Gorgeous Melodies, Exciting, Storytelling Piece and all around Beautiful Music
Disadvantages:
None
Recommend to potential buyers:
yes
Full review
********************************** The Composer (briefly) of Sheherazade ********************************** Originally, Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was not going to pursue music, instead leaning towards a naval career. While he did indeed go on to work in the Navy, first going to the Navel Cadet College in St. Petersburg and then sailing as a midshipman on a 2 and a half year long cruise starting in 1862, music was a major force in his life.
He had shown some musical ability even as a very small child. Just before he set out on the cruise in 1862 he met a man named Balakirev who was a great influence on him (and many other famous musicians of that time), this influence increased upon his return. He found that on shore there was more time for music and he started writing some of his early compositions. Rimsky-Korsakov took a position as professor of instrumentation and composition at St. Petersburg Conservatoire in 1871 (not bad for a largely self-taught individual I’d say) and resigned his commission in the navy the following year. He had quite a distinguished musical career. At the Conservatory he taught many of the other famous composers we know today such as Sergei Prokofiev and Igor Stravinsky! His main orchestral works include Sheherazade (which I’ve been told should be correctly spelled as Scheherazade) and Capriccio espagnol. He wrote fifteen operas which included The Tale of Tsar Saltan (which contains the well known Flight of the Bumblebee), Khashchei the Immortal, and Le Coq d’Or or The Golden Cockerel. Rimsky-Korsakov died in Lybensk in 1908.
*********************** The Piece: *********************** Sheherazade (also spelled Scheherazade or Shahrazad) was composed in the winter of 1887-1888 and it took its inspiration excerpts from Tales of the Arabian Nights which were stories told by Sheherazade (a beautiful woman who was forced to tell stories to postpone her execution which had been ordered by her “royal master.”)
The Movements of Sheherazade, Symphonic Suite, Op. 35 are as follows: The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship The Kalender Prince The Young Prince and the Young Princess Festival at Baghdad-The Sea
The composer himself described Sheherazade as “a kaleidoscope of fairy-tale images and designs of Oriental character.”
************************ Review of Sheherazade ************************ Sheherazade is probably my favorite classical work of all time. I adore it and never tire of hearing it. It starts out with a loud, dark and intense brass line that is followed by some beautiful chords played in the woodwind section. As soon as the opening has finished the melody comes in on violin, oh what a melody, it is a very beautiful and flowing violin that is very easy to associate with the storyteller, Sheherazade, herself. From there it builds and builds with other instruments entering and picking up the melody, adding to it and passing it on. The oboe is stunning as well, and the French horns blend so well with everything. I honestly can not pick my favorite instrument or part of this wonderful musical masterpiece. There are moments in this Sheherazade that are so beautiful that they can bring tears to your eyes, or so intense, dramatic, loud and angry sounding that you find yourself frowning and year heart trying to beat its way out of your chest. Rimsky-Korsakov does a great job at going from louds to softs and keeping the piece very interesting. Sheherazade has it all.
When I first heard this I was in an Orchestration class working on a music degree at University and it only took this first bit of The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship to hook me, and I’ve never looked back from there. As soon as class was over I went out and bought the CD and it’s remained one of my most played. I was lucky enough to have the opportunity to perform Sheherazade on stage with an orchestra in the US as well and I really encourage anyone who enjoys music to see this piece played live (it really does make a difference, though it is good either way).
For anyone who is remotely interested in classical music, storytelling music, emotionally powerful music or just beautiful music this is the one of the best! I even played it to some students of mine who pride themselves on being “heavy metal-heads” and they had to admit that “nah it wasn’t too bad at all!” Best thing is that this genre of music is very reasonably priced! Give Sheherazade a go, and I doubt you’ll be disappointed.
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