Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic suite Scheherazade

E84562

Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic suite Scheherazade is a lush, programmatic orchestral work that vividly evokes the tales of the Arabian Nights through colorful orchestration and recurring musical themes.

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Surface form Occurrences
Scheherazade 0

Statements (45)

Predicate Object
instanceOf orchestral work
symphonic suite
approximateDuration about 45 minutes
basedOn The Arabian Nights
surface form: One Thousand and One Nights
catalogueNumber Op. 35
composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
compositionDate 1888
countryOfOrigin Russian Empire
dedicatedTo Mitrofan Belyayev NERFINISHED
firstPerformanceDate 1888
genre program music
influence frequently used in ballet adaptations
often excerpted in orchestral concerts
standard of the symphonic repertoire
inspiredBy The Arabian Nights
surface form: Arabian Nights tales
key E minor
language instrumental
movement Festival at Baghdad – The Sea – Shipwreck
The Sea and Sinbad’s Ship
The Story of the Kalendar Prince
The Young Prince and the Young Princess
musicalCharacteristic lush Romantic harmonies
orientalist musical style
recurring leitmotifs
narrativeElement depiction of festivals and battles
depiction of sea voyages
frame story of Scheherazade telling tales to the Sultan
notableTheme Scheherazade motif in solo violin
Sultan motif in low brass and winds
orchestrationFeature colorful use of woodwinds
extensive use of percussion
harp passages
prominent solo violin part representing Scheherazade
rich brass writing
period Romantic era
premiereConductor Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
premiereLocation St. Petersburg
surface form: Saint Petersburg
publisher Mitrofan Belyayev NERFINISHED
recordingHistory extensively recorded by major orchestras worldwide
relatedWorkByComposer Capriccio Espagnol
Russian Easter Festival Overture
structure four movements
style Russian nationalist school
typicalEnsemble large symphony orchestra
typicalUse showcase for orchestral color

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Full triples — surface form annotated when it differs from this entity's canonical label.

The Arabian Nights hasNotableAdaptation Rimsky-Korsakov’s symphonic suite Scheherazade