Natasha's Dance (165 page)
- the octatonic scale, consisting of a whole tone followed by a semi-tone (C-D-E flat-F-
- the octatonic scale, consisting of a whole tone followed by a semi-tone (C-D-E flat-F-
flat): used for the first time by Rimsky-Korsakov in his Sadko symphonic suite of 1867, it be
flat): used for the first time by Rimsky-Korsakov in his Sadko symphonic suite of 1867, it be
flat): used for the first time by Rimsky-Korsakov in his Sadko symphonic suite of 1867, it be
Sadko
leitmotif
The Firebird
Petrushka
The Rite of Spring
Pictures at an Exhibition,
kuchkist
72
Musorgsky’s direct approach to life is reflected in his Pictures. The suite is a loosely s
Musorgsky’s direct approach to life is reflected in his Pictures. The suite is a loosely s
Musorgsky’s direct approach to life is reflected in his Pictures. The suite is a loosely s
Pictures.
(in mode russico)’
(nepodvizbnost’)
The Rite of Spring.
5
5
5
5
5
Alongside their interest in its ‘Russian style’, writers, artists and composers develope
Alongside their interest in its ‘Russian style’, writers, artists and composers develope
Alongside their interest in its ‘Russian style’, writers, artists and composers develope
A Life for the Tsar
The Maid of Pskov
Boris Godunov
Khovanshchina),
Boris Godunov
The Death of Ivan the Terrible),
and its destiny, and these fifty years were seen as a crucial period in Russia’s past. The
and its destiny, and these fifty years were seen as a crucial period in Russia’s past. The
and its destiny, and these fifty years were seen as a crucial period in Russia’s past. The
Boris Godunov was a vital figure in this national debate. The histories, plays and oper
Boris Godunov was a vital figure in this national debate. The histories, plays and oper
Boris Godunov was a vital figure in this national debate. The histories, plays and oper
History.
Boris, in real life, was the orphaned son of an old boyar family who had been raised at the
Boris, in real life, was the orphaned son of an old boyar family who had been raised at the
Boris, in real life, was the orphaned son of an old boyar family who had been raised at the
boyar
boyar
Ivan the Terrible and His Son Ivan on 16 November
the peasantry. In 1598 Fedor died. Irina refused the crown and went into a convent, overco
the peasantry. In 1598 Fedor died. Irina refused the crown and went into a convent, overco
the peasantry. In 1598 Fedor died. Irina refused the crown and went into a convent, overco
zemskii sobor,
boyars
The early years of the Godunov reign were prosperous and peaceful. In many ways Boris was
The early years of the Godunov reign were prosperous and peaceful. In many ways Boris was
The early years of the Godunov reign were prosperous and peaceful. In many ways Boris was
7
The evidence implicating Godunov in the murder of Dmitry had been fabricated by the Rom
The evidence implicating Godunov in the murder of Dmitry had been fabricated by the Rom
The evidence implicating Godunov in the murder of Dmitry had been fabricated by the Rom
boyars’
unity, following the ‘Time of Troubles’, a period of civil wars and foreign invasion fo
unity, following the ‘Time of Troubles’, a period of civil wars and foreign invasion fo
unity, following the ‘Time of Troubles’, a period of civil wars and foreign invasion fo
History
Pushkin’s Boris Godunov was very closely based on Karamzin’s History, sometimes even lif
Pushkin’s Boris Godunov was very closely based on Karamzin’s History, sometimes even lif
Pushkin’s Boris Godunov was very closely based on Karamzin’s History, sometimes even lif
Boris Godunov
History,
‘narod bezmolvstvuet’)
74
people are revealed in rebellion, the crowd mocks the Tsar, and folk song is deployed as the
people are revealed in rebellion, the crowd mocks the Tsar, and folk song is deployed as the
people are revealed in rebellion, the crowd mocks the Tsar, and folk song is deployed as the
The Maid of Pskov.
75
There was no Kromy revolt in Karamzin or Pushkin and, as the Russian music expert Richard T
There was no Kromy revolt in Karamzin or Pushkin and, as the Russian music expert Richard T
There was no Kromy revolt in Karamzin or Pushkin and, as the Russian music expert Richard T
Khovanshchina
The Revolt of Stenka Razin
The Time of Troubles
They were prepared to throw themselves with joy at whoever would lead them against Boris,
They were prepared to throw themselves with joy at whoever would lead them against Boris,
They were prepared to throw themselves with joy at whoever would lead them against Boris,
76
It is a conception of the Russian people - suffering and oppressed, full of destructiv
It is a conception of the Russian people - suffering and oppressed, full of destructiv
It is a conception of the Russian people - suffering and oppressed, full of destructiv
* So the tendency of modern productions to include both these scenes, though understand
* So the tendency of modern productions to include both these scenes, though understand
* So the tendency of modern productions to include both these scenes, though understand
ripped out the St Basil’s scene from the revised version of the score.
ripped out the St Basil’s scene from the revised version of the score.
ripped out the St Basil’s scene from the revised version of the score.
