Borodin transposing

Excerpts from Borodin’s Prince Igor were to be performed by the Free College of Music. Rimsky Korsakov recalled:

At this epoch, Prince Igor advanced slowly, but advanced nevertheless. How many prayers I addressed to dear Borodine that he might finally decide to orchestrate a few numbers for the concert! His numerous occupations at the Medical School and his advanced classes of women always greatly absorbed him. I have already described his home. His infinite bounty and absence of all egoism made of this interior an environment little propitious to composition. I renewed my visits, asking him always what he had done. It was usually one or two pages of the score or nothing at all. I asked him:

“Alexandre Porfirievitch, have you written something?”

“Yes, I’ve written.”

True, he had written many letters!

“Alexandre Porfirievitch, have you transposed this number?”

“I have transposed,” he replied with a serious air.

“At last, God be praised.”

“I transposed it from the piano to the table,” he added sedately.

L. Llewellyn, “Eccentric Home Life of Borodine”, Musical America, 29 April 1911, p. 16.

Posted

in

by

Greg

Tags:

,

Featured Content

The double life of an artist
People are mistaken thinking that the creative artist uses art to express what he feels at the very moment of experience. Joy and sorrow are feelings expressed retrospectively. Without any particular cause for rejoicing I can be immersed in a mood of happy creativity and, conversely, I can produce, when cheerful, a piece saturated in […]
A successful day
“If I have been of service, if I have glimpsed more of the nature and essence of ultimate good, if I am inspired to reach wider horizons of thought and action, if I am at peace with myself, it has been a successful day.” Alex Noble, cited at Brainy Quote  
Schumann on music
As to what concerns the knotty question in general of how far instrumental music may go in the representation of thoughts and events, many are here too anxious in their attitude. We are certainly wrong if we believe that composers set out pen and paper to realize the miserable intention of expressing, describing, or painting […]
Nick Cave on the creative process
Worry less about what you make — that will mostly look after itself, and is to some extent beyond your control, and perhaps even none of your business — and devote yourself to nourishing this animating spirit. Bring all your enthusiasm to bear on the development of that good and essential force. This is done […]
Up close and personal with Glenn Gould
A film has been made of the personal side of Canadian pianist Glenn Gould: During his lifetime Gould was often portrayed less as a real person than a collection of tics — perhaps even more so in the many books and films about him that have been issued since his death. At times he has […]
I am Beethoven
An account of Beethoven being lost in his creative world: Thayer tells us of a conversation he had with a Professor Blasius Höfel, a teacher of fine arts at Weiner Neustadt, a little town near Vienna.  one evening, Höfel was in a tavern with some of his colleagues, the Commissioner of Police being a member […]
Music is for me to play
“You claim that I write monstrosities which only the composer can play. What if they were meant only for the composer?” Kaikhosru Shapurji Sorabji to his friend Peter Warlock. Cited at: Wikipedia
George and Ira Gershwin preview Porgy and Bess
The stage director of the first Porgy and Bess production recalls hearing the score in Gerswhin's New York apartment: They both blissfully closed their eyes before they continued with the lovely "Summertime" song.  George played with the most beatific smile on his face.  He seemed to float on the waves of his own music with […]
Arrangements and orchestrations
Greg Smith’s experience as a composer and chamber musician means that he is comfortable scoring in a variety of styles and instrumental forces: – chamber (e.g., piano, cello and piano, string quartet) – choral – orchestra – wind orchestra Greg can arrange in a variety of styles, from classical to jazz. Contact Greg Smith ARRANGMENTS, […]
Blessed Are They Who Dwell In Your House – Psalm 83 (84)
Title: Blessed are they who dwell in your house Text: Psalm 83 (84): 2-3, 5-6, 9-10. R. v.5 Composer: Greg Smith Instrumentation: SATB and piano (unison verses) Product medium: PDF score and partSAMPLE: