List of compositions by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

The following is a partial list of compositions by the composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov (1844–1908).

Operas

 * The Maid of Pskov (Псковитянка = Pskovitjanka) (sometimes referred to as Ivan the Terrible), 1868–1872 (1st version), 1876–1877 (2nd version), 1891–1892 (3rd version)
 * Mlada (Млада), 1872 (portions of acts 2 and 3 from project composed collectively by Borodin, Cui, Minkus, Mussorgsky, and Rimsky-Korsakov)
 * May Night (Майская ночь = Majskaja noch’), 1878–1879
 * The Snow Maiden (Снегурочка = Sneguročka), 1880–1881 (1st version), ca. 1895 (2nd version)
 * Mlada (Млада), 1889–1890 (complete setting of unstaged collaborative project from 1872)
 * Christmas Eve (Ночь перед Рождеством = Noč' pered Roždestvom), 1894–1895
 * Sadko (Садко), 1895–1896
 * Mozart and Salieri (Моцарт и Сальери = Mocart i Sal'eri), Op. 48, 1897
 * The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga (Боярыня Вера Шелога = Bojarynja Vera Šeloga), Op. 54, 1898
 * The Tsar's Bride (Царская невеста = Carskaja nevesta), 1898
 * The Tale of Tsar Saltan, of His Son, the Famous and Mighty Bogatyr Prince Gvidon Saltanovich, and of the Beautiful Princess Swan (Сказка о царе Салтане, о сыне его, славном и могучем богатыре князе Гвидоне Салтановиче и о прекрасной Царевне Лебеди = Skazka o care Saltane, o syne ego, slavnom i mogučem bogatyre knjaze Gvidone Saltanoviče i o prekrasnoj Carevne Lebedi), 1899–1900
 * Servilia (Сервилия = Servilija), 1900–1901
 * Kashchey the Immortal (Кащей бессмертный = Kaščej bessmertnyj), 1901–1902
 * Pan Voyevoda (Пан воевода = Pan vojevoda; literally, The Gentleman Provincial Governor), 1902–1903
 * The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya (Сказание о невидимом граде Китеже и деве Февронии = Skazanie o nevidimom grade Kiteže i deve Fevronii), 1903–1904
 * The Golden Cockerel (Золотой петушок = Zolotoj petušok), 1906–1907

Sacred choral
(all a cappella)
 * "Thee, O God, We Praise" ("Тебе Бога хвалим"), for double chorus, 1883
 * Collection of Sacred Musical Compositions by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Used at the Imperial Court. Four-Voice Compositions from the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 22, 1883; contains 8 pieces
 * Collection of Sacred Musical Arrangements by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov Used at the Imperial Court, Op. 22b, 1884; contains 6 hymns based on chant melodies
 * Collection of Sacred Musical Compositions and Arrangements by N.A. Rimsky-Korsakov for Mixed Chorus, 1883–1884; contains 23 pieces, published posthumously in 1913

Secular choral
(a cappella unless otherwise indicated)
 * Two Choruses, Op. 13, for three women's parts, 1874
 * Four Variations and a Fughetta on the Russian Folksong "Надоели ночи", Op. 14, for four women's parts with piano or harmonium ad lib. 1874
 * Six Choruses, Op. 16, variously for mixed, women's, and men's voices, 1875–1876
 * Two Choruses, Op. 18/22, for mixed voices, 1876
 * Four Choruses, Op. 23, for three men's parts with piano ad lib., 1876
 * Poem about Alexei, Man of God, Op. 20, for altos, tenors, and bass with orchestra, 1878
 * Fifteen Russian Folksongs, Op. 19, for mixed voices, 1879
 * "Glory" ("Слава" = "Slava"), Op. 21, for mixed voices with orchestra, 1879–1890
 * Two Choruses, for children's voices, 1884
 * Switezianka, Op. 44, cantata for soprano and tenor soloists and mixed voices with orchestra, 1897
 * Song of Oleg the Wise, Op. 58, cantata for tenor and bass soloists and men's voices with orchestra, 1899
 * From Homer, Op. 60, prelude-cantata for soprano, mezzo-soprano, and alto soloists and women's voices with orchestra, 1901

