If I Could Choose Only One Work By...BORODIN

[@miltonjohnston1683]

An idol for me and many of my fellow music-loving fellow chemists. He was one heckuva chemist as well as composer.

[@dennisschwartzentruber3204]

This site ROCKS !

[@FREDGARRISON]

I've read that Borodin didn't remember his wedding anniversary until the last minute and there was no time to order a gift for his wife, so he composed this String Quartet No. 2 as a present. Guess old Alex had to finish the work or his wife would really be pissed. Do you know what Borodin was told when he went to Central Asia? He was told to WATCH HIS STEPPE !!! They don't get any better folks. Another good video, Dave.

[@joncheskin]

I am going to out on a limb and say that Borodin's 2nd quartet is a reasonable candidate for greatest string quartet ever written. Of course creations like Beethoven's Op 131 (which also made your If I Could Only Choose One Work list), Schubert's G major quartet, Debussy's Quartet in G minor, Shostakovich's Quartet No 8, Dvorak's American Quartet et al often have greater technical ingenuity, or epic quality, or whatever. Borodin, however, gets the quartet to sing in a way that seems very special to me. Every time I play it I just melt (it also helps to be the cellist in this piece). In a genre that at its core is intimate and heartfelt, nobody does it better than Borodin in this piece.

[@jasonquinlan731]

For me it would have to be Symphony No.2, one of the most underrated symphonies in the catalogue.

[@curseofmillhaven1057]

Good choice. In reality Borodin's chamber music per se. is ripe for reevaluation - the 1st String Quartet is wonderful too (the trio section of the scherzo with it's magical string harmonics a beautifully evocative idea) and the String Quintet is not to be sneezed at either.There's a download from Presto music of his complete chamber works on Brilliant Classics (3 hours of music for five quid....brilliant performances well worth it!)

[@abdul7591]

Personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for Borodin’s First Symphony.

[@steveschwartz8944]

Great choice. I love all of Borodin's chamber music. I also have trouble choosing the Quartet #2 over the Symphony #2.

[@Vandalarius]

Great choice. His first string quartet is also so incredibly underrated.

[@maximisaev6974]

Perfect pick Dave. Thanks for the beautiful choice. Now I have no excuse but to listen to it this evening. Thanks again!

[@jamesboswell9324]

Love the choices here and also the idea that Borodin is "like a familiar piece of furniture that's just there sitting in the corner..." That made me laugh. Reminds me too that I've not listened to the two seconds (the symphony or string quartet) in literally decades. Time to give them both a spin again. (Along with "In The Steppes of Central Asia", a favourite treat.)

[@Jasper_the_Cat]

Sure but I love the first quartet, too. That 4th movement rocks!

[@jg5861]

Agreed! I find it his most delightful masterwork and it has his unmistakable signature through it all. My love for his music started with it, then the album with symphony no.2 and Prince Igor excerpts conducted by Tjeknavorian was a wonderful next step.

[@Dodecatone]

I myself partial to Borodin's symphony in B minor, as it was was the first symphony I ever played (as a clarinet in youth orchestra), but I recognize the absolute genius of his string quartets. The St. Petersburg Quartet performs both nos. 1 and 2 splendidly.

[@michelangelomulieri5134]

Fully agree with the choice!

[@johannesbluemink4581]

Once again, my choice also! And it's a pity that 'In The Steps of central Asia' isn't developed into a larger work, although the 2 melodies are gorgeous, just as Mr. Hurwitz indicated! His 2nd Symphony is also full of good tunes!

[@OuterGalaxyLounge]

If you hadn't quoted the old commercial ("I'm sure you recognize this lovely melody...") I was going to. lol. I really got into these string quartets a couple of months back when I realized I had neglected them. I'd be interested in your analysis of the florid and sweet older Russian approaches to the music as compared to the sharper and colder styles of now. (EDIT: I just searched and see you've talked about these quartets. I'll check it out.)

[@johannesbluemink4581]

Long time ago, I watched the Musical 'Kismet' with a.o. Howard Keel. It has a lot of Borodin Music, adapted for this Musical, but I was not impressed. I really prefer the NON-musical Movie with Ronald Colman.

[@Bucky55]

Thanks!

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Thank you very much!

