first shown
prokofiev conducted first performance of suite in paris on 21 december 1934. piece received american premiere on 14 october 1937, when serge koussevitsky conducted boston symphony orchestra; performance formed basis of first commercial recording of work, issued in following year. while prokofiev in united states boston premiere sought after film producers, although flattered , attracted offers never composed hollywood film score. suite rapidly gained popularity, particularly in us; choreographer michel fokine used music in ballet russian soldier, performed @ boston opera house on 23 january 1942. further ballet version lieutenant kijé (ballet) devised moscow s bolshoi ballet in 1963, alexander lapauri , olga tarasova, raissa struchkova in leading role.
the music critic david gutman has called suite [o]ne of [prokofiev s] popular compositions today [and] 1 of accomplished robinson rates kijé suite among composer s greatest compositions, alongside romeo , juliet , second violin concerto accessible, simple , melodic . in essential canon of classical music (2001), david dubal remarks on how kijé music has thrived in popular culture: bits , pieces used everywhere . having begun life 1930s film soundtrack, parts of suite began appear in later films, such british horse s mouth (1958), , woody allen s 1975 parody on russian literature, love , death. in world of pop music, troika movement has been adapted several times, beginning in 1958 midnight sleighride , jazz band arrangement eddie sauter , bill finegan. in 1975 troika tune used extensively in greg lake s best-selling pop song believe in father christmas , , romance movement formed basis of main theme in sting s 1985 anti-war song russians .
recordings
the 1938 performance of suite koussevitsky , boston symphony orchestra, recorded on 78rpm discs, provided commercially available recording until advent of lp era in 1950s; performance cleveland orchestra under fritz reiner in december 1945 not issued until many years later. in 1951 capitol issued hermann scherchen s recording of suite vienna symphony orchestra, since many recordings of work have been issued under variety of labels. 2008 edition of muze survey of recordings lists 19 available versions orchestras eastern , western europe, asia , us. version baritone voice has found way on disc; vladimir ashkenazy sydney symphony orchestra , andrei laptev (2010) provide recent example. dvd of bolshoi ballet production, featuring raisa struchkova , vladimir vasiliev, released in 2007.
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