Natasha's Dance (112 page)

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Authors: Orlando Figes

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holidays, or when someone had arrived from the country or abroad, houses were all come and
holidays, or when someone had arrived from the country or abroad, houses were all come and
Moscow was famous for its lavish entertaining. It was not unusual for entire noble fortu
Moscow was famous for its lavish entertaining. It was not unusual for entire noble fortu
Moscow was famous for its lavish entertaining. It was not unusual for entire noble fortu
bon vivants
47
sons et lumieres.
48
Less grand houses could be just as generous in their hospitality, sometimes spending al
Less grand houses could be just as generous in their hospitality, sometimes spending al
Less grand houses could be just as generous in their hospitality, sometimes spending al
49
50
51
The Russian custom of opening one’s doors at lunch and dinner time for anyone of rank was a
The Russian custom of opening one’s doors at lunch and dinner time for anyone of rank was a
The Russian custom of opening one’s doors at lunch and dinner time for anyone of rank was a
52
53
As with food and drink, the Russians knew no limits when it came to partying. Sergei Volkons
As with food and drink, the Russians knew no limits when it came to partying. Sergei Volkons
As with food and drink, the Russians knew no limits when it came to partying. Sergei Volkons
First there was the tea-drinking, then the supper. The sun set, the moon came up - then there
First there was the tea-drinking, then the supper. The sun set, the moon came up - then there
First there was the tea-drinking, then the supper. The sun set, the moon came up - then there
54
The cool light of morning was the enemy of any Moscow host, and there were some who would co
The cool light of morning was the enemy of any Moscow host, and there were some who would co
The cool light of morning was the enemy of any Moscow host, and there were some who would co
clocks so as not to drive their guests away.55 From October to the spring, when provincial f
clocks so as not to drive their guests away.55 From October to the spring, when provincial f
clocks so as not to drive their guests away.55 From October to the spring, when provincial f
55
fronde
56
4
4
4
4
4
In 1874 the Academy of Arts organized a show in remembrance of the artist Viktor Gartman,
In 1874 the Academy of Arts organized a show in remembrance of the artist Viktor Gartman,
In 1874 the Academy of Arts organized a show in remembrance of the artist Viktor Gartman,
Pictures at an Exhibition
Pictures
57
11. Viktor Gartman: design for the Kiev city gate
11. Viktor Gartman: design for the Kiev city gate
11. Viktor Gartman: design for the Kiev city gate
Viktor Gartman: design for the Kiev city gate
study of medieval ornament. The most famous was his fanciful design for the Kiev city gat
study of medieval ornament. The most famous was his fanciful design for the Kiev city gat
study of medieval ornament. The most famous was his fanciful design for the Kiev city gat
okosbnik
the piano suite. One critic called the Gartman design ‘marble towels and brick embroider
the piano suite. One critic called the Gartman design ‘marble towels and brick embroider
the piano suite. One critic called the Gartman design ‘marble towels and brick embroider
58
Moscow was the centre (and the central subject) of this renewal of interest in the ancient
Moscow was the centre (and the central subject) of this renewal of interest in the ancient
Moscow was the centre (and the central subject) of this renewal of interest in the ancient
Antiquities of the Russian State.
kokoshnik
59
lubok
lubok
old folk clothing and embroidery so as to retrieve the ancient Russian style of art that ha
old folk clothing and embroidery so as to retrieve the ancient Russian style of art that ha
old folk clothing and embroidery so as to retrieve the ancient Russian style of art that ha
60
In Gartman’s world of architectural design, the mid-century boom in the neo-Russian style
In Gartman’s world of architectural design, the mid-century boom in the neo-Russian style
In Gartman’s world of architectural design, the mid-century boom in the neo-Russian style
61
62
kokoshnik
f z. Vladimir Shervud: Russian Museum, Red Square, Moscow (the Kremlin to the left). Early
f z. Vladimir Shervud: Russian Museum, Red Square, Moscow (the Kremlin to the left). Early
f z. Vladimir Shervud: Russian Museum, Red Square, Moscow (the Kremlin to the left). Early
Vladimir Shervud: Russian Museum, Red Square, Moscow (the Kremlin to the left). Early 1900
fancy yellow brickwork and ornate folk designs. Moscow entered the twentieth century with
fancy yellow brickwork and ornate folk designs. Moscow entered the twentieth century with
fancy yellow brickwork and ornate folk designs. Moscow entered the twentieth century with
Musorgsky fell in love with Moscow’s ‘Russianness’. He had spent nearly all his life in Pete
Musorgsky fell in love with Moscow’s ‘Russianness’. He had spent nearly all his life in Pete
Musorgsky fell in love with Moscow’s ‘Russianness’. He had spent nearly all his life in Pete
know’, he wrote to Balakirev on his first trip to Moscow in 1859, ‘I had been a cosmopolit
know’, he wrote to Balakirev on his first trip to Moscow in 1859, ‘I had been a cosmopolit
know’, he wrote to Balakirev on his first trip to Moscow in 1859, ‘I had been a cosmopolit
33
64
Savishna
Boris Godunov
Pictures,
* The Musorgsky family owned 110,000 hectares - eighteen villages - with a total popula
* The Musorgsky family owned 110,000 hectares - eighteen villages - with a total popula
* The Musorgsky family owned 110,000 hectares - eighteen villages - with a total popula
The Life of Musorgsky
+ In Russian fairy rales the witch Baba Yagfl lives deep in the woods in a hut whose legs a
+ In Russian fairy rales the witch Baba Yagfl lives deep in the woods in a hut whose legs a
