Monday 22 November 2010
Tune of the Day: Procession of the Nobles
by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arranged for solo flute
The opera-ballet Mlada (which is the name of a main character) was composed between 1889 and 1890 by Russian composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
An orchestral suite was derived from the opera by the composer himself in 1903, and included five numbers. The final piece, which is known as the “Procession of the Nobles” and originally opened the second act of the opera, is by far the most famous; with its high-spirited brass fanfares and boisterous percussion, it comes extremely close to being a march... in 3/4 time!
If you find the opening too monotonous, you may want to skip directly to measure 20: that's the main theme.
Thanks to Elizabeth for suggesting this piece!