Russlan and Ludmilla

Among the most exciting and well-loved overtures in the orchestral repertoire, this transcription has been meticulously scored for the modern symphonic band/wind ensemble. String parts have been assigned to appropriate voices in woodwinds and brass in the exact way Glinka intended. Articulations have been carefully added to enhance the technique and dynamics have been made consistent and clear. Mikhail Ivanovich Glinka (1804-1857) was the first Russian composer to gain wide recognition within his own country and is often regarded as the fountainhead of Russian classical music. His compositions were an important influence on other Russian composers, most notably Borodin, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov, who produced a distinctive Russian style of music. Glinka's second opera, composed in 1842, Russlan and Ludmilla, is rarely performed today, but the overture, which Glinka composed in 24 hours, has become a staple of orchestral repertoire. It is as much fun to play as it is to listen to and when you leave the hall you may find yourself whistling the tunes!