Scherzo and Petite Suite

Alexander Borodin’s Scherzo in A-flat major and his Petite Suite (a suite of seven piano pieces), were written in 1885 and were later orchestrated by Alexander Glazunov. The Petite Suite consists of 7 movements, with descriptions supplied by the composer: 1. Au couvent, Andante religioso, C-sharp minor (“The Church’s vows foster thoughts only of God”) * 2.Intermezzo, Tempo di minuetto, F major (“Dreaming of Society Life”) * 3. Mazurka I, Allegro, C major (“Thinking only of dancing”) * 4. Mazurka II, Allegretto, D-flat major (“Thinking both of the dance and the dancer”) * 5. Rêverie, Andante, D-flat major (“Thinking only of the dance”) * 6. Serenade, Allegretto, D-flat major (“Dreaming of love”) * 7. Nocturne, Andantino, G-flat major (“Lulled by the happiness of being in love”).