Rimsky-Korsakov: Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36

Description

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1844-1908) overture Russian Easter Festival was written in 1888, at the same time as the composer's well-known suite for orchestra, Scheherazade. Both works include short violin cadenzas to separate some of the sections.

For the context of the Russian Easter Festival overture, Rimsky-Korsakov was inspired by two Biblical passages that preface the score: Psalm 68 and a passage from the Gospel of St. Mark. The music was based on an eighteenth-century collection of Orthodox church canticles, including a chant for Russian Easter known as Obikhod (Christ is arisen).

The work premiered in St. Petersburg on December 15, 1888 at a Russian symphony concert.

Instrumentation: 3(1dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Hp: Str(9-8-7-6-5 in set).