Taras Bulba

1915–⁠18 · Orchestra with organ

Three episodes from Gogol, each ending in a death: Andrei, Ostap and finally their father Taras. The last movement follows the execution with an orchestral proclamation on a large scale.

9 min

Recording

III. The Prophecy and Death of Taras BulbaRoyal Philharmonic Orchestra; Rafael Kubelík · 1958
8:44
The third and last movement of Janáček’s rhapsody Taras Bulba depicts the capture, execution and prophecy of the Cossack leader. The orchestra plays a series of short phrases, and then organ and bells enter and lead into the closing hymn.
Listening notes
1. Opening, Con moto
  Janáček marks the opening Con moto (with movement). The cellos play short, fast runs, and bassoons and horns follow with clipped phrases. The material passes between strings and winds, and pizzicato notes break into the bowed writing.
2. Gogol reading, Brno, 1905
  In 1905 Janáček heard Gogol’s story read in Russian at the Russian Circle in Brno. Ten years later, during the First World War, he began this rhapsody. Its three movements follow the deaths of Taras’s two sons and then of their father.
3. Presto in 2/8
  The Presto sets short wind phrases over a fast accompaniment of snare drum and pizzicato strings. Repeated notes carry the dance, and the instruments pass fragments of melody between them.
4. Muted horns and strings
  The music moves to muted horns and fast-moving strings. Short rests separate their phrases. The horns hold their notes while the violas and cellos alternate quick runs.
5. Coda, Andante, return of the organ
  The coda is marked Andante. The organ returns and broadens the orchestra’s chords while the strings repeat a short phrase. Janáček builds the closing hymn from these repetitions.
6. Maestoso with bells and organ
  The organ holds broad chords, and bells sound over repeated notes in the strings. Janáček marks the passage Maestoso (majestically), then slows to Meno mosso.
7. Capture and death of Taras
  In Gogol’s story Taras is captured and condemned to burn, and he dies predicting his people’s victory. Janáček set the prophecy in the long closing pages of the movement, which are scored for organ, brass and bells.
8. Final Grave, brass, organ and bells
  The final section broadens to Grave. Brass, organ and bells reinforce the closing chords, and the strings hold high notes above the bass.
Open in the Concert Hall

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