In my ongoing exploration of Russian music, I decided to listen to Alexander Borodin (1833- 1887). It turns out that I have heard this theme from “Prince Igor”, but never knew the composer until now. What amazes me more is that Borodin was a Chemist and Physicist by trade, and composed in his free time. He joins a long list of composers who had other jobs, partially because music was and still remains an uncertain trade.
I have read of men like Bach’s predecessor in Leipzig, Johann Kuhnau, who was a lawyer and mathematician in addition to a composer. So it should not come as a surprise that Borodin had many skills. This should prove that nobody is either wholly scientific or wholly creative. Many of the greatest figures in classical musical history were both!
