IN THE STEPPES OF CENTRAL ASIA

Written to honor Tsar Alexander II, who promoted the expansion of the Russian empire towards the East, this symphonic poem describes a caravan of Asian folks who cross the desert steppes of the Caucasus under the protection of the Russian army. The two principal themes, the solemn Russian theme and the typically oriental theme of the Asian folks, intermingle with the recurrent travel theme, which features strings pizzicato to represent the pawing of the dry ground of the desert by horses and camels.