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{{Short description|Dances from the opera Prince Igor}}

The '''Polovtsian Dances''', or '''Polovetsian Dances''' ({{langx|ru|Половецкие пляски|Polovetskie plyaski}}), form an exotic scene at the end of act 2 of [[Alexander Borodin]]'s opera ''[[Prince Igor]]''.

The opera remained unfinished when the composer died in 1887, although he had worked on it for more than a decade. A performing version was prepared by [[Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov]] and [[Alexander Glazunov]] in 1890.<ref name=Borodin-RimskKorsak-Glazunov-1890>{{cite book |last=Borodin |first=A. |year=1890 |orig-year=1890 |author-link=Alexander Borodin |title=Le Prince Igor |department=Partition pour chant et piano. [Parts for voice and piano.] |editor1-first=N. |editor1-last=Rimsky-Korsakov |editor1-link=Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov |editor2-first=A. |editor2-last=Glazunov |editor2-link=Alexander Glazunov |place=St.&nbsp;Peterburg, RU |publisher=[[Mitrofan Belyayev|M.P. Belaieff]] |lang=fr, ru, de }}</ref> Several other versions, or "completions", of the opera have been made. The dances are performed with [[choir|chorus]] and last between 11 and 14 minutes. They occur in act 1 or act 2, depending on which version of the opera is being used. Their music is popular and often given in concert as an orchestral showpiece, often with the choral parts omitted. The opera also has a "Polovtsian march" which opens act 3, and an overture at the start. When the dances are given in concert, a [[suite (music)|suite]] may be performed: Overture – "Polovtsian dances and march" from ''Prince Igor''.

==Name==
The name ''Polovtsian Dances'' refers to the [[Cumans]] (''Polovtsy''), who were [[nomadic]] invaders of Russia; the Cumans capture Igor in the opera and then entertain him with dances.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Latham |first1=Alison |title=The Oxford Companion to Music |date=1 January 2011 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-957903-7 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780199579037.001.0001/acref-9780199579037-e-5269 |language=en |chapter=Polovtsian Dances}}</ref>

==Analysis==
{{more citations needed section|date=May 2019}}
{{Listen |type=music |filename=PDP-CH - Staatskapelle Berlin - Leo Blech - Prince Igor - Alexander Borodin - Dance No. 8 - Electrola-ej609-62-788.flac |title=Dance No.&nbsp;8 |description=Performed in 1913 at the [[Berlin State Opera]] by the [[Staatskapelle Berlin]] |length=hide}}
The first dance, which uses no chorus and is sometimes omitted in concerts, is No. 8, entitled "Dance of the Polovtsian Maidens" ["Пляска половецких девушек"]: [[wiktionary:presto#Adverb|presto]], 6/8, [[F major]]; it is placed directly after the "Chorus of the Polovtsian Maidens" which opens the act and is followed by "Konchakovna's Cavatina".

=== Theme from No. 8 ===
<score sound="1">\relative c'''{\key f \major \time 6/8 c4\p( bes8 a bes c bes a bes g a bes) a( g f g f e f e d d4) r8 \bar "||"}</score>
Contains notable instrumental solo for [[clarinet]].

=== No. 17, "Polovtsian Dance with Chorus"===
The dances proper appear at the end of the act as an uninterrupted single number in several contrasting sections, as in the following list. Basic themes are identified by letters in brackets (e.g. [a]) and illustrated in the notation below the list.

; No. 17, "Polovtsian Dance with Chorus": [Половецкая пляска с хором [[Wikipedia:Romanization of Russian|tr.]] Polovetskaya plyaska s khorom]
: [a] Introduction: ''Andantino'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, A major
: [b] Gliding Dance of the Maidens [Пляска девушек плавная]: ''Andantino'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, F{{music|#}} minor
: [c + a] Wild Dance of the Men [Пляска мужчин дикая]: ''Allegro vivo'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, F major
: [d] General Dance [Общая пляска]: ''Allegro'', {{sfrac|3|4}}, D major
: [e] Dance of the Boys [Пляска мальчиков] and 2nd Dance of the Men [Пляска мужчин]:'' Presto'', {{sfrac|6|8}}, D minor
: [b&prime; + e&prime;] Gliding Dance of the Maidens (reprise, soon combined with the faster dancing of the boys): ''Moderato alla breve'', {{sfrac|2|2}}, A major
: [e&Prime;] Dance of the Boys and 2nd Dance of the Men (reprise): ''Presto'', {{sfrac|6|8}}, D minor
: [c&prime; + a&Prime;] General Dance: ''Allegro con spirito'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, A major

