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Re: Rimsky-Korsakov Bumblebee

Author: Philip Caron
Date: 2020-03-06 18:49

Hi m1964. I'm glad you put "standard" in quotes - your tongue was in your cheek. The music was intended to evoke the image of a real bee and one's wonder and apprehension of the fascinating monster. Most arrangements for solo are watered far down from the original.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aYAJopwEYv8

Personally I'm a fan of technical display, but since learning that there's yet another astounding technician lurking under every bush, I've come to value it most when the composer deliberately incorporates it as an expressive element in the music. Rimsky-Korsakov did not do that here.

Growing up in Vermont in the 1950's-60's, bumblebees were common to encounter outside, as were a multitude of other insects. Last summer in 2019 I was amazed (and delighted) to actually see a couple bumblebees in flowers set near my house, because I hadn't seen a single one for several years, or any bees. Nor have I in recent years seen butterflies or beetles or grasshoppers. Or many birds. Or wild flowers besides dandelions. Plenty of ticks, though.

If a piece evoking the flight of a bumblebee were written today, it would have no technical display at all, it would be barely audible and evoke a mournful murmur disappearing into the night.

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