’History is my nocturnal friend’, Musorgsky wrote to Stasov in 1873; ‘it brings me pleasure
’History is my nocturnal friend’, Musorgsky wrote to Stasov in 1873; ‘it brings me pleasure
’History is my nocturnal friend’, Musorgsky wrote to Stasov in 1873; ‘it brings me pleasure
77
78
haven’t moved
79
Boris Godunov:
Darkest dark, impenetrable dark Woe, woe to Rus’ Weep, weep Russian people Hungry people
Darkest dark, impenetrable dark Woe, woe to Rus’ Weep, weep Russian people Hungry people
Darkest dark, impenetrable dark Woe, woe to Rus’ Weep, weep Russian people Hungry people
After Godunov he began immediately on Khovanshchina, an opera set amid the political
After Godunov he began immediately on Khovanshchina, an opera set amid the political
After Godunov he began immediately on Khovanshchina, an opera set amid the political
Godunov
Khovanshchina,
streltsy
boyars
the streltsy musketeers (Khovansbchina means ‘Khovansky’s rule’); and by the Old Belie
the streltsy musketeers (Khovansbchina means ‘Khovansky’s rule’); and by the Old Belie
the streltsy musketeers (Khovansbchina means ‘Khovansky’s rule’); and by the Old Belie
streltsy
(Khovansbchina
The Westernists viewed Khovansbchina as a progressive work, a celebration of the pas
The Westernists viewed Khovansbchina as a progressive work, a celebration of the pas
The Westernists viewed Khovansbchina as a progressive work, a celebration of the pas
Khovansbchina
80
This simple message was reinforced by an act of vandalism on Rimsky’s part. To the end of th
This simple message was reinforced by an act of vandalism on Rimsky’s part. To the end of th
This simple message was reinforced by an act of vandalism on Rimsky’s part. To the end of th
streltsy
Khovansbchina
Boris Godunov.
imposed on it by Rimsky-Korsakov. Deadlock and immobility were Musorgsky’s overarching th
imposed on it by Rimsky-Korsakov. Deadlock and immobility were Musorgsky’s overarching th
imposed on it by Rimsky-Korsakov. Deadlock and immobility were Musorgsky’s overarching th
(pocbvennichestvo),
Crime and Punishment
The painter Vasily Surikov also focused on the history of the Old Believers to explore
The painter Vasily Surikov also focused on the history of the Old Believers to explore
The painter Vasily Surikov also focused on the history of the Old Believers to explore
The Morning of the Execution of the Streltsy
The Boyar’s Wife Morozova
Khovanshchina.
81
82
I was the son of a Cossack and because I didn’t smoke’. They overlooked their traditional
I was the son of a Cossack and because I didn’t smoke’. They overlooked their traditional
I was the son of a Cossack and because I didn’t smoke’. They overlooked their traditional
The Boyar’s Wife Morozova
83
When they were exhibited in the 1880s Surikov’s two paintings were hailed by the democra
When they were exhibited in the 1880s Surikov’s two paintings were hailed by the democra
When they were exhibited in the 1880s Surikov’s two paintings were hailed by the democra
II by revolutionary terrorists in March 1881. The new Tsar, Alexander III, was a politica
II by revolutionary terrorists in March 1881. The new Tsar, Alexander III, was a politica
II by revolutionary terrorists in March 1881. The new Tsar, Alexander III, was a politica
boyar
84
6
6
6
6
6
Moscow grew into a great commercial centre in the nineteenth century. Within sixty years
Moscow grew into a great commercial centre in the nineteenth century. Within sixty years
Moscow grew into a great commercial centre in the nineteenth century. Within sixty years
85
The Cherry Orchard,
* It is interesting to compare Chekhov’s treatment of this symbol with Tolstoy’s. For Chek
* It is interesting to compare Chekhov’s treatment of this symbol with Tolstoy’s. For Chek
* It is interesting to compare Chekhov’s treatment of this symbol with Tolstoy’s. For Chek
(continued)
(continued)
(continued)
Moscow’s emergence as an economic giant was associated with its transition from a noble-
Moscow’s emergence as an economic giant was associated with its transition from a noble-
Moscow’s emergence as an economic giant was associated with its transition from a noble-
In the early nineteenth century Moscow’s trade was concentrated in the narrow winding str
In the early nineteenth century Moscow’s trade was concentrated in the narrow winding str
In the early nineteenth century Moscow’s trade was concentrated in the narrow winding str
86
kaftans
The public image of the merchantry was fixed by the plays of Alexander Ostrovsky, himself a
The public image of the merchantry was fixed by the plays of Alexander Ostrovsky, himself a
The public image of the merchantry was fixed by the plays of Alexander Ostrovsky, himself a
(continued) tragedy of Anna Karenina are all connected with this metaphor: Anna’s first me
(continued) tragedy of Anna Karenina are all connected with this metaphor: Anna’s first me
(continued) tragedy of Anna Karenina are all connected with this metaphor: Anna’s first me
worked as a clerk in the civil courts, so he had direct experience of the scams and squabbl
worked as a clerk in the civil courts, so he had direct experience of the scams and squabbl
worked as a clerk in the civil courts, so he had direct experience of the scams and squabbl
A Family Affair
The Storm
Katya Kabanova
The stereotype of the Russian merchant - greedy and deceitful, narrowly conservative
The stereotype of the Russian merchant - greedy and deceitful, narrowly conservative
The stereotype of the Russian merchant - greedy and deceitful, narrowly conservative
Anna Karenina,
circles of Moscow’s aristocracy. The governor of the city, the Grand Duke Sergei, would not
circles of Moscow’s aristocracy. The governor of the city, the Grand Duke Sergei, would not
circles of Moscow’s aristocracy. The governor of the city, the Grand Duke Sergei, would not
Yet one could also form a brighter view of the Moscow merchants from Ostrovsky’s plays. Inde
Yet one could also form a brighter view of the Moscow merchants from Ostrovsky’s plays. Inde
Yet one could also form a brighter view of the Moscow merchants from Ostrovsky’s plays. Inde
(pochven-niki),
Moskvitianin (The Muscovite).
The Storm.
87
raznochintsy
new classless society. Yet the merchants were in fact developing in an interesting way -
new classless society. Yet the merchants were in fact developing in an interesting way -
new classless society. Yet the merchants were in fact developing in an interesting way -
The Final Sacrifice
The Final Sacrifice,
88
By this time, indeed, there was a group of fabulously wealthy merchant dynasties, many f
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