;Themes from No. 17:

[a] Introduction: ''Andantino'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, A major:
<score sound="1" lang="lilypond">\relative c'''{\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 84 \key a \major \time 4/4 b8^"[a]"\p( cis d4) \times 2/3{fis8( e d} cis4) d8( cis16 b a4) r2 fis8( gis a4) \times 2/3{cis8( b a} gis4) a2 r2 \bar "||"}</score>

[b] Gliding Dance of the Maidens [Пляска девушек плавная]: ''Andantino'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, F{{music|#}} minor:
<score sound="1" lang="lilypond">\relative c'''{\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 84 \key a \major \time 4/4 b,8-.\p^"[b]" b( fis'4)~fis8 e16( fis) \appoggiatura {d16[e]} d8( cis16 b) cis( d e8~)e4 e8( fis) \appoggiatura{cis16[d]} cis8( b16 a) fis8-. fis( b4~) b8( cis) \appoggiatura{b16[cis]} b8( a16 gis) a( gis fis8~)fis4 fis8 (gis a cis) \bar "||"}\layout{\context{\Score
\override NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-permission = ##f
\override NonMusicalPaperColumn.page-break-permission = ##f}}</score>
Contains notable instrumental solos for [[oboe]] and [[English horn]].

[c] Wild Dance of the Men [Пляска мужчин дикая]: ''Allegro vivo'', {{sfrac|4|4}}, F&nbsp;major:
<score sound="1" lang="lilypond">\relative c'''{\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 4 = 152 \key f \major \time 4/4 g8-.\p^"[c]" g8->~g16( a bes8) bes16( c bes a) a( bes a g) f8-. f->~f16( g f e) e( f e ees) d( ees e f) \break g8-. g->~g16( a bes8) bes16( c bes a) a( bes a g) f8-. f->~f16( g f ees) des( ees des c) bes( c des f) \bar "||"}\layout{\context{\Score
\override NonMusicalPaperColumn.line-break-permission = ##f
\override NonMusicalPaperColumn.page-break-permission = ##f}}</score>
Contains notable instrumental solo for [[clarinet]].

[d] General Dance [Общая пляска]: ''Allegro'', {{sfrac|3|4}}, D major:
<score sound="1" lang="lilypond">\relative c'''{\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 2. = 69 \key d \major \time 3/4 r4\ff^"[d]" a,->( b8) r r4 b->( cis8) r r4 cis->( d8) r r4 d->( e8) r r4 fis4.->( g8) g( fis) fis( eis) eis( e) e( dis) dis( d) d( cis) cis\trill( b) b4-. b-. \bar "||"}</score>

[e] Dance of the Boys [Пляска мальчиков] and 2nd Dance of the Men [Пляска мужчин]:'' Presto'', {{sfrac|6|8}}, D minor:
<score sound="1" lang="lilypond">\relative c''{\set Score.tempoHideNote = ##t \tempo 2. = 100 \key f \major \time 6/8 <<{r8^"[e]" r a(\p e'4.->)~ e2.~e8 r e( g4->) e8( g4->) e8( g4->) e8( a,->)}\\{\hideNotes r2. \unHideNotes r8 c (e d c bes a) r r d,-> r r c-> r r bes-> r4 a8->}>> \bar "||"}</score>