Works for symphony orchestra

 * Symphony No. 1 in E minor, Op. 1, 1861–1865 (1st version), 1884 (2nd version)
 * Overture on Three Russian Themes, Op. 28, 1866 (1st version), 1879–1880 (2nd version)
 * Fantasy on Serbian Themes, Op. 6 1867 (1st version), 1886–1887 (2nd version); also called Serbian Fantasy
 * Sadko, Op. 5, musical tableau, 1867 (1st version), 1869 (2nd version), 1891–1892 (3rd version)
 * Antar, Op. 9, 1868 (1st version), 1875 (2nd version), 1897 (3rd version), 1903 (amended 2nd version published by Bessel). Originally designated "Symphony No. 2," he later reclassified it a "symphonic suite." (See Rimsky-Korsakov, My Musical Life, 92.)
 * Symphony No. 3 in C, Op. 32, 1866–1873 (1st version), 1886 (2nd version)
 * Music to Mei's drama The Maid of Pskov, suite of five numbers, 1877 (adapted from the opera as incidental music)
 * Fairytale [Сказка = Skazka], Op. 29, 1879–1880
 * Sinfonietta on Russian Themes in A minor, Op. 31, 1879–1884; adaptation of first three movements from string quartet of 1878–1879
 * Capriccio Espagnol, Op. 34, 1887, (Based mainly on Asturian traditional folk music themes)
 * Scheherazade, Op. 35, symphonic suite, 1888
 * Russian Easter Festival Overture (Светлый праздник), Op. 36, 1888
 * Theme and Variation No. 4, 1903, from collective set of variations on a Russian theme, with Artsybushev, Vitols, Lyadov, Sokolov, and Glazunov
 * On the Tomb, Op. 61, prelude, 1904, in memory of M.P. Belaieff
 * "Dubinushka", Op. 62, 1905 (1st version), 1906 (2nd version with choral parts ad lib.)
 * "Greeting" ["Здравица"], 1907, for Glazunov
 * Neapolitan Song [i.e., "Funiculi, funicula"], Op. 63, 1907

Opera excerpts for orchestral concerts

 * The Snow Maiden – Suite; includes "Dance of the Skomorokhi" (act 3) (also known as "Dance of the Clowns" or "Dance of the Tumblers")
 * Mlada
 * Suite; includes "Procession of the Nobles"
 * Night on Mount Triglav, 1899–1901; purely orchestral adaptation of act 3
 * Christmas Eve Suite
 * Includes "Polonaise" (from Christmas Eve, act 3, tableaux no. 7)
 * The Tale of Tsar Saltan
 * Suite: Three Musical Pictures, Op. 57 (1903) (The excerpts are the introductions to act 1; act 2; and act 4, tableau 2)
 * "Flight of the Bumblebee" (from act 3, tableau 1)
 * Pan Voyevoda Suite Op. 59
 * The Golden Cockerel
 * Introduction and Cortège de Noces (Wedding March)
 * Suite (prepared by Glazunov and M. Steinberg)
 * The Legend of the Invisible City of Kitezh and the Maiden Fevroniya, suite (prepared by Glazunov and M. Steinberg)
 * Suite; includes "Wedding Procession" (from act 2 "Little Kitezh on the Volga") & "The Battle of Kershenets" (from act 3, scene 1 "Great Kitezh")

Solo instrumental music with orchestra or band

 * Concerto in B♭, for trombone and military band, 1877
 * Variations in G minor on a theme by Glinka, for oboe and military band, 1878
 * Konzertstück in E♭, for clarinet and military band, 1878
 * Piano Concerto in C♯ minor, Op. 30, 1882–1883
 * Fantasy on Two Russian Themes, for violin and orchestra, Op. 33, 1886–1887
 * Mazurka on [Three] Polish Folk Themes, for violin and orchestra, 1888; also called Souvenir de trois chants polonais
 * Serenade for cello and orchestra, Op. 37, orchestrated in 1903 from cello/piano original

Romances, other art songs and duets
(For solo voice with piano accompaniment unless otherwise indicated.)
 * "Butterfly" [Бабочка = Babochka], duet, 1855
 * "Come out to me, signora" [Выходи ко мне, синьора = Vykhodi ko mne, sin'ora], 1861
 * "In the blood burns the fire of desire" [В крови горит огонь любви = V krovi gorit ogon' ljubvi], 1865 (current provenance unknown)
 * Four Songs, Op. 2, 1865–1866 (often called Four Romances)
 * 1) Lean Thy Cheek to Mine
 * 2) The Nightingale and the Rose (based on Persian poetry)
 * 3) Lullaby (from Lev Mei's verse drama that was the basis for the opera The Maid of Pskov; incorporated later into the opera The Noblewoman Vera Sheloga)
 * 4) From My Tears
 * Four Songs, Op. 3, 1866
 * 1) Jel' i pal'ma
 * 2) Juzhnaja noch'
 * 3) Nochevala tuchka zolotaja
 * 4) Na kholmakh Gruziji (On the hills of Georgia)
 * Four Songs, Op. 4, 1866
 * Four Songs, Op. 7, 1867
 * Six Songs, Op. 8, 1868–1870
 * Two Songs, Op. 25, 1870
 * Four Songs, Op. 26, 1882
 * Four Songs, Op. 27, 1883
 * Four Songs, Op. 39, 1897
 * Four Songs, Op. 40, 1897
 * Four Songs, Op. 41, 1897
 * Four Songs, Op. 42, 1897
 * In Spring [Весной], Op. 43, 1897 (four songs)
 * To the Poet [Поэту], Op. 45, 1897–1899 (five songs)
 * By the Sea [У моря], Op. 46, 1897 (five songs)
 * Two Duets, Op. 47, for mezzo-soprano and baritone or soprano and tenor, 1897
 * Two Songs, Op. 49, for bass, 1882–1897
 * Four Songs, Op. 50, 1897–1898
 * Five Songs, Op. 51, 1898
 * Two Duets, Op. 52, 1897–1898
 * Dragonflies [Стрекозы], Op. 53, for three sopranos, 1897
 * Four Songs, Op. 55, for tenor, 1897–1898
 * Two Songs, Op. 56, for soprano, 1898

