Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1


Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 is an orchestral suite composed in 1894 and one of the most representative works by Russian composer Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov. Its final movement, titled Procession of the Sardar, is often performed as a standalone composition and is a favorite in pop concerts.

Composition

Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, graduated from the St. Petersburg conservatory in 1885. He secured for himself the directorship of the orchestra of Tbilisi, the capital of Georgia, and spent up to seven years learning about Georgian folk music. Some of the style and melodies of that region are included in his Caucasian Sketches. It is dedicated to I. Pitoéff, at that time President of the Russian Musical Society on Tiflis.

Structure

This orchestral suite consists of four movements, namely:
The suite begins with a vibrant piece, In a Mountain Pass, which is characterized by a steady ambitious beat suggesting the steep Caucasus Mountains. The second movement, In a Village, begins with a slow tempo and, after a cadenza, gains a steady beat and becomes more vibrant near the end, when after a second cadenza, slows its tempo down again. The title of a third, In a Mosque, reflects the abundance of mosques in the once Turkish Caucasus and Circassia, and the listener can hear the Muezzin's call to prayer in the music. The most famous and admired portion is the final piece, Procession of the Sardar, a Persian title for a military commander, leader or dignitary.

Notable recordings

Notable recordings of this suite include:
OrchestraConductorRecord CompanyYear of RecordingFormat
New York Philharmonic OrchestraLeonard BernsteinSony Music Entertainment1976CD
Sydney Symphony OrchestraChristopher Lyndon-GeeMarco Polo1990CD
National Symphony Orchestra of UkraineArthur FagenNaxos Records1995CD