Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36 Cover Image

Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36: Conductor Score & Parts

$180.00 USD
$180.00 USD
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Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36 Cover Image
Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36: Conductor Score & Parts

Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36: Conductor Score & Parts

By Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov / arr. Clinton F. Nieweg & Nancy Bradburd

Item: 36-A191702
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Russian Easter Overture, Op. 36: Conductor Score

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Description
Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov's (1844-1908) overture Russian Easter Festival was written in 1888, at the same time as the composer's well-known suite for orchestra, Scheherazade. Both works include short violin cadenzas to separate some of the sections. For the context of the Russian Easter Festival overture, Rimsky-Korsakov was inspired by two Biblical passages that preface the score: Psalm 68 and a passage from the Gospel of St. Mark. The music was based on an eighteenth-century collection of Orthodox church canticles, including a chant for Russian Easter known as Obikhod (Christ is arisen). The work premiered in St. Petersburg on December 15, 1888 at a Russian symphony concert. Instrumentation: 3(1dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Hp: Str(9-8-7-6-5 in set).

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Additional Details
Series: Nieweg Performance Editions - Kalmus
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 746241244338
SKU: 36-A191702
Instrumentation: 3(1dPicc).2.2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4-5): Hp: Str(9-8-7-6-5 in set)

More about this title

About the Composer: Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908) was a Russian composer and master orchestrator whose instrumental works remain central to the orchestral repertoire. A member of the Russian nationalist school, he synthesized folk melodies, exotic harmonies, and brilliant orchestral color into music of immediate sensory appeal. His influence on orchestration fundamentally shaped how twentieth-century composers approached the instrument family.

Why we love this

Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestration here is a masterclass in color and balance, making this work extraordinarily rewarding to conduct. The integration of Orthodox liturgical material creates spiritual weight without sacrificing the virtuosic writing that keeps orchestras engaged through rehearsal and performance.

What to expect

Luminous and processional, with moments of raw exuberance balanced against meditative passages rooted in Russian Orthodox tradition. The work unfolds in waves of color, moving from introspection to celebratory orchestral splendor.

Who it's for

Orchestras and advanced youth orchestras seeking major repertoire from the Romantic canon that combines accessible melodic appeal with genuine orchestrational complexity. Conductors working with ensembles that have secure fundamentals and can manage independent musical lines across a large instrumentation.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the harp against the full orchestra; it often carries inner harmonic color rather than melody. Mark dynamic relationships in parts before rehearsal.
  • The violin cadenzas demand precision ensemble work beforehand. Secure the tutti sections around them so soloists can shape their passages with confidence.
  • The percussion section requires coordination across four to five players. Designate who covers timpani, what voices handle the ensemble strikes, and where one person manages multiple instruments.
  • Approach the church chant quotations (Obikhod) with clarity and dignity. The text-painting is architectural; don't rush or over-sentimentalize.

How to use it

This work functions well as a concert centerpiece or opening piece for a program exploring Russian nationalism or Romantic orchestral writing. Its spiritual subject matter pairs naturally with choral works or other large-scale orchestra repertoire from the same era.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing extended orchestral textures and maintaining harmonic clarity across multiple independent lines
  • Executing clean, confident entries after extended rests
  • Sustaining focused intonation in slow, exposed passages
  • Coordinating across a large instrumentation with multiple percussion and harp parts
  • Responding to expressive conducting while maintaining rhythmic precision in complex meters

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