Dance of the Jesters, from The Snow Maiden (Rimsky-Korsakov) (string quartet)

Title: Dance of the Jesters, from the opera The Snow Maiden

Composer: Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, arr. David Gable

Instrumentation: Violin 1; Violin 2; Viola; Cello

Printout: 8 pages

Note: Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera The Snow Maiden is based on the stage play by Ostrovsky for which Tchaikovsky had previously written incidental music. The Dance of the Jesters is classic Rimsky-Korsakov, with captivating melodies and imaginative instrumentation. The audio sample below includes the two principal themes.