[@rhonda8900]

For some reason, I had to work hard regarding this composer in finding recordings I could listen to streaming that did not have hiss or weird sounds, sound like recorded in a bucket or the volume was too low even at full volume. String Quartets are tricky for me as a beginner because they walk a narrow line between being to syrupy or to skeetchy and headache inducing. I did listen to the Budapest Haydn Quartet recording os Quartets Nos. 1 & 2 and found them beautiful and only nominally headache inducing - lol. I much preferred the Staatskapelle Dresden conducted by Kurt Sanderling recording of Symphony #2 but I understand it is not our favorite but most representative so I agree with the pick presented to the grumpy god.

[@zdl1965]

What about the Second Symphony? The most Russian of symphonies, exotic and folksy, beautifully orchestrated and a real rouser!

[@Kyle-ur4mr]

Actually watch the video he mentions it

[@barryguerrero6480]

Another great pick. I'll go with the 2nd symphony, especially since it has a terrific tuba part.

[@Mezzotenor]

Thanks - what an irresistible gem for string quartet, derided by some as simplistic. (Well... so were some of Haydn's early ones.) BY THE WAY: I will attempt to read your mind with Heitor Villa-Lobos: The Bachianas Brasileiras and Choros boxed-set album from BIS. Slam-dunk!

[@brucemiller5356]

well...he won a tony award, or was the co-winner. i can't remember. some of the most gorgeous broadway musical numbers ever, and the OCA features amazing vocals. there were some klunkers, and the book...well, best left at that.

[@robertdandre94101]

by borodine, my favorite work....the symphonic pictures,in the steppes of central asia, a work that reflects these distant lands..among these pastures and these hard-working peasants....contradiction, hector berlioz in these memoirs says that a trip by troika in russia was rather chaotic....!because the paths, especially in the fall, were muddy....

[@robertbubeck9194]

My choice, too. A close runner up for me is "In The Steppes of Central Asia". Funny. I played the Borodin Quartet recording (DECCA) of the String Quartet No. 2 just last night.

[@richardfox2862]

An excellent choice indeed. What I would not choose is the entire opera of Price Igor. Only last month I listened to the recording by that well known supporter of the invasion of Ukraine, Gergiev. I was bored by much of it. Mind you, perhaps it serves me right because I had put together my own Russian opera festival and had listened to 10 or 12 by then while commuting. I have had more than enough and won't be listening to another Russian opera for some time.

[@JoMichael-ik3wy]

Ha, I've been waiting for Borodin. As a fellow organic chemist he's one of my heroes. But we still have many of the 19th century's Big Guns to come - Weber, Rossini, Saint-Saens... I wonder, though, how you'll deal with Telemann, Dave!

[@Cesar_SM]

Telemann's Tafelmusik would be an apt choice.

[@richardcaffyn6884]

Glazunov's chamber music is extensive & very fine

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

I said that.

[@barbaricyawper14]

You were right (mostly) about the title of the Polovstian Dances. In Russian it's "Polovetskie plyaski" so "Polovetsian" is closer than "Polovstian"!

[@brossjackson]

Yeah, that’s the work I would have picked. If that slow movement doesn’t melt the heart of Cancrizans, there’s no hope.

[@vanhouten64]

I would select Prince Igor, which is my favorite opera.

[@MarauderOSU]

Well, since I'm not big on Borodin and I own a recording of thst work, I'll take your word for it here. :)

[@alenaadamkova7617]

I thought the classical composers would like Abba group, or also the song Arrival. There is no text. Or other interesting songs. Maybe Beatles were partially inspired by classical Music or one song seems a bit classical, with string instruments, or Queen songs seem like they are inspred by choral music.

[@DavesClassicalGuide]

Lennon and McCartney were huge Mahler fans, especially Des Knaben Wunderhorn, as mentioned in another discussion. Perhaps that accounts for the wide range of subject matter in their songs.

[@alenaadamkova7617]

@@DavesClassicalGuide McCartney said he was also inspired by Bach in some song.

[@colinmaynard2879]

@@alenaadamkova7617Certainly to use the Piccolo Trumpet in Penny Lane, after hearing it played in a Brandenburg concerto.

[@HerewardTheW]

I would have gone for the C Minor Piano Quintet, but String Quartet No.2 is on just the same high level of consistent quality. If only the strengths and work output of all "The Five" (sans Rimsky-Korsakov, who was fine on his own) could have been combined into one composer.