Rimsky-Korsakov “Capriccio espagnol”
Notes by TŌN violinist Hanyu Feng
Rimsky-Korsakov’s Capriccio espagnol portrays a world of sunlit dances, colorful rhythms, and festival scenes. It began as a violin fantasy on Spanish themes, but quickly grew into a spectacular showcase for the entire orchestra, composed and premiered in 1887. It’s hard to believe that Rimsky-Korsakov never set foot in Spain..
The music itself not only transfers you to Spanish dances and celebratory scenes, but also immerses you in a colorful sound world through the layering of different instrumental colors. The orchestra becomes a painter’s palette: the strings swirl, the woodwinds shimmer like bright sunlight, and the brass adds bold, festive flashes of color. With these elements seamlessly combined together, the music feels like a tour through a landscape that is exotic and vibrant.
The first movement, “Morning Song”, depicts a Spanish morning. The clarinet and solo violin bring playful and virtuosic melodies, while the percussion drives the music forward with a festive pace. It is an energetic, bright, and bold introduction to the world of Spanish dance. The second movement shifts to a gentle and lyrical style. Each instrument offers a different texture of melodic lines, and the music reveals a calm, genuine beauty through these varied melodies.The third movement returns to the Morning Song, but it is transformed: even brighter and more playful than before, shining with a new brilliance through a different key and refreshed orchestration. This brings the music to a heightened point in the festival atmosphere. After a sequence of solos in the fourth movement, the final movement erupts into a traditional Spanish fandango. The sharp accents, bold brass lines, and driving percussion push the music forward. The momentum continues to build until the orchestra reaches a brilliant, triumphant finish.