Polovtsian Dance Analysis

Background Alexander Borodin, though a practicing chemist, frequently composed in his freetime. Borodin’s pieces are characteristic of Russian Romantic music, a distinct culture within the Romantic era. The opera Prince Igor, completed posthumously in 1890, is often considered his masterpiece, telling the story of Russian Prince Igor’s conquest of nomadic tribes. One of the most spectacular elements of Prince Igor is the “Polovtsian Dances,” a dance performed at the end of the second act. “Polovtsian Dances” draws on traditional musical themes of the nomadic tribes, but remains distinctly Russian. Conversely, George Gershwin and DuBose Heyward’s Porgy and Bess was one of the first American operas to emerge from the American Jazz Age. Porgy
The simple melody throughout the piece is very characteristic of its culture. It was written as a part of an opera that highlighted racial inequalities by telling stories from an African-American community. In the 1920’s, these communities tended to be less educated and were home to a simpler way of life. This is reflected in “Summertime,” as the melody is uncomplicated and relies on just a few repeated notes. The main theme of “Polovtsian Dances” is repeated within a single octave in the first and fourth movements. “Polovtsian Dances” is a dance performed by native nomadic tribes within Prince Igor. Similarly to “Summertime,” the piece represents a simpler culture in comparison to the conquesting Prince Igor and his armies. The simplicity of the culture is represented in the simplicity of the melody. It is incredibly significant that both Borodin and Gershwin represented these cultures through their music in this way. The simplicity of the melodies within the two pieces indicates an awareness of less developed cultures that combine to create their own musical culture. Despite being set in very different time periods, Prince Igor and Porgy and Bess both address issues surrounding cultural identity within a larger