Vadim Salmanov 1912-1978

[vandermolen]

Have just purchased Salmanov symphonies which I thoroughly enjoyed. The First is an epic work in the Myaskovsky, Shebalin mould which I have played over and over again since getting the set a week ago. No 2 I knew from a Russian Disc CD; also excellent, perhaps showing more influence of Shostakovich (the dedicatee) and inspired by nature. No 3 is perhaps a bit less convincing although still enjoyable and the valedictory No 4 is moving in an understated way, especially the finale. Mravinsky was a friend of Salmanov and recorded all the symphonies. The recordings are slightly boxed in in that characteristic soviet era way with braying horns etc but it all adds to the atmosphere.  Salmanov's music has a searching/visionary quality to it, which I find most appealing.

I'm very glad to have made aquaintance with these powerful and memorable scores. Any other admirers of Salmanov?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Salmanov-Four-Symphonies-Vadim-Nikolayevich/dp/B000B9WDEQ/ref=sr_1_1/026-1102541-9621200?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1192273293&sr=1-1

[Dundonnell]

Sorry not to have replied earlier! I do have the Salmanov symphonies in my collection and shall play them again to remind myself what exactly they sound like(I can only remember the boxy recordings at present!

(Had my nephew to stay over the weekend so had to endure listening to modern jazz-oh how I do detest it!!)

[vandermolen]

Sorry not to have replied earlier! I do have the Salmanov symphonies in my collection and shall play them again to remind myself what exactly they sound like(I can only remember the boxy recordings at present!

(Had my nephew to stay over the weekend so had to endure listening to modern jazz-oh how I do detest it!!)

Thanks for reply Thought this thread would be a strong candidate for a zero response!

[Dundonnell]

I have now had a chance to listen again to Salmanov's 1st and 4th symphonies-which you particularly recommended.

Yes, I can understand the attraction of the 1st-it is in a pleasantly post-Miaskovsky vein and is certainly a sound example of a Soviet symphony(as opposed to the hack works of many others from the same period). I was more struck though by the 4th and, particularly, by its very beautiful last movement(of course, the improved recording of that work does help here!). As with Miaskovsky in his 27th there seems a sense of the composer "saying farewell"-Salmanov was dead a year later.

Mravinsky was a fantastic conductor with pretty impeccable taste-albeit he wouldn't conduct the Shostakovich 4th or 13th symphonies' premieres! Clearly he believed sufficiently in Salmanov to premiere all four of the symphonies.

A much better composer than Khrennikov-probably better symphonies than those by Kabalevsky(although I haven't actually heard his 3rd or 4th!). Worth exploring by those who might like this type of music!

[vandermolen]

I have now had a chance to listen again to Salmanov's 1st and 4th symphonies-which you particularly recommended.

Yes, I can understand the attraction of the 1st-it is in a pleasantly post-Miaskovsky vein and is certainly a sound example of a Soviet symphony(as opposed to the hack works of many others from the same period). I was more struck though by the 4th and, particularly, by its very beautiful last movement(of course, the improved recording of that work does help here!). As with Miaskovsky in his 27th there seems a sense of the composer "saying farewell"-Salmanov was dead a year later.

Mravinsky was a fantastic conductor with pretty impeccable taste-albeit he wouldn't conduct the Shostakovich 4th or 13th symphonies' premieres! Clearly he believed sufficiently in Salmanov to premiere all four of the symphonies.

A much better composer than Khrennikov-probably better symphonies than those by Kabalevsky(although I haven't actually heard his 3rd or 4th!). Worth exploring by those who might like this type of music!

Thank you

Odd about Mravinsky and Shostakovich No 4 and 13.  Of the post-Miaskovsky symphonies, Shebalin Nos 1 and 5 are favourites but don't write off Kabalevsky No 4. A much more interesting work than it has been given credit for, in my view. It cries out for a modern recording (Chandos?). There was an old Olympia with the Leningrad PO with Kabalevsky (on a double CD with Kabalevsky's, admittedly rather turgid, Requiem). My colleague has now borrowed my Salmanov set (try No 2 also) and I look forward to listening to No 4 again. I have played No 1 a lot. I find something oddly touching about it.

[Dundonnell]

I like the Shebalin symphonies. Shebalin seems to have been a composer of both substance and principle who certainly deserves respect.
Sadly, another Russian composer who died prematurely(aged 60).
As I said, I have never heard Kabalevsky's 3rd or 4th symphonies. Surprised that they have not received modern recordings.

Mravinsky and Shostakovich? Mravinsky certainly refused to conduct the premiere of the 13th symphony in 1962(that difficult task was undertaken by Kondrashin) and his decision was taken for apparently political reasons. The 13th, with its use of Yevtushenko's poem 'Babi Yar' and the direct criticism of Soviet anti-semitism, was always going to be a 'hot potato'. Khrushchev was openly hostile and Mravinsky seems to have decided to avoid becoming implicated. This lead to a serious rift between the composer and a conductor
who had previously been entrusted with most Shostakovich premieres(the 8th symphony is dedicated to Mravinsky). He did later record the 15th symphony but not-as far as I know-the 4th or 14th.

