Symphony No.3 (Slavyanskaya) - WJ3012461 | Musica

Boris Koschevnikow's compositions are very popular in Russia. He graduated composition and conduction at the age of 27 and became teacher at the Moscow Conservatory in 1940. He worked as a conductor and composer and wrote amongst many other pieces five symphonies. In his third symphony, which he completed in 1958, he used (similar to Dvorak) folk music from his home country. The first movement refers to two folk songs, one rather rhythmic and almost aggressive, the other rather lyrical and melodious. After the slow waltz of the second movement the woodwind players take the lead in the third movement Vivace: The first theme is presented by the piccolo flute, clarinets and finally the whole woodwind section. The last movement refers to the first, although Koschevnikow uses differend themes here. The original version was designed for Russian concert band, but John Bourgeois created a wonderful adaption for today's wind bands.