Alexander Borodin (Nov. 12, 1833 – 27 Feb. 27, 1887)
Borodin was a chemist and a Russian Romantic composer that was a member of The Five, lead by Balakirev. This nationalist group's goal was to develop a genre of music specific to Russia. Borodin did well with this, and is well known for his opera, symphonic works, and chamber works. Born in St. Petersburg as the illegitimate son of a Georgian nobleman and a young Russian woman, he was declared the son of Porfiry Borodin, who was a serf. While he was young he received a good education and took piano lessons. In 1850 he went to study chemistry at the Medico-Surgical Academy. After he graduated, he spent a year at a military hospital as a surgeon, followed by a few years of scientific study in Western Europe.
In 1862 Borodin started working at the Academy of Medicine as a chemistry professor. He would spend the rest of his life teaching others, while also making great strides in chemistry. 1862 is also the year that Borodin met Balakirev and began taking lessons in composing with him. The following year he would marry a pianist by the name of Ekaterina Protopopova. Even with these influences, music would always be secondary to science in Borodin's life.
Many of the members of The Five* held professions outside of music, and were usually involved with the military at some point. It is expected that this is what brought them together with nationalist ideals, and made them want to form a distinct Russian music.
When Borodin first began with Balakirev, he immediately began work on his Symphony No. 1 in E Flat Major, which was first performed in 1869, under the baton of Balakirev. As soon as he finished that he began working on his Symphony No. 2 in B Minor and the opera Prince Igor. The premiere of his second symphony wasn't as well received in 1877, probably because of the distraction of his opera. He then re-orchestrated it and received great applause at the performance in 1879 by the Free School of Music*, conducted by Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1880 he wrote an symphonic poem that became popular, On the Steppes of Central Asia. A couple years later he began work on the Symphony No. 3, but wouldn't complete it before his death. It was then completed later by Glazunov, a later Russian composer and teacher.
Prince Igor is usually considered Borodin's most successful work, and is one of the most important historic Russian operas. It contains a very important piece that is Borodin's most famous composition and is commonly used as a stand-alone work, Polovtsian Dances. Like his third symphony, this opera was left incomplete at his death, but finished by Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov.
The most controversial writing Borodin did during his life was his chamber works. Especially in his string quartets he wrote in a style that had more abstract concepts. In 1875 he began the First Quartet, much to the distaste of Mussorgsky. Even so, he wrote it entirely while with The Five. In 1881 he finished the Second Quartet -- and where the first had rich changes in mood, the second had more consistent expression and feeling. A very popular part of the Second Quartet, "Nocturne," is shown below.
When Borodin first began with Balakirev, he immediately began work on his Symphony No. 1 in E Flat Major, which was first performed in 1869, under the baton of Balakirev. As soon as he finished that he began working on his Symphony No. 2 in B Minor and the opera Prince Igor. The premiere of his second symphony wasn't as well received in 1877, probably because of the distraction of his opera. He then re-orchestrated it and received great applause at the performance in 1879 by the Free School of Music*, conducted by Rimsky-Korsakov. In 1880 he wrote an symphonic poem that became popular, On the Steppes of Central Asia. A couple years later he began work on the Symphony No. 3, but wouldn't complete it before his death. It was then completed later by Glazunov, a later Russian composer and teacher.
Prince Igor is usually considered Borodin's most successful work, and is one of the most important historic Russian operas. It contains a very important piece that is Borodin's most famous composition and is commonly used as a stand-alone work, Polovtsian Dances. Like his third symphony, this opera was left incomplete at his death, but finished by Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov.
*More info on the history of The Five and the Free School of Music can be found in the third section of Balakirev's bio.
The most controversial writing Borodin did during his life was his chamber works. Especially in his string quartets he wrote in a style that had more abstract concepts. In 1875 he began the First Quartet, much to the distaste of Mussorgsky. Even so, he wrote it entirely while with The Five. In 1881 he finished the Second Quartet -- and where the first had rich changes in mood, the second had more consistent expression and feeling. A very popular part of the Second Quartet, "Nocturne," is shown below.
The Five -
Borodin
No comments:
Post a Comment