== Lyrics ==
{{move to Wikisource|date=May 2020}}
{|
|+ '''{{big|Text of the first stanza of this section of the opera}}''' <br/>in [[Cyrillic]] [[Russian language|Russian]], [[latin alphabet]] [[Russian language|Russian]], and [[English language|English]]
|-
! [[Russian language|Russian]] [[lyrics]]<ref name=Borodin-RimskKorsak-Glazunov-1890/><ref>{{Wikisourcelang-inline |ru |Князь Игорь (Бородин)/Либретто#№ 17 ПОЛОВЕЦКАЯ ПЛЯСКА С ХОРОМ |Князь Игорь (Бородин) / Либретто – Викитека}} – Displayed title trans: ''Prince Igor'' (Borodin) / libretto – Wikisource. Target file trans title: ''Prince Igor'' (Borodin) / libretto #№&nbsp;17 "Polots Dance with Chorus".</ref>
! [[Transliteration]]
! [[English language|English]] [[translation]]<ref name=BrilliantClassics-PrinceIgor/>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
|{{center|[[kholop|Невольницы]]:}}
<poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Улетай на крыльях ветра
Ты в край родной, родная песня наша,
Туда, где мы тебя свободно пели,
Где было так привольно нам с тобою.
</poem>
| {{center|[[kholop|Nevolnitsy]]:}}
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Uletay na krylyakh vetra
Ty v kraj rodnoy, rodnaya pesnya nasha,
Tuda, gde my tebya svobodno peli,
Gde bylo tak privolno nam s toboyu.
</poem>
| {{center|[[kholop|Slavewomen]]:}}
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Fly on the wings of the wind
To our native land, dear song of ours,
There, where we have sung you at liberty,
Where we felt so free in singing you.
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| <poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Там, под знойным небом,
Негой воздух полон,
Там под говор моря
Дремлют горы в облаках;
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Tam, pod znoynym nebom,
Negoy vozdukh polon,
Tam pod govor morya
Dremlut gory v oblakakh;
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
There, under the hot sky,
The air is full of bliss,
There to the sound of the sea
The mountains doze in the clouds;
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| <poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Там так ярко солнце светит,
Родные горы светом заливая,
В долинах пышно розы расцветают,
И соловьи поют в лесах зеленых,
И сладкий виноград растет.

Там тебе привольней, песня,
Ты туда и улетай.
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Tam tak yarko solntse svetit,
Rodnyye gory svetom zalivaya,
V dolinakh pyshno rozy rastsvetayut,
I solovyi poyut v lesakh zelyonykh,
I sladkiy vinograd rastyot.

Tam tebe privolney, pesnya,
Ty tuda i uletay.
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
There the sun shines so brightly,
Bathing the native mountains in light,
Splendid roses blossom in the valleys,
And nightingales sing in the green forests,
And sweet grapes grow.

You are free there, song,
Fly home.
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{center|[[Polovtsian|Половцы]]:}}
<poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Пойте песни славы хану! Пой!
Славьте силу, дочесть хана! Славь!

Славен хан! Хан!
Славен он, хан наш!
</poem>
| {{center|[[Polovtsian|Polovtsy]]:}}
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Poyte pesni slavy khanu! Poy!
Slav'te silu, dochest' khana! Slav'!

Slaven khan! Khan!
Slaven on, khan nash!
</poem>
| {{center|[[Polovtsian]]s:}}
<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Sing songs of praise to the Khan! Sing!
Praise the power and valor of the Khan!

Praise the glorious Khan!
He is glorious, our Khan!
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| <poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Блеском славы
Солнцу равен хан!
Нету равных славой хану! Нет!
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Bleskom slavy
Solntsu raven khan!
Nyetu ravnykh slavoy khanu! Nyet!
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
In the brilliance of his glory,
The Khan is equal to the sun!
There is none equal to the Khan in glory, none!
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| <poem lang="ru" style="float:left;">
Чаги хана славят хана.
Хана своего.
</poem>
| <poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
Chagi khana slavyat khana.
Khana svoyego.
</poem>
|<poem style="margin-left:2em; float:left;">
The Khan women slaves praise the Khan,
Their Khan.
</poem>
|}

{{clear}}
{|
|+ {{center|{{small|Translation of the remaining lyrics}}<ref name=BrilliantClassics-PrinceIgor>{{cite web |first=Alexander |last=Borodin |author-link=Alexander Borodin |title=''Prince Igor'': An opera in four acts and a prologue; libretto by the composer after ''The Lay of the Host of Igor'' |website=Brilliantclassics.com |url=http://www.brilliantclassics.com/media/445949/94608-Borodin-Prince-Igor-Sung-texts.pdf |access-date=2016-12-20}}</ref>}}
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{center|[[Könchek (Cuman)|Konchak]] [the Khan]:}}
<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
Do you see the captives
From the distant sea;
Do you see my beauties,
From beyond the Caspian Sea?

