FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE

from 'The Tale of the Tsar Saltan'

FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE is mostly known as a piano piece, but it was originally written as an orchestral interlude from Rimsky-Korsakov’s opera The Tale of the Tsar Saltan, during a scene where Prince Gvidon is turned into a bumblebee by a magical swan. 
It was famously transcribed for piano the fellow Sergei Rachmaninov, and has since been performed on every instrument imaginable, from trombone to accordion!

OTHER PIECES COMPOSED BY RIMSKY-KORSAKOV

  • Scheherazade
  • Russian Easter Festival Overture
  • Capriccio Espagnol

FLIGHT OF THE BUMBLEBEE performed by the US Army Band (CC BY-SA)

Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
(1844-1908)

Level 1

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Level 2

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Level 3

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Level 4

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