Iconicity in Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade: A Musical Semiotic and Experimental Approach

This paper investigates the semiotic mechanisms through which Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s Scheherazade communicates narrative meaning in instrumental music. Combining a detailed musical semiotic analysis with an experimental listener survey involving 38 participants, this study explores how the piece utilizes both primary iconicity (direct musical imitation) and secondary iconicity (symbolic emotional expression) to convey the stories and emotions inspired by One Thousand and One Nights. Participants listened to musical excerpts and evaluated their correspondence to narrative summaries, allowing for analysis of how listeners interpret musical cues. The survey results show that listeners are able to identify and interpret key musical icons regardless of formal musical training or paratextual cues such as movement titles. Ultimately, this research affirms Scheherazade as a powerful example of storytelling through sound and offers a broader model for understanding how music communicates across cultural boundaries.