Sonic Asymmetry

Alexander Borodin: “Polovtsan Dances from ‘Knyaz Igor’”

アレクサンダー・ボロディン：「イゴール王子のポロフツァン・ダンス」

TIME COMMITMENT: 12 minutes

This matinal excerpt serves us pagan, shamanic, or downright deranged ritualism.  Based on medieval epic it quickly subverts traditional canons of instrumentation.  The lightness of harp is transported from its Hellenic references towards Ural, woodwind greets the sunrise and the swing of the strings predates Hollywood classics.  This immaculate cuisine fills our palate until it’s relieved in the triumphal hustle.  Yes, the real deal begins from the 4th minute mark.

MUSIC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YabEfOQRG3U

INFO

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polovtsian_Dances

A REFLECTION

And I matured in peace born of command,

in the nursery of the infant century,

and the voice of man was never dear to me,

but the breeze’s voice—that I could understand.

Anna Akhmatova: “Willow”