Information AboutScheherazade (rimsky-korsakov) |
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The suite is divided into four movements. The composer was persuaded to give them programmatic titles as follows, but later removed them in favor of mere tempo markings and discouraged attempts to read literal storytelling into the music.
The musical theme which opens the first movement is supposed to represent the domineering Sultan; this theme is built on four notes of the descending Whole Tone Scale . But soon (after a few Chord s in the Woodwind s reminiscent of the opening of Mendelssohn's ''Midsummer Night's Dream'' overture), we hear the one theme that appears in every movement; this represents the character of the storyteller herself, Scheherezade, his wife, who eventually succeeds at appeasing him with her stories. This is a haunting, sensuously winding melody for Violin Solo , accompanied by Harp . Both of these two themes are shown below. |
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