The Myth of Falcon

File:20190502 Pomnik Turula Budapest 1108 2051 DxO.jpg

Overture "The Myth of Falcon" Op.65 is inspired by a mystical symbol in the Hungarian legendry - Turul,{{Cite web |last=Béni |first=Alexandra |date=4 April 2016 |title=Turul, the mystical Hungarian mythological bird |url=https://dailynewshungary.com/turul-the-mystical-hungarian-mythological-bird/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=dailynewshungary.com}} According to the composer in an interview with Anna Hörömpöli of the MÁV Symphony Orchestra, Ichmouratov wanted to choose a topic close to Budapest and Hungarians in general. This led to the initial title of the Overture - "The Dream of Turul." However, upon discovering that the "Turul" was not solely associated with positive imagery in Hungarian history,{{Cite web |last=KissPál |first=Szabolcs |date=1 June 2014 |title=The Rise of a Fallen Feather: The Symbolism of the Turul Bird in Contemporary Hungary |url=https://www.e-flux.com/journal/56/60354/the-rise-of-a-fallen-feather-the-symbolism-of-the-turul-bird-in-contemporary-hungary/ |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=e-flux.com}} Ichmouratov clarified that the work's title carried no political intentions and subsequently changed it to "The Myth of the Falcon".{{cite news |last1=Hörömpöli |first1=Anna |title="Úgy repül, mint Stravinsky Tűzmadara!" |url=https://mavzenekar.blog.hu/2020/10/08/_ugy_repul_mint_stravinsky_tuzmadara |access-date=29 September 2023 |publisher=mavzenekar.blog.hu}} The Turul is a mythological bird of prey, in Hungarian tradition mostly depicted as a hawk or falcon. According to Csibi Loránd of Bocskai Rádió the Turul legend, rooted in Hungary's prehistoric past, serves as a relic of ancient Hungarian faith, embodying divine powers and symbolizing monarchic sovereignty. This mythical bird of prey is revered as the national symbol, representing providence and guiding principles in Hungarian culture.{{cite web |last1=Loránd |first1=Csibi |title=The Turul, a Mystical Hungarian mythological bird |url=https://www.bocskairadio.org/en/turul-mystical-hungarian-mythological-bird/ |website=www.bocskairadio.org |date=10 April 2016 |access-date=29 September 2023}}

The Overture comprises several episodical sections which could be divided into two larger parts. A typical performance lasts somewhat around 11 minutes.

{{Ordered list

| type = upper-roman|Adagio misterioso - Allegro maestoso - Adagio misterioso|Allegro rapido - Adagio magnifico

}}The composer aimed to evoke the gigantic bird's physical reality, monumentality, and flight before the audience's ears, akin to Stravinsky's Firebird soaring through the air.

Regarding the form, Ichmouratov described the piece as a romantic overture without repetition or regularity. Furthermore, the composition incorporates Hungarian folk tunes, such as "Marosszéki kerek erdő"

Example of inspiration from Hungarian traditional folk theme "Marosszéki kerek erdő" in Ichmouratov's Overture "The Myth of Falcon"

;mm. 31–34

{ \new PianoStaff << \relative bes' {

\clef "treble" \numericTimeSignature\time 4/4 \key e \minor \tempo "Allegro maestoso" 4 = 110 | % 1

\stemDown bes4 ^ "Oboes" _\f \stemDown es4 \acciaccatura { \stemUp es16

( } \stemDown d8 ) \stemDown es4. | % 2

\grace { \stemUp as16 ( [ \stemUp g16 \stemUp ges16 ) ] } \stemDown

f2 \grace { \stemUp g16 ( [ \stemUp gis16 \stemUp as16 ) ] }

\stemDown bes2 | % 3

\stemDown as8. [ \stemDown g16 ^. ] \stemDown f8 ^. [ \stemDown g8

^. ] \stemDown f8 ( \stemDown es4 ) \stemDown g16 ( [ \stemDown f16

) ] | % 4

\stemDown bes,4. \stemDown as16 ( [ \stemDown c16 ] \stemDown bes2 )

\bar "|."

