Tchaikovsky famously referred to Mikhail Glinka’s orchestral work Kamarinskaya as “the acorn from which the oak of Russian symphonic music grew.” Indeed, Glinka is widely regarded as the father of Russian classical music, and not just the symphonic branches. Through his travels and apprenticeships, Glinka absorbed Western musical forms and conventions which he then integrated with traditional Russian elements to create a unique style. This became the foundation for the next generation of Russian composers.

Glinka embraced the song-cycle form (likely inspired by his time in Germany) in Farewell to Petersburg, the tenth installment of which is “The Lark.” Taking a leaf out of Schubert’s book, Glinka uses the piano prelude to establish the bucolic setting of the Russian countryside, including a delicate trill-like gesture meant to emulate a bird call. Subsequent interludes revisit this motif, but the vocal line does not incorporate it. Rather, the melody is simple, repeating often due to the song’s strophic form. Its unassuming nature harkens back to the Russian folk tradition—not abandoned in favor of new, Western forms, but rather spotlighted within them in a distinct new style.

Program Notes by Jack Slavin.
Slavin is a pianist, music educator, and arts professional based in New York City.