Reinhold Glière - Symphony No. 3 “Ilya Muromets“

Reinhold Moritzevich Glière (11 January 1875 [O.S. 30 December 1874] – 23 June 1956) was a Russian composer of German-Polish ancestry. Symphony No. 3 in B minor “Ilya Muromets“, Op. 42 (1908-11) dedicated to Alexander Glazunov This is a program symphony, which depicts the life of Kievan Rus’ folk hero Ilya Muromets. I. Wandering Pilgrims: Ilya Muromets and Svyatogor Andante sostenuto – Allegro risoluto. Two pilgrims tell Ilya to become a bogatyr. The most powerful bogatyr, Svyatogor, bequeaths his strength to Ilya as he dies. II. Solovei the Brigand Andante. Ilya encounters Solovei the Brigand, a bandit whose whistle can kill. Ilya shoots him in the eye with an arrow and drags his body to the palace of Prince Vladimir. III. The Palace of Prince Vladimir Allegro. Vladimir the Great of Kiev holds a great feast, at which Ilya decapitates Solovei. IV. The Feats of Valor and the Petrification of Ilya Muromets Allegro tumultuoso – Tranquill