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 Conductor Score & Parts

$230.00 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 Conductor Score & Parts

Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version): Full Orchestra Conductor Score & Parts

By Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Item: 36-A817902
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Symphony No. 2 in F-sharp minor, Op. 9 'Antar' (1897 version): Full Orchestra Conductor Score

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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 This version from 1897 is the third, though it remained unpublished until 1913.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).

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Additional Details
Series: Kalmus Orchestra Library
Publisher: Keiser Productions, Inc.
UPC: 735816260323
SKU: 36-A817902
Instrumentation: Full Orchestra, Ensemble Works

More about this title

About the Composer: Nicolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844, 1908) was a Russian master of orchestration whose influence shaped how composers thought about color and texture for generations. A member of The Five and later a professor at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, he combined nationalist impulses with rigorous formal training, creating works that were both intellectually crafted and viscerally appealing to audiences.

Rimsky-Korsakov's orchestrations became legendary for their transparency and brilliance. He wrote the textbook on orchestration that still teaches composers today, and his instrumental writing shows an almost anthropological knowledge of what each section can do. Antar exemplifies this mastery: it's not just a good story well-told, but a laboratory in how to balance melodic storytelling with orchestral sophistication.

Why we love this

This is the version Rimsky-Korsakov himself considered definitive, yet it's rarely performed relative to the work's popularity. Conducting the 1897 revision gives you access to his mature thinking about orchestration and form, with refinements he made after decades of reflection. The programmatic clarity of the Antar legend paired with symphonic four-movement architecture makes it an ideal anchor for a concert that needs both emotional resonance and structural rigor.

What to expect

Antar evokes a shimmering, dream-like world where exotic melodies float across luminous orchestral textures. The four movements unfold like scenes from a fairy tale, moving from tender romance to dramatic conflict to triumphant resolution, all painted with Rimsky-Korsakov's signature palette of unusual instrumental combinations and harmonic richness.

Who it's for

Conductors with orchestras experienced in Russian Romantic repertoire and comfortable with large, flexible instrumentation. This score demands a conductor who can balance detailed orchestral transparency with long-line storytelling and an orchestra disciplined enough to execute quick color shifts and solo passages that shift focus constantly.

How to get the most out of it

  • Balance the exotic melodic material against the orchestral complexity. Rimsky-Korsakov often layers Eastern-influenced themes with dense harmonic and textural support; let the soloists (cor anglais, violins) breathe without drowning in accompaniment.
  • Pay attention to the harp and percussion as structural voices, not ornament. They're essential to the harmonic and rhythmic clarity, especially in transitions between the four movements.
  • The string section needs precision in divisi passages; the writing often splits violas, cellos, and basses into separate lines that create harmonic scaffolding rather than block sonorities.
  • Rehearse the transition points carefully. The 1897 version contains edits to these junctures that may differ from recordings based on earlier versions.

How to use it

Consider this a centerpiece for a Russian nationalism concert, or pair it with other orchestral fairy tales to create a program around Eastern European storytelling traditions. The programmatic content makes it engaging for audiences less familiar with symphonic form, while the orchestral sophistication rewards musicians who've grown beyond student-level repertoire.

Skills your students will build

  • Reading divisi writing across all string sections and tracking multiple independent lines
  • Balancing soloistic and ensemble roles while maintaining harmonic clarity
  • Executing rapid orchestral color changes and unusual instrumental combinations
  • Responding to a conductor's interpretive choices in a programmatic rather than purely structural context
  • Sustaining long musical narratives across multiple connected movements

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