In the Steppes of Central Asia - Borodin - Mongolia

[John1Can]

My dear poster, What wonderful memories you give me! This piece was on the very first classical recording I ever bought for myself (back in the stoned age of the '60's!). I have always loved it, and love it even more tied to your beautiful presentation. Thank you!

[SojournFive]

Makes you want to be there, best played full screen with lots of sub bass. Thanks for the experience!

[clydesight]

Great post. Very good musical performance and the pictures are priceless. Thanks for posting, I really enjoyed this.

[TheDarmardar]

thanks. reminds me of "the tale of the weeping camel"

[dowdesap]

Simple and full of beauty

[videoschnider]

I wonder this music was played in the scene the E.T says goodbye tothe boy in movie.

[pantiara2]

I know I've heard this in movies... can anyone think of an example to jog my memory?

[MsKimousse]

Très beau !

[AdolescenTheory]

This is absolutely breath taking!

The classical piece and the scenery in the video!

[peachmelba16]

I just love this piece..even without these beautiful visuals it's easy to imagine the way this place looks and feels.

[mat1500]

The music, so hauntingly beautiful, as is all of Borodin, combined with the Mongolian scenes, is truly a journey magnificant, Gilda! Your historical and musical notes are appreciated very much likewise. Ken

[rephaim23]

Very cool music and pictures, really captures the imagination. Borodin would be happy with this.

[cheesemongerinF]

What a beautiful piece- music and visuals. I spent time in Mongolia and can recall the chill of the April air when coming out of the smoky yert and seeing the lone horseman in the distance. The pace that Sanderling takes it at is just right.

[handrixxxx]

magnifico!! plus de 35 ans depuis la derniere ecoute de cette piece et que dire de la visite , des paysages, merci !

[KOPKE9]

VERY BEAUTIFUL MUSIC AND IMAGES!

MY FAV.

KISSES. M.I.

[5610winston]

Eat your hearts out, all you western European wannabes! None of you ever wrote anything like this: two simple themes woven into the most glorious musical travel log in the literature. Tchaikovsky and Liszt and Strauss working as a team couldn't do it better!The syncopation of the pizzicato is almost perfectly in sync with the off-beat sway of the riders against the steps of the bactrians. Makes you wonder if Borodin ever took a ride on one?

Video illustrates the music very well. Great playing!

[wks1978]

@5610winston Ever seen the score to this? Beautiful I agree, but musically it is childishly simple.

Really easy to play for everyone involved. Not an musical masterpiece, but masterpiece of artistic imagery certainly.

One of my favourite short orchestral pieces.

[5610winston]

@wks1978 I said in my comment that the themes are simple, but if it's so easy to play, why are there so many dreadful and embarrassing performances posted? This is the best.

Borodin took these two simple themes of his own invention, added the high harmonics in the violins and the plodding pizzicato, and created something wonderful. Is this "childishly simple" or the product of a master at the height of his power, one who knew precisely how much was enough and how much would have been too much?

[wks1978]

@5610winston Yesterday I played bass in this piece with a dreadful amateur orchestra that I had been called into.

Even in the hands of players like that the piece still sounded great. I agree with you that it is the product of a master who know precisely how much texture was sufficient.

It seems odd, however to claim that this piece is a finer example of compositional craft that the works of Tchaikovsky, Liszt and Strauss.

But as I said, this short piece is one of my favourites!

[opensecret51]

Dearest Gilda Had a visit at your Chanel and found this treasure The sublime music and beautiful little film you created took me on that mysterious Journey Thank you ..a pleasure !!!

Masha

[omgzorzlikewow]

Good lord, the oboe solo from 1:33 to 1:50 annoys the hell out of me. That one note Borodin keeps altering...it just sounds so wrong!

That is, unless I've somehow found two videos where the oboist makes the same mistake? Highly doubtful.

[wks1978]

@omgzorzlikewow The solo instrument in this section is a cor anglais, not an oboe.

[kickdrummer7]

Absolutely incredible music.

[supersentiger]

absolutely beautiful song.

5:43 always gives me chills when i hear it. truly magnificent

[kyalangelamink]

Played this for our UIL contest in orchestra!! Varisty Full Orchestra!! <3333 we got a 2! that passage beginning at 4:00 is the HARDEST THING IN THE WORLD!! I love this recording soo much better than our. except you can't really hear the pizz.

[Parysia77]

@kyalangelamink Thank you for your post. You're absolutely right about the pizzicato -- darn, I should have noticed that before I selected this version, but glad you enjoyed it just the same. Wishing you continued success with your music....

[NexusofAvalon]

you guys do realize this music is not about the glory of the steppes, its about a group of russians protecting a caravan traveling across mongolia and killing all the asians they meet

[Parysia77]

@NexusofAvalon It's about Russians protecting Asians, not killing them. This orchestral work idyllically depicts a caravan of Central Asians crossing the desert under the protection of Russian troops. The opening theme represents the Russians, the haunting strains of an ornamented eastern melody on English horn, represents the Asians. Amidst these two ethnic melodies is heard a "traveling" theme in pizzicato that represents the plodding hoofs of the horses and camels. -- Source: Wikipedia

[piotrmil]

@NexusofAvalon

>Implying I cannot imagine something different in my head while I'm listening to this beautiful piece of music.

[fred5ers]

@NexusofAvalon it's about music you moron

[Poppergeno]

@NexusofAvalon I've never heard that hypothesis. Borodin's music is notable for its orientalism (which is why it was used in Kismet), whether it's the Polovtsian Dances from Prince Igor, his second symphony, or his quartets. But Borodin himself was from Georgia, and, though brought up as a Russian, shared in both worlds. His musical flavor, be it Russian nationalism or eastern "exoticism", is thus not patronization but self-recognition.

[Thunderwolf666]

Superb video, wonderful piece of music. The steppes are the most beautiful places on Earth

[scorch0902]

masterpiece

[anais110490]

thank you for this wonderful video!!

I love the music

it is the best music i 've ever played at the orchestra!!

[Remarimi]

Really nice video with fantastic photos. Very high quality!! Thanx!!

[cashstore1]

Very beautiful Gilda. Thank you.

[Parysia77]

@cashstore1 Thank you, Glenn!

[fred5ers]

@cashstore1 was borodin there? it's about music , nothing else. You probably believe in ufo's

[billyguns2]

Many thanks for sharing one of my favorite pieces, conducted by one of my favorite and woefully little known great conductors; the video is also absolutely wonderful!

[Parysia77]

@billyguns2 Thanks so much for the nice comment -- I appreciate it!