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Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score

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Symphony No. 2 in B Minor Cover Image
Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score

Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score

By Alexander Borodin / arr. Rimsky-Korsakov, Bradburd, Nieweg

Item: 36-A133301
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Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score & Parts

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Description
Although it has a four movement formal structure like the German symphonies, Borodin's Second Symphony is purely Russian. No listener can fail to identify its nationality as Russian - for all purposes it defines the dark, brooding character associated with the national musical culture. The first movement opens with a vigorous unison in the strings, reinforced by bassoons and horns, the theme forming the foundation of the whole movement. The second movement, a brilliant allegro, drives ahead irresistibly and forcefully from start to finish. Like the first movement, the third is built around a single theme - a long, haunting melody stated by solo horn. The third leads directly into the fourth movement, the opening theme being announced by full orchestra.  Even though his four-hand arrangement was published in 1877, Borodin held off publishing the orchestral score until he finished incorporating a number of additional technical improvements to the orchestration that had been recommended by Rimsky-Korsakov after the 1879 performance. Upon the composer's death, the full score and parts remained unpublished in an early proof stage. Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov completed the proofreading before publication later that year (1887). Instrumentation in set: 3(3dPicc).2(2dEH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(4): Hp: Str(9.8.7.6.5).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-58-106991-X
ISBN13: 978-1-58-106991-4
UPC: 679360654989
SKU: 36-A133301
Instrumentation: 3d1, 2d1, 2, 2 - 4, 2, 3, 1, timp, perc, hp, str

More about this title

About the Composer: Alexander Borodin

Alexander Borodin (1833-1887) was a Russian composer and chemist whose musical output, though modest in quantity, profoundly shaped the national character of Russian classical music. His symphonies and chamber works earned him recognition alongside his contemporaries in the Russian Five, a circle of nationalist composers committed to developing a distinctly Russian musical language.

Borodin's approach to orchestration was meticulous and deliberate. He sought counsel from his colleagues, notably Rimsky-Korsakov, to refine his instrumental writing, and the Second Symphony exemplifies this careful craftsmanship. His dual career as a scientist and composer reflected his methodical nature; he composed with the same rigor he applied to his chemistry research, often revising works extensively before allowing publication.

Why we love this

This symphony demands serious orchestral chops while offering conductors a richly Russian palette that feels both structurally coherent and emotionally distinct. The single-theme foundation in movements one and three creates elegant unity, while the irresistible drive of the second movement and the seamless transition into the finale keep ensembles engaged across all four movements. Borodin's orchestration, refined through Rimsky-Korsakov's guidance and later editorial work, rewards attentive sectional balancing and reveals new colors with each rehearsal.

What to expect

Dark and brooding, yet propulsive. The symphony inhabits the shadowed emotional landscape of Russian musical nationalism, from the vigorous unison opening and relentless second-movement drive to the long, yearning horn solo that defines the third movement. Even as the architecture moves forward, there is a sense of searching, a haunting lyricism that feels distinctly Russian and deeply introspective.

Who it's for

Orchestras and chamber orchestras with advanced technical facility and mature ensemble discipline. Conductors preparing ensembles for concert works demanding both Russian nationalist character and refined orchestral balance will find this score indispensable.

How to get the most out of it

  • Let the opening unison in the strings establish authority from the downbeat; support that foundation with clean, unified attacks in the bassoons and horns so the theme registers as bedrock rather than accompaniment.
  • Shape the solo horn melody in the third movement with long-arc phrasing and allow it breathing room; the orchestra should recede behind this haunting line rather than compete for attention.
  • Navigate the direct transition from third to fourth movement as a dramatic pivot, not a pause; the new orchestral theme arrives with momentum that carries the architecture forward.
  • Balance the four-movement architecture by observing the marked tempos and character contrasts; the brilliant allegro of the second movement should surge against the dark brooding of the outer movements.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece for a concert exploring Russian nationalist orchestral works, pairing it with shorter works by Rimsky-Korsakov or Mussorgsky to create a full evening of Russian character. The symphony's four-movement grandeur also serves well as a solo orchestral work on a mixed-repertoire concert, providing dramatic weight and historical depth alongside contemporary or earlier classical works.

Skills your students will build

  • Balancing multiple independent melodic lines across the full orchestra
  • Executing rapid tempo shifts and orchestral transitions (second to third movement, third to fourth movement)
  • Sustaining lyrical phrasing across extended solo passages, particularly the horn line in the third movement
  • Reading a full orchestral score with divisi strings and mixed instrumental doublings
  • Maintaining ensemble cohesion in unison passages with brass and wind reinforcement

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