Rimsky-Korsakov - why is it that nothing but "Scheherazade" and "Flight of the Bears" are performed?

Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) is an essential figure in the history of Russian music. He was the most theoretical of the Russian quintet and was instrumental in developing compositional techniques, and as a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he nurtured the next generation of composers, including Glazunov, Stravinsky, Prokofiev, and Scriabin. He did immeasurable work in consolidating the foundations of Russian music by refining Russian folk musical language and combining it with Western orchestration techniques.

However, his name appears in concert programs almost exclusively in either "Scheherazade" or "Flight of the Bears "**. Although there are other works such as "Spanish Fantasy," "Satoko," and "The Golden Rooster," they are rarely performed.

Considering his status in the Russian music world, shouldn't they be performed more often? Why is Rimsky-Korsakov not mentioned as often as his pupils?

The shadow of "Scheherazade" is too great.

Among Rimsky-Korsakov's works, "Scheherazade" is by far the most popular. This symphonic suite is a masterpiece that brings together all of his talents: brilliant orchestration, fascinating oriental melodies, and clever use of instruments, and is truly "the ultimate in Russian sound.

The problem is that this work is so accomplished that it overshadows his other works.

For example, "Spanish Fantasy" is an excellent work with vivid colors and lively rhythms, but it is often regarded as a degraded version of "Scheherazade. His symphonic poems "Satko" and "The Golden Cockscomb," which have operatic elements based on Russian legends and folk tales, do not fit well into a general concert program.

Rimsky-Korsakov's music excels at utilizing orchestral resonance to the utmost limit, but this is sometimes consumed as "tonal magic," and his music is often evaluated solely for its "sonic splendor" rather than its structural interest. This biased view is probably one of the reasons why many of his works are not performed.

Pop-cultural consumption through "Flight of the Bear Bees"

Another aspect of Rimsky-Korsakov's fame is the extraordinary popularity of **"Flight of the Bears**". This piece was simply a part of the opera "Emperor Sultan," and did not occupy such an important place in the composer's personal life.

However, because the dizzying passages test one's playing skills to the limit, the piece was arranged for various instruments, including violin, piano, and guitar, and performed around the world as a showcase of virtuosity. As a result, Rimsky-Korsakov's name fell into a situation where he was known only as "the man of Scheherazade" or "the man of Flight of the Bear Bees.

This is a typical example of how the artistic value of his operatic works and symphonic poems was never fully appreciated, and only short, technical pieces became widespread.

His relationship with Scriabin - did the disciple surpass the master?

Rimsky-Korsakov was also an accomplished educator and is known to have advised Scriabin for many years. However, Scriabin's music eventually took on a completely different dimension from Rimsky-Korsakov's world.

Rimsky-Korsakov was a conservative composer who emphasized the theory of compositional technique and systematically organized harmony and counterpoint. In contrast, Scriabin gradually became more inclined toward mysticism and philosophy, and moved toward an innovative style that boldly disrupted the sense of tonality.

For this reason, in the history of 20th century music, Scriabin is often regarded as the "innovator who created new music. Certainly, Scriabin's influence extends to Messiaen and Shostakovich, but on the other hand, his music is very specific and follows a unique path that is different from the general classical stream.

So, did Scriabin "surpass" his master?

The answer is not simple. Scriabin created his own universe, but his music is so unique that it falls outside the evolutionary lineage of popular classical music. In contrast, Rimsky-Korsakov's music played a decisive role in shaping the foundations of later Russian music by Stravinsky, Rachmaninoff, and Prokofiev. In other words, Rimsky-Korsakov's influence is more pervasive and on a different vector than Scriabin's innovations.

The answer to the question, "Why aren't they playing?" The answer to the question

After all, the reason why Rimsky-Korsakov's works are played only "Scheherazade and Flight of the Bear Bees" is due to the characteristics of his music itself.

The reason why Rimsky-Korsakov's music is performed only in "Scheherazade and Flight of the Bears" is due to the very characteristics of his music.
The "Scheherazade" is so accomplished that the rest of his symphonic poems and orchestral works have become relatively hazy.
The operatic works are highly acclaimed in Russia, but they are rarely performed internationally, and are not widely performed.
The "Flight of the Bears" has been consumed as a show piece, and the recognition of his name has become biased.

However, the importance of his music will never fade away. Rimsky-Korsakov was a master who systematized the Russian musical tradition and passed it on to the next generation**. We should not forget this great achievement and shed light on his unknown masterpieces**.