Who composed the 1880 symphonic poem 'In The Steppes of Central Asia'?
In the Steppes of Central Asia In the Steppes of Central Asia In the Steppes of Central Asia (Russian: В средней Азии, "V srednyeĭ Azii", literally "In Central Asia") is the common English title for a "musical tableau" (or symphonic poem) by Alexander Borodin, composed in 1880. The work was originally intended to be presented as one of several "tableaux vivants" to celebrate the silver anniversary of the reign of Alexander II of Russia, who had done much to expand the Russian Empire eastward. The intended production never occurred, but the work itself became, and has remained, a concert favorite ever since its first concert performance,
Symphonic poem Borodin's "In the Steppes of Central Asia" "powerful orchestral pictures, each unique in its composer's output". Titled a "musical portrait", "In the Steppes of Central Asia" evokes the journey of a caravan across the steppes. "Night on Bald Mountain", especially its original version, contains harmony that is often striking, sometimes pungent and highly abrasive; its initial stretches especially pull the listener into a world of uncompromisingly brutal directness and energy. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov wrote only two orchestral works that rank as symphonic poems, his "musical tableau" "Sadko" (1867–92) and "Skazka" ("Legend", 1879–80), originally titled "Baba-Yaga". While this may perhaps be surprising,