Oh, tell me, friend,
Tell me just one word:
If you want to,
I will give you anyone of them.
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{center|[[Polovtsian]]s:}}
<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
Sing songs of praise to the Khan! Sing!
Praised be his generosity, praised be his mercy!
Praise him!

To his enemies the Khan is merciless
He, our Khan!
Who may equal the Khan in glory, who?

In the brilliance of his glory,
He is equal to the sun!
Our Khan, Khan Konchak, is equal
In glory to his forefathers!

The terrible Khan Konchak is equal
In glory to his forefathers!
Glorious is our Khan Konchak!
Glory, glory!
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{center|All the [[Slav]]s:}}
{{center|{{small|''Repeats opening phrase.''}} }}
<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
Fly on the wings of the wind
To our native land, dear song of ours,
There, where we have sung you at liberty,
Where we felt so free in singing you.
</poem>
|-  style="vertical-align:top;"
| {{center|[[Polovtsian]]s:}}
<poem style="margin-left:3em; float:left;">
Our Khan, Khan Konchak, is equal
In glory to his forefathers!

The grim Khan Konchak is equal
In glory to his forefathers!
Glory, glory to Khan Konchak!
Khan Konchak!

With your dancing entertain the Khan,
Dance to entertain the Khan, slaves!
Your Khan!
Dance to entertain the Khan, slaves!
Your Khan!

With your dancing entertain the Khan!
Entertain with dancing!
Our Khan Konchak!
</poem>
|}

== Ballets Russes performances ==
As part of his first {{Lang|fr|Saison Russe}} at the [[Théâtre du Châtelet]] in Paris, [[Sergei Diaghilev]] presented ''Polovtsian Scenes and Dances'', consisting of act 2 of ''Prince Igor'', with full orchestra and singers. The premiere took place on 18 May 1909. The choreography was by [[Michel Fokine]] and the sets and costumes were designed by [[Nicholas Roerich]]. In later seasons, without singers, the work was given as ''The Polovtsian Dances''. For the 1923 season, it was partly re-choreographed by [[Bronislava Nijinska]].<ref>{{cite book |last=Garofala |first=Lynn |year=1998 |title=Diaghilev's Ballets Russes |place=New York, NY |publisher=DaCapo Press |page=384}}</ref>

In 1971, the ballet was presented by choreographer [[Igor Moiseyev]] in the USSR Folk Dance Ensemble (Одноактный балет "Половецкие пляски". Балет Игоря Моисеева). It was premiered at the Palais des Sports at the Porte de Versailles in Paris; in Moscow, in the [[Tchaikovsky Concert Hall]], in Leningrad and other cities of the USSR. The ballet was filmed.{{citation needed|date=November 2020}}

== In popular culture ==
Themes from the Polovtsian Dances have been used widely in popular culture. The 1953 musical ''[[Kismet (musical)|Kismet]]'' is mostly adapted from Borodin's music, including these dances.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Zipes |first1=Jack |title=The Oxford Companion to Fairy Tales |date=2002 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-860509-6 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780198605096.001.0001/acref-9780198605096-e-419 |language=en |chapter=Kismet}}</ref> The most prominent example is the popular standard "[[Stranger in Paradise (song)|Stranger in Paradise]]," adapted from the "Gliding Dance of the Maidens".<ref>{{cite book |last1=Hischak |first1=Thomas S. |title=The Oxford Companion to the American Musical |date=1 January 2009 |publisher=Oxford University Press |isbn=978-0-19-533533-0 |url=https://www.oxfordreference.com/display/10.1093/acref/9780195335330.001.0001/acref-9780195335330-e-990 |language=en |chapter=Kismet}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|25em}}

== External links ==
{{Commons category|Polovtsian Dances}}
* {{ChoralWiki|Polovetsian Dances (Alexander Borodin)|prep=of}}
* {{IMSLP|work=Prince Igor (Borodin, Alexander Porfirevich)|cname=Prince Igor}}
* {{YouTube|kns3F5Q0gTc|''Polovtsian Dances''}}, Dutch National Opera

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[[Category:Orchestral suites]]
[[Category:Compositions by Alexander Borodin]]
[[Category:1890 compositions]]
[[Category:Ballets designed by Nicholas Roerich]]
[[Category:Opera excerpts]]