+ In Russian fairy rales the witch Baba Yagfl lives deep in the woods in a hut whose legs a
musical expression, one entirely free from the sonata form of European music, if they wer
musical expression, one entirely free from the sonata form of European music, if they wer
musical expression, one entirely free from the sonata form of European music, if they wer
Pictures
’To you, Generalissimo, sponsor of the Gartman Exhibition, in remembrance of our dear
’To you, Generalissimo, sponsor of the Gartman Exhibition, in remembrance of our dear
’To you, Generalissimo, sponsor of the Gartman Exhibition, in remembrance of our dear
Pictures
Prince Igor,
Khovansh-cbina,
King Lear
Sadko
Scheherazade);
Virgin Soil
kvas’).
Argue with someone more intelligent than you:
Argue with someone more intelligent than you:
Argue with someone more intelligent than you:
He will defeat you.
He will defeat you.
He will defeat you.
But from your defeat you will learn something useful.
But from your defeat you will learn something useful.
But from your defeat you will learn something useful.
Argue with someone of equal intelligence:
Argue with someone of equal intelligence:
Argue with someone of equal intelligence:
Neither will be victorious.
Neither will be victorious.
Neither will be victorious.
And in any case you will have the pleasure of the struggle.
And in any case you will have the pleasure of the struggle.
And in any case you will have the pleasure of the struggle.
Argue with someone less intelligent:
Argue with someone less intelligent:
Argue with someone less intelligent:
Not from a desire for victory
Not from a desire for victory
Not from a desire for victory
But because you may be of use to him.
But because you may be of use to him.
But because you may be of use to him.
Argue even with a fool: You will not gain glory But sometimes it is fun.
Argue even with a fool: You will not gain glory But sometimes it is fun.
Argue even with a fool: You will not gain glory But sometimes it is fun.
Only do not argue with Vladimir Stasov.65
Only do not argue with Vladimir Stasov.65
Only do not argue with Vladimir Stasov.65
5
Stasov wanted Russian art to liberate itself from Europe’s hold. By copying the West, the R
Stasov wanted Russian art to liberate itself from Europe’s hold. By copying the West, the R
Stasov wanted Russian art to liberate itself from Europe’s hold. By copying the West, the R
66
Stasov was a towering figure in Musorgsky’s life. They first met in 1857, when Stasov was the
Stasov was a towering figure in Musorgsky’s life. They first met in 1857, when Stasov was the
Stasov was a towering figure in Musorgsky’s life. They first met in 1857, when Stasov was the
67
68
provinces.69 The School became the stronghold of the so-called ‘Mighty Five’, the kuchka, wh
provinces.69 The School became the stronghold of the so-called ‘Mighty Five’, the kuchka, wh
provinces.69 The School became the stronghold of the so-called ‘Mighty Five’, the kuchka, wh
69
kuchka,
The kuchkist composers were all young men in 1862. Balakirev was twenty-five, Cui twenty-s
The kuchkist composers were all young men in 1862. Balakirev was twenty-five, Cui twenty-s
The kuchkist composers were all young men in 1862. Balakirev was twenty-five, Cui twenty-s
kuchkist
kuchkists,
esprit de corps
70
But there was nothing mythical about the musical language they developed, which set them
But there was nothing mythical about the musical language they developed, which set them
But there was nothing mythical about the musical language they developed, which set them
Boris Godunov.
The Maid of Pskov
Easter Overture
Prince Igor
Khovanshckina.
71
Kuchkist
*Russian church bells have a special musicality which is unlike the sound of any other bel
*Russian church bells have a special musicality which is unlike the sound of any other bel
*Russian church bells have a special musicality which is unlike the sound of any other bel
- the long-drawn, lyrical and melismatic song of the Russian peasantry. Balakirev made th
- the long-drawn, lyrical and melismatic song of the Russian peasantry. Balakirev made th
- the long-drawn, lyrical and melismatic song of the Russian peasantry. Balakirev made th
- its ‘tonal mutability’: a tune seems to shift quite naturally from one tonic centre to
- its ‘tonal mutability’: a tune seems to shift quite naturally from one tonic centre to
- its ‘tonal mutability’: a tune seems to shift quite naturally from one tonic centre to
kuchkist
- its heterophony: a melody divides into several dissonant voices, each with its own va
- its heterophony: a melody divides into several dissonant voices, each with its own va
- its heterophony: a melody divides into several dissonant voices, each with its own va
- its use of parallel fifths, fourths and thirds. The effect is to give to Russian music a q
- its use of parallel fifths, fourths and thirds. The effect is to give to Russian music a q
- its use of parallel fifths, fourths and thirds. The effect is to give to Russian music a q
Secondly the kuchkists invented a series of harmonic devices to create a distinct ‘Russ
Secondly the kuchkists invented a series of harmonic devices to create a distinct ‘Russ
Secondly the kuchkists invented a series of harmonic devices to create a distinct ‘Russ
kuchkists
- the whole-tone scale (C-D-E-F sharp-G sharp-A sharp-C): invented by Glinka and used for the
- the whole-tone scale (C-D-E-F sharp-G sharp-A sharp-C): invented by Glinka and used for the
- the whole-tone scale (C-D-E-F sharp-G sharp-A sharp-C): invented by Glinka and used for the
Ruslan and Liudmila
The Queen of Spades
Sadko
Kashchei the Immortal
Kitezh
- the octatonic scale, consisting of a whole tone followed by a semi-tone (C-D-E flat-F-
- the octatonic scale, consisting of a whole tone followed by a semi-tone (C-D-E flat-F-
- the octatonic scale, consisting of a whole tone followed by a semi-tone (C-D-E flat-F-
flat): used for the first time by Rimsky-Korsakov in his Sadko symphonic suite of 1867, it be

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