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Title: It's called the pentatonic scale
Review: This recording of the Borodin b minor symphony is excellent, and the colorful orchestration that entranced Debussy and his colleagues is easily heard due to the clear sound (too clear in the first movement, actually - one of the cello players sounded a little tinny to me). The first movement, with its blatantly nationalistic motto theme, is balanced with a sparkling scherzo and an andante with an achingly beautiful song-like theme. The finale, with the exuberance characteristic of Borodin and of the Mighty Five in general, is sprightly and cheerful. Its main theme is pentatonic (consisting of a five-note scale), like most music from folk sources (yes, including America, which does not mean that we "ripped" it from anywhere, simply that it is the single most pervasive system of tonal organization in the world). This recording is highly recommended, as it represents the vast majority of Borodin's orchestral output, and not badly, either.
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