}

\new Staff \relative bes,, {

\clef "bass" \numericTimeSignature\time 4/4 \key e \minor | % 1

1 ^ "Bassoons" | % 2

1 | % 3

1 | % 4

1 \bar "|."

} >> }

The Hungarian folk song "Marosszéki kerek erdő" was collected by Hungarian composer Béla Bartók in 1914 in Jobbágytelke, a village in the Maros-Torda County. The area is currently part of Romania and is located in historical Transylvania. From 1876 to 1920, it was an administrative unit in the eastern part of the Kingdom of Hungary. Bartók discovered "Marosszéki kerek erdő" along with 42 other Transylvanian upper summer folk songs, subsequently bringing them to Budapest.{{Cite web |title=Innen hozta magával Bartók Béla az "Erdő, erdő, erdő" kezdetű népdalt. |url=https://www.errearra.org/jobbagytelke |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=www.errearra.org |language=hu}}{{Cite web |title=Erdő, erdő, erdő, marosszéki kerek erdő |url=https://systems.zti.hu/br/hu/browse/35/8447 |access-date=23 May 2024 |website=systems.zti.hu/br/hu/ - Institute for Musicology of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences}}

The Hungarian folk song "Marosszéki kerek erdő" which Ichmouratov integrated into his Overture "The Myth of Falcon"

{

<<

\relative c' {

\key d \mixolydian

\time 4/4

\tempo 4 = 90

\set Staff.midiInstrument = "piano"

\transposition c'

% Erdő, erdő, erdő, marosszéki kerek erdő,

d4 g fis g a2 d2 c8 b a b a g4. d2 d4 r \bar "||" \break

}

\addlyrics {

Er -- dő, er -- dő, er -- dő, ma -- ros -- szé -- ki ke -- rek er -- dő.

}

>>

}

{{external media

| topic = Performed by MAV Budapest Symphony Orchestra, Daniel Boico, conductor

| audio1 = [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hYeAfc6_OHM I. Adagio misterioso - Allegro maestoso - Adagio misterioso II.Allegro rapido - Adagio magnifico]

}}

File:Composer Airat Ichmouratov and conductor Daniel Boico after premiere of the Overture "The Myth of Falcon".jpg

The Overture "The Myth of Falcon" is scored for the following orchestra (percussion, performed by 4 players):{{cite web |title=Ichmouratov, Airat: The Myth of Falcon, op.65 |url=https://daniels-orchestral.com/ichmouratov-airat/the-myth-of-falcon-opus-65/ |access-date=29 September 2023 |website=daniels-orchestral.com |publisher=Daniels' Orchestral Music Online}}

• 1 flute piccolo
• 2 flutes
• 2 oboes
• 2 clarinets in B{{Music|b}}
• 2 bassoons (second doubles contrabasson)
• 4 horns in F
• 2 trumpets in B{{Music|b}}
• 3 trombones: tenor, bass
• tuba
• timpani
• triangle
• cymbals
• tambourine
• snare drum
• bass drum
• tam tam
• glockenspiel
• xylophone
• tubular bells
• harp
• strings

{{reflist}}

• {{official website|https://airatichmouratov.com/|Airat Ichmouratov - composer, official website}}
• [https://collections.cmccanada.org/final/Portal/Composer-Showcase.aspx?component=AAIL&record=f8319c38-657d-4352-84b8-80a17a500724 Canadian Music Centre]

{{Airat Ichmouratov}}

{{Portal bar|Classical Music|Canada}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Overture The Myth of Falcon (Ichmouratov)}}

Category:Compositions by Airat Ichmouratov

Category:2020 compositions

Category:Music with dedications

Category:Concert overtures

Category:21st-century classical music