Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version) Cover Image

Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works

$190.00 USD
$190.00 USD
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Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version) Cover Image
Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works

Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version): Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works

By Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Item: 36-A817901OS
$190.00
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Description
First written in 1868 by a young Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844-1908), this orchestral suite was originally titled his SYMPHONY No. 2 by the composer, though it was always a programmatic telling of the 'Antar' story. After numerous revisions, Rimsky-Korsakov determined to no longer refer to the work as a symphony at all, but rather as a suite, saying, "The term 'suite' was then unfamiliar [when he initially wrote the work] to our circle in general, nor was it in vogue in the musical literature of western Europe. Still, I was wrong in calling 'Antar' a symphony. My 'Antar' was a poem, suite, fairy-tale, story, or anything you like, but not a symphony. Its structure in four separate movements was all that made it approach a symphony." This confusion and arguments with the publisher about revisions to the plates resulted in four different versions. This version from 1897 is the third, though it remained unpublished until 1913. It is thought to be the version most reflective of the composer's final thoughts on the work, referring to it as a "symphonic suite" rather than a symphony for the first time. (The version from 1903 is not considered final as the publisher refused to make significant alterations to the 2nd or 1875 plates with the 1897 revisions, resulting in a compromise between the publisher and composer for the final iteration.) Instrumentation: 3(3dPicc).2(2dEH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(3-4): Hp: Str (9-8-7-6-5 in set). 11x14 score.

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Oversized Score Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
ISBN10: 1-63-887576-6
ISBN13: 978-1-63-887576-5
UPC: 735816263812
SKU: 36-A817901OS
Instrumentation: Detailed Instrumentation: 3(3dPicc).2(2dEH).2.2: 4.2.3.1: Timp.Perc(3-4): 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 orchestrator whose mastery of instrumental color shaped the sound of late-19th-century music. A member of the Russian nationalist movement, he drew heavily on folk melodies, oriental themes, and Russian history for his compositional material. His orchestration technique influenced generations of composers and remains a model for understanding how to blend and balance large ensemble textures.

Beyond his concert works, Rimsky-Korsakov spent decades teaching at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, where he developed systematic approaches to harmony and orchestration that he later published as influential instructional texts. His willingness to revise his own works throughout his career reflects an artist in constant dialogue with his craft, never settling for a first impulse if he believed a later version better served the music's intent.

Why we love this

This is the version Rimsky-Korsakov himself considered most authentic to his vision, yet it remains less frequently performed than earlier iterations, making it a genuinely distinctive programming choice. The 1897 revision reflects decades of the composer's maturing orchestration technique and structural refinement, offering conductors access to what the composer actually wanted to hear. Programming this version signals serious engagement with the score's textual history while delivering one of the most vividly colored and rhythmically inventive suites in the romantic orchestral repertoire.

What to expect

Antar unfolds as a shimmering, exotic narrative told through brilliantly colored orchestration and flowing, song-like melodies that refuse predictability. The work balances lush romantic harmony with rhythmic vitality and moments of genuine dramatic intensity, all carried by instrumental voices that seem to sing and shimmer as much as any opera. The four movements guide you from intimate, lyrical contemplation through adventure and passion into a finale that radiates both triumph and mystery.

Who it's for

This score serves conductors leading professional and advanced community orchestras who want to explore less-traveled territory in the romantic repertoire without sacrificing spectacular orchestral display. Graduate conducting students and serious amateurs benefit from Rimsky-Korsakov's masterful demonstration of orchestration technique across a full-scale work. Orchestras programming a Russian-focused concert or exploring orientalism in western music will find this 1897 version historically and musically compelling.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the harp against the full orchestration carefully in the opening movement; its role is lyrical and prominent, not merely supportive.
  • Attend to the percussion layering, particularly the timpani figures that often sit beneath the main melodic material. These voices carry structural weight beyond mere accompaniment.
  • Let the woodwind doublings (piccolo, English horn) emerge cleanly; Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestration relies on hearing these timbral combinations distinctly rather than blending them into a wash.
  • Shape the four-movement arc as a narrative journey rather than four independent pieces. The thematic connections across movements reward a conductor who traces their development throughout.

How to use it

Position this as a centerpiece rather than a filler work; its length and orchestral richness demand full attention and benefit from breathing room in the program around it. Pair it with other works from the Russian nationalist school or with western romantic orchestral works that share its lush harmonic language and programmatic impulse. A concert exploring orientalism in 19th-century music, Russian composers, or the evolution of orchestration finds Antar an ideal anchor work.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading large orchestral scores with independent woodwind doublings and complex percussion layering
  • Balancing harp within a full orchestra without losing its lyrical presence
  • Tracing thematic development and structural unity across a multi-movement work
  • Understanding orchestration choices as narrative and expressive tools, not merely timbral decoration
  • Coordinating rhythmic figures distributed across multiple instrumental families

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