Mily Balakirev - Russia (Русь), symphonic poem (1863; 1907) [Score]

Mily Balakirev (1837-1910), Symphonic Poem “Russia“ (1863–64, , 1907) or Second Overture on Russian Themes for orchestra. Moscow RTV Symphony Orchestra Guennady Rozhdestvensky Description by Hector Bellman (Allmusic) Initially planned as an overture on Russian themes, Russia was first presented in a concert of the Free School in 1864. Balakirev revised the work numerous times before arriving at its final incarnation in 1884, at which time he gave the work the title by which it is most commonly known today. The work opens in a larghetto tempo. Two chords precede the presentation of the first theme, a tune in minor mode with a modal flavor, taken from a song called “It was Not the Wind.“ This theme is developed. Then the tempo changes to Allegro moderato for the appearance of “I’ll Go Up,“ a major-mode song. The opening theme returns, followed by a third song, “Jolly Katia in the Fields“. These themes are developed and combined. The 15