DLXXXVII. PROKOFIEV, Sergei (1891-1953)
String Quartet #2 (1941)
1. Allegro sostenuto
2. Adagio
3. Allegro
State Borodin Quartet
(22:34)
In order not to get into Stalin-trouble in those days -- and be accused of writing formalist music -- Soviet composers were safe if they used popular Russian folksongs in their compositions.
Prokofiev removed himself to Nalchik, the provincial capital of the Kabardino-Balkar region. Here he incorporated local folk music of "oriental" character.
First movement
A rugged dance-like theme. Notice the stacked fifths -- from bottom to top: F/C/G/D/A/E!
The opening theme is a Kabardin dance, and here Prokofiev imitates the sound of the kjamantchi, a Caucasian stringed instrument.
A ravishing crazy dissonant dance:
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