[carlos]

I've a Russian Disc CD with Salmanov's SQ 1,3 and 4 by the great
Taneyev SQ. Splendid works!.

[bhodges]

Thanks for reply Thought this thread would be a strong candidate for a zero response!

But this is exactly why it's great that you started it.  Sometimes I don't have much to contribute to a thread, but eagerly read what others have written, especially about off-the-beaten-track composers.

--Bruce

[vandermolen]

But this is exactly why it's great that you started it.  Sometimes I don't have much to contribute to a thread, but eagerly read what others have written, especially about off-the-beaten-track composers.

--Bruce

Thanks Bruce.

Stand by for more stimulating threads on "deservedly neglected composers" (quote from my brother, at my wedding, referring to the fact that my wife was doomed to years of listening to such music).

Jeffrey

[bhodges]

Thanks Bruce.

Stand by for more stimulating threads on "deservedly neglected composers" (quote from my brother, at my wedding, referring to the fact that my wife was doomed to years of listening to such music).

Jeffrey

--Bruce

[snyprrr]

The Taneyev Quartet has recorded Salmanov and Basner. Any more reviews of Salmanov SQs...and what of Basner?

[Superhorn]

  This composer is a new name to me,and sounds interesting.
The name Salmanov indicates that he may have been from the Soviet Union but not ethnically Russian,possibly Tatar. Do you know aything about this?

[vandermolen]

Melodiya have just issued Mravinsky's recordings of Salmanov's symphonies, which I recommend to those who like Shostakovich, Miaskovsky and Shebalin. No 1 and 4 are especially good but I enjoy them all.
[asin]B00DK56FUG[/asin]

[cilgwyn]

Ooh good! They're getting to the more unusual (off the beaten track) stuff at last!!

[Mirror Image]

Melodiya have just issued Mravinsky's recordings of Salmanov's symphonies, which I recommend to those who like Shostakovich, Miaskovsky and Shebalin. No 1 and 4 are especially good but I enjoy them all.
[asin]B00DK56FUG[/asin]

Kudos for bringing this set to our attention. I don't think I've heard one note of Salmanov's music. I love Soviet music, so this will be something I'm going to keep my eye on. Comes out tomorrow here in the US. Sweet!

[torut]

Melodiya have just issued Mravinsky's recordings of Salmanov's symphonies, which I recommend to those who like Shostakovich, Miaskovsky and Shebalin. No 1 and 4 are especially good but I enjoy them all.

Thank you for the news. I like Salmanov's string quartets, so I want to check his symphonies, too. The recordings were done in 1957-1977. Is the sound quality good? Are they in stereo?

[Mirror Image]

Thank you for the news. I like Salmanov's string quartets, so I want to check his symphonies, too. The recordings were done in 1957-1977. Is the sound quality good? Are they in stereo?

Excellent questions. This might be a deal breaker for me.

[snyprrr]

Thank you for the news. I like Salmanov's string quartets, so I want to check his symphonies, too. The recordings were done in 1957-1977. Is the sound quality good? Are they in stereo?

I'm sure you'd love to give us a detailed report of those SQs? That's the Taneyev SQ playing?

[torut]

I'm sure you'd love to give us a detailed report of those SQs? That's the Taneyev SQ playing?

Yes, it is Taneyev Quartet.





No. 1 (1945) is bold, tragic and romantic. I was fascinated from the dramatic beginning to the grand finale. Andante movement is very beautiful, with subtly dissonant beginning and ending, and a climax in the middle.
No. 2 (1958) was dedicated to his friend who died young.  It starts with a slow movement of sad and beautiful melodies, then Shostakovich-like, ironic sounding Allegro. The last movement is again slow, but this time a little more abstract.
After hearing No. 1 & 2, I was surprised by No. 3 (1961). It's more dissonant and anguish. I felt it a bit monotonic, but it is very powerful.
I got Vol. 2 (No. 4-5) recently and need to listen to it more, but my impression was that No. 4 (1963) & No. 5 (1968) have similar atmosphere as No. 3: more atonal, dissonant, mechanical. Then, No. 6 (1971) returns to be melodic, and even merry sometimes. It is the easiest to ears. I don't know what is the background of this.

Overall, the music is solid, bold and energetic. Probably Vol. 1 (No. 1-3) is more interesting with a wide variety but all is worth hearing, IMO.

[calyptorhynchus]

Thanks for this thread, courtesy of Youtube I have listened to the Symphony No.2 and the String Quartet No.6 and I can add Salmonov to my list of Composers Who Really Can Compose*. The quartet I found particularly beautiful with stylised bird-song in it, like the Britten 3rd Quartet, and like that work it was written shortly before the composer's death.

I'll certainly be getting the two SQ disks. As to the box of symphonies, are they live performances? The ones on Youtube seem to be and the usual soviet bronchitis clinic audience is a bit off-putting with their hacking and rasping.

As an amusing footnote I note that the subtitle of No.2 on Youtube is "The Call of Nature", fortunately I went before I began listening 

* Of the soviet composers I like best Shostacovitch, Eshpai, Ivanovs (Latvian) and most of the the Georgian and Armenian composers whom we know of (who names I can never remember).