Folksong collections

 * Collection of One Hundred Russian Folksongs, Op. 24, 1875–1876
 * Forty Folksongs, 1875–1882

Chamber music

 * String Quartet in F, Op. 12, 1875
 * String Sextet in A, for pairs of violins, violas, and violoncellos, 1876
 * Quintet in B-flat, for flute, clarinet, horn, bassoon, and piano, 1876
 * String Quartet on Russian Themes, 1878–1879
 * First three movements later adapted for Sinfonietta, Op. 31
 * Remaining fourth movement has title "In a Monastery" ["В монастыре"] (version for piano four-hands is entitled "In a Church")
 * Four Variations on a Chorale in G minor, for string quartet, 1885
 * String Quartet "B-la-F", 1st movement, 1886; other movements by Lyadov, Glazunov, and Borodin
 * String Quartet Jour de fête [Именины], finale ("Round-Dance" ["Хоровод"]), 1887; other movements by Glazunov and Lyadov
 * Nocturne in F, for four horns, ca. 1888
 * Two Duets in F, for two horns, 1883?–1894?
 * Canzonetta and Tarantella, for two clarinets, 1883?–1894?
 * Serenade, for violoncello and piano, 1893; also orchestrated as Op. 37
 * String Quartet in G, 1897
 * Trio in C minor, for violin, violoncello, and piano, 1897; completed by his son-in-law Maximilian Steinberg in 1939
 * Theme and Variation No. 4 in G major, for string quartet, 1898; for collaborative Variations on a Russian Theme ("Надоели ночи надоскучили"), with Artsybushev, Skriabin, Glazunov, Lyadov, Vitols, Blumenfeld, Ewald, Winkler, and Sokolov
 * Allegro in B-flat, for string quartet, 1899, for the collaborative set of string quartet pieces entitled Les vendredis, with Glazunov, Artsybushev, Sokolov, Lyadov, Vitols, Osten-Sacken, Blumenfeld, Borodin, and Kopylov

Piano music

 * Six Variations on the theme BACH, Op. 10, 1878 (Waltz, Intermezzo, Scherzo, Nocturne, Prelude and Fugue)
 * Four Pieces, Op. 11, 1876–1877 (Impromptus, Novelette, Scherzino, Etude)
 * Three Pieces, Op. 15, 1875–1876 (Waltz, Romance, Fugue)
 * Six Fugues, Op. 17, 1875
 * Two Pieces, Op. 38, 1894–1897 (Prelude-Impromptu, Mazurka)
 * Variations (Nos. 1, 2, 6, 11, 3, 16 and 19) and Pieces (Lullaby, Little Fugue on the theme BACH, Tarantella, Minuet, Bells [Трезвон – Trezvon], Comic Fugue) from a collaborative paraphrase to the constant theme, 1878 (without opus no)
 * Fugues and Fughettas, 1875–1876 (without opus no)
 * Allegretto in C major, 1895 (without opus no)
 * Prelude in G major, 1896 (without opus no)
 * Theme and 1st variation from collaborative variations to the Russian theme, 1899 (without opus no)
 * Fugue in C major for 4 hands (also: transcription in 2 hands), 1875 (without opus no)
 * Variations to the theme by Misha, c.1878–1879 (without opus no)
 * Song [Песенка = Pesenka] (Andantino) from the army collection Arzunkner, 1901 (without opus no)
 * Finale of the collective Joke-Quadrille for 4 hands, 1890 (without opus no)

Editing or completion of works by others

 * Alexander Borodin
 * Prince Igor (completed with Glazunov)


 * César Cui
 * William Ratcliff (orchestrated several passages for first performance in 1869)


 * Alexander Dargomyzhsky
 * The Stone Guest (orchestration only; composition finished by César Cui)


 * Mikhail Glinka
 * A Life for the Tsar (edited with Mily Balakirev and Anatoly Lyadov)
 * Ruslan and Lyudmila (edited with Balakirev and Lyadov)
 * Complete Orchestral Works (edited with Balakirev and Lyadov)


 * Modest Mussorgsky
 * Boris Godunov
 * Khovanshchina
 * Songs and Dances of Death (orchestration only)
 * Night on Bald Mountain