Symphony No. 2 in B Minor Cover Image

Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score & Parts

$240.00 USD
$240.00 USD
Skip to product information
Symphony No. 2 in B Minor Cover Image
Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score & Parts

Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score & Parts

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

Item: 36-A133302
$240.00
Shipped

One moment…

Related Items

Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score

$100.00
View
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 Upon the composer's death, the full score and parts remained unpublished in an early proof stage.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).

Symphony No. 2 in B Minor: Conductor Score & Parts isn't in MakeMusic Cloud just yet...but it could be. Let us know you'd like to see it, and you'll help shape what comes next. In the meantime, start a free trial and dive into thousands of interactive titles your students can play along with today.

Request This Title

Tell us you want it.

Start Your Free Trial

Explore everything that's ready to play right now.
Sample Pages

No sample pages found.
Sample Audio
No sample audio found.
Sample Video
No sample videos found.
Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 679360651209
SKU: 36-A133302
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, left an indelible mark on the Romantic orchestra. He composed alongside his rigorous scientific career, bringing both precision and imaginative orchestration to works that embody the nationalist impulses of 19th-century Russian music. His symphonies, operas, and chamber works remain central to understanding how Russian composers synthesized European formal structures with distinctly national musical idioms.

Why we love this

Borodin's Second Symphony demonstrates orchestral writing of genuine sophistication without excessive complexity, making it a rewarding choice for accomplished ensembles seeking substantial repertoire beyond the standard canon. The work's architecture is elegant: each movement builds coherently around core melodic ideas, giving conductors and players clear dramatic architecture to shape. Its Russian character is unmistakable yet never provincial, and the orchestration sparkles with color and instrumental independence that rewards careful ensemble preparation.

What to expect

Dark and brooding yet never bleak, the Second Symphony radiates a distinctly Russian temperament through long, singing lines and rich orchestral colors. The music unfolds with inevitability, moving from vigorous declaration to driving urgency to introspection and finally to decisive conclusion, creating a journey that feels both inevitable and personally affecting.

Who it's for

Conductors leading advanced chamber orchestras, youth symphonies, or college ensembles who want to explore substantial Romantic repertoire beyond the immediate German tradition. This symphony rewards ensembles with solid string technique, reliable winds, and the capacity to sustain focused ensemble work across four movements.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the opening unison string theme with gentle horn and bassoon reinforcement; resist the urge to make the strings overwhelm the wind support that anchors the melody.
  • In the second movement's propulsive allegro, maintain rhythmic cohesion across the full orchestra without sacrificing the forward momentum that defines its character.
  • Bring out the solo horn melody in the third movement with warmth and legit tone; this haunting line deserves space and resonance from the accompanying voices.
  • Shape the full orchestral opening of the finale with unified phrasing so that the announcement lands with unified weight rather than scattered attacks.

How to use it

Program this as a centerpiece work on a concert exploring Russian nationalism or Romantic orchestration, where its formal clarity and instrumental writing serve as an anchor for surrounding works. It pairs well with shorter Russian pieces or can open a concert before lighter fare, establishing a serious artistic context for the evening.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading and balancing complex orchestral textures with multiple wind doublings
  • Sustaining melodic phrasing across extended passages with unified string technique
  • Coordinating ensemble rhythm and forward motion in fast-moving allegro sections
  • Managing dynamic contrast and instrumental independence within symphonic form

You May Also Like