Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite: Unused Music for a “Barbaric” Ballet

In 1915, the 23-year-old Sergei Prokofiev set to work on his first ballet score. Commissioned by Sergei Diaghilev for the Ballets Russes, the work, which was given the title Ala and Lolli, moved deep into Slavic mythology. It depicted an epic battle between the forces of light and darkness, represented by the sun god, Veles, and the grotesque monster, Chuzbog. The ballet’s setting centered around the Scythians, a prehistoric nomadic tribe which, beginning around the 7th century BC, occupied the area running from present-day Kazakhstan north into the Russian steppes.

Diaghilev wanted a primitive, “barbaric” ballet in the vein of Stravinsky’s The Rite of Springwhich had achieved a riotous premiere in Paris two years earlier. While working on the score, Prokofiev feared that the scenario that was outlined by his collaborator, the poet Sergei Gorodetzky, was “much too pretty.” Diaghilev found the plot “contrived and static” and the music “uninteresting.” The project was cancelled, and Prokofiev moved on to collaborate with Diaghilev on a more successful work, Chout.

Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite, scored for a vast orchestra which includes triple woodwinds, eight horns, alto trumpet, two harps, piano, and large percussion forces, developed from the ballet’s uncompleted piano score. Its January 16, 1916 premiere at St. Petersburg’s Mariinsky Theatre, conducted by the composer, was called “a scandal in high society” by one critic who reported, “The first movement was received in silence. The last called forth both applause and stormy protests.” Prokofiev wrote,

The timpanist tore the kettledrum head with his furious blows, and Siloti [the impresario who organized the concert] promised to send me the mangled piece of leather as a keepsake. In the orchestra itself there were noticeable signs of antagonism. ‘I have a sick wife and three children, must I be forced to suffer this hell?,’ grumbled a cellist, while behind him the trombones blew fearful chords into his ear. Siloti, in fine fettle, said we had given the audience a right slap in the face.

The opening bars of the first movement, The Adoration Of Veles And Ala, plunge us headlong into a chaotic battle between titanic forces. We get a sense of the Scythians’ ritualistic invocation of the sun. The thrashing cacophony reaches a towering climax with an ominous, ploddingly deliberate march. Soon, primordial dissonance fades into a quietly mysterious and hypnotic dance dominated by the flutes. The violins enter with an eerie dance of their own. The faint, wispy outline of ghosts swirls in the violas while strange, unsettling groans emerge in the basses.

The second movement, The Evil God and the Dance of the Pagan Monsters, is hard-edged rock and roll. It dramatized a hellish scene in the ballet: “As the Scythians make a sacrifice to Ala, daughter of Veles, the Evil God performs a violent dance surrounded by seven monsters.”

The third movement, Night, moves into a serene, celestial landscape. Glistening splashes of color suggest the magical illumination of twinkling stars and shooting fireflies against a shadowy, nocturnal backdrop. This music was intended to accompany a scene in which moon maidens descend to console Ala, who has been harmed by the evil god.

The final movement, The Glorious Departure of Lolli and the Cortège of the Sun, depicts the rescue of Ala and the defeat of Chuzbog by the sun god. The Suite ends with an awe-inspiring musical sunrise which obliterates the forces of darkness.

The Scythian Suite is a dazzling display of orchestral color. Here is Valery Gergiev’s 2003 recording with St. Petersburg’s Kirov Orchestra (now the Mariinsky Theatre Orchestra):

Recordings

  • Prokofiev: Scythian Suite, Op. 20, Valery Gergiev, Kirov Orchestra deccaclassics.com

Featured Image: A Scythian carving

About Timothy Judd

A native of Upstate New York, Timothy Judd has been a member of the Richmond Symphony violin section since 2001. He is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music where he earned the degrees Bachelor of Music and Master of Music, studying with world renowned Ukrainian-American violinist Oleh Krysa.

The son of public school music educators, Timothy Judd began violin lessons at the age of four through Eastman’s Community Education Division. He was a student of Anastasia Jempelis, one of the earliest champions of the Suzuki method in the United States.

A passionate teacher, Mr. Judd has maintained a private violin studio in the Richmond area since 2002 and has been active coaching chamber music and numerous youth orchestra sectionals.

In his free time, Timothy Judd enjoys working out with Richmond’s popular SEAL Team Physical Training program.

1 thought on “Prokofiev’s Scythian Suite: Unused Music for a “Barbaric” Ballet”

  1. Tim;

    I have long admired the Scythian Suite and wish I had been able to play it at least once in my time with the BSO. Leinsdorf was a great proponent and his LP set of the major orchestral works from his time as MD of the BSO is notable, especially the 5th Symphony first movement. He doesn’t march through it at the metronome marking, as far too many renditions do. He takes luxurious amounts of time at the climax of that great movement to savor the grandeur and majesty in the music. Just a few weeks ago I was recommending The Scythian Suite to a friend who had recently discovered Prokofiev’s music. Great to see it come up on your listening list. I will listen again.

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