Caucasian Sketches, Suite No. 1, Op. 10 (1894) consists of four "songs" or parts. The suite begins with a vibrant song, In a Mountain Pass, which is characterized by a steady ambitious beat suggesting the steep Caucasus Mountains and makes one feel like a bird flying over them. The second song, In a Village, has a steady beat and becomes more vibrant near the end. The title of a third, In a Mosque, reflects the abundance of mosques in the once Turkish Caucausus and Circassian regions such as Adygea in Russia, and one can here the Muezzin's call to prayer in the music. The most famous and admired portion is the final piece, Procession of the Sardar, a Persian title for a military commander, leader or dignitary.
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