Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov or Liadov (Russian: Анато́лий Константи́нович Ля́дов; 12 May [O.S. 30 April] 1855 - 28 August [O.S. 15 August] 1914) was a Russian composer, teacher and conductor.
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8 Russian Folksongs, Op. 58 (1905)
Dedicated to Ivan Bilibin (1876-1942)
1. Religious Chant [Духовный стих] (0:00)
2. Carol [Каляда-Маляда (Рождественские песнопения)] (2:12)
3. Melancholy Song [Протяжная] (3:26)
4. Humorous Song: "I Danced with a Mosquito" [Шуточная "Я с комариком плясала"] (7:06)
5. Legend of the Birds [Былина о птицах] (8:08)
6. Cradle Song [Колыбельная] (9:33)
7. Dance Song [Плясовая] (12:13)
8. Round Dance Song [Хороводная] (13:00)
USSR State Symphony Orchestra conducted by Evgeny Svetlanov
Description by James Reel [-]
An avid collector of Russian folk music, Lyadov arranged eight indigenous pieces into an orchestral suite of about 15 minutes. Together, these Eight Russian Folksongs stand as the composer's signature work, perhaps along with the little tone poems Kikimora and Baba-Yaga. The orchestration is colorful but never garish, relying many times on woodwind solos and pizzicato string effects. The first dance is really a song: "Religious Chant" quietly begins undulating in the woodwinds with what sounds like a Russian Orthodox melody. The tune repeats several times over the course of two minutes, with variety provided by different, subtle countermelodies and an orchestration that shifts from winds to strings and back. "Christmas Carol" is cheerful, but still low key, following the same structural and instrumental pattern as the first piece, except that now, Lyadov introduces a closely related second subject in the middle. "Plaintive Song" or "Lament" is exactly that, featuring a solo cello quietly backed by members of the string section, all of which gathers to carry the movement through its second half with very subtle wind coloring near the end. In "Humorous Song," a buzzing effect in the strings underlies a perky, flute-dominated tune. "Legend of the Birds" ornaments a slightly ominous melody with fleeting, bird-like figures in the woodwinds; the center of this piece is the first truly loud music in the suite. "Cradle Song," for strings, offers a spare, quiet tune over a gently rocking figure. "Round Dance" scampers in on pizzicato strings imitating domras and balalaikas, with the piccolo playing the sparkling main theme. "Village-Dance Song" is an extroverted finale, deploying the entire orchestra, including brass, for a fast but not overbearing celebration.