Lesser known Russian/Soviet composers

Started by vandermolen, July 13, 2008, 02:43:48 PM

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Dax

Wyschnegradsky's La journee de l'existence stands up well to repeated listenings so repeated thanks to Drasko for posting it.

There are a couple of early preludes (1916) on youtube - nothing mind-bending, but there are aspects of the first (those downward chromaticisms) which reappear in later works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=MX&hl=es-MX&v=ZGZd_nMLmWc&feature=channel_page

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Dax on February 07, 2009, 02:11:13 AM
Wyschnegradsky's La journee de l'existence stands up well to repeated listenings so repeated thanks to Drasko for posting it.

There are a couple of early preludes (1916) on youtube - nothing mind-bending, but there are aspects of the first (those downward chromaticisms) which reappear in later works.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?gl=MX&hl=es-MX&v=ZGZd_nMLmWc&feature=channel_page

Thanks for the download Dax; also discovered on the margins some pianisric Lyatoshinsky to boot.

Dax

Quote from: Lilas Pastia on January 28, 2009, 05:28:30 PM
Who could resist? Totally obscure composer, a most interesting period in a dark but illustrious musical era, available for free !
I ???????-ed it. Now, is it good ?? :D

Actually he's not that obscure, especially to those who've investigated pre-WW2 microtonal music (apart from the 3 pieces for 2 pianos tuned 1/4 tone apart by Ives, the three most notable composers by general consensus would be Haba, Carrillo and Wyschnegradsky). And yes, it is good!
One thing's become clear: most writings about Wyschnegradsky stress how much he was influenced by Scriabin - and yet this is not particularly obvious in his later music, and certainly not as obvious as with many other Russian composers of the time. There are of course echoes of Scriabin in La Journee de l'existence but 1) it's clear that he was not familiar with late Scriabin, at least nothing later than Prometheus from which there's a clear quote near the end (2 trumpets playing a minor 2nd apart!) and 2) there's an additional, more individual type of harmonic thinking which doesn't appear to derive from Scriabin; with hindsight it's an area which seems to predominate in later microtonal works. For those interested in his theories concerning microtonal writing, there are some interesting "external links" at the bottom of the wiki article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Wyschnegradsky

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Dax on February 07, 2009, 08:08:43 AM
Actually he's not that obscure, especially to those who've investigated pre-WW2 microtonal music (apart from the 3 pieces for 2 pianos tuned 1/4 tone apart by Ives, the three most notable composers by general consensus would be Haba, Carrillo and Wyschnegradsky). And yes, it is good!
One thing's become clear: most writings about Wyschnegradsky stress how much he was influenced by Scriabin - and yet this is not particularly obvious in his later music, and certainly not as obvious as with many other Russian composers of the time. There are of course echoes of Scriabin in La Journee de l'existence but 1) it's clear that he was not familiar with late Scriabin, at least nothing later than Prometheus from which there's a clear quote near the end (2 trumpets playing a minor 2nd apart!) and 2) there's an additional, more individual type of harmonic thinking which doesn't appear to derive from Scriabin; with hindsight it's an area which seems to predominate in later microtonal works. For those interested in his theories concerning microtonal writing, there are some interesting "external links" at the bottom of the wiki article.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ivan_Wyschnegradsky

Gracias! Again.  I'm familiar with only two piano works included in the anthology I in which he is included which suggests a pronounced Scriabin influence.  What you write about his (Wyschegradsky) seems to hold true for other erstwhile Scriabinists: e.g., Roslavetz, Lourie, Saminsky, Obouhov. As did Lyatoshinsky go somwhat modernist after his earlier Gliere influence. I'll access your suggested links.

Drasko

Quote from: Dax on February 07, 2009, 08:08:43 AM
Actually he's not that obscure, especially to those who've investigated pre-WW2 microtonal music (apart from the 3 pieces for 2 pianos tuned 1/4 tone apart by Ives, the three most notable composers by general consensus would be Haba, Carrillo and Wyschnegradsky). And yes, it is good!

Yes, I agree it is good. I've been recently quite enjoying Wyschnegradsky's quarter-tone preludes as played by Christoff & Schleiermacher on Hat-Hut. Actually more than coupled, better known Ives pieces. Here, I've uploaded two of them (1st & 4th), if anyone would like to sample.
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/24/2018019/wyschnegradsky/Wyschnegradsky%20-%2024%20Preludes%20in%20Quarter-Tone%20System%20-%20I.mp3[/mp3]
[mp3=200,20,0,left]http://www.fileden.com/files/2008/7/24/2018019/wyschnegradsky/Wyschnegradsky%20-%2024%20Preludes%20in%20Quarter-Tone%20System%20-%20IV.mp3[/mp3]
(click on play if you want to listen to it online or on that little icone on the right if you want to download)

Dax

http://www.mediafire.com/?nnm44jtzyml

Troisieme et dernier Testament
by
Nicolas Obouhow (Nikolay Obukhov)

thanks to Jonathan Powell on r3ok

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Dax on February 07, 2009, 01:09:15 AM
Deshevov
http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/albumList.jsp;jsessionid=F53740A8A1FEA6BF77956EF0799176A5?name_id1=2992&name_role1=1&bcorder=1

and on youtube a snatch from Deshevov's Ice and steel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25LzcsA6vPo

and Rails
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fSry1hjr8qo


I just wanted to state that I hadn't heard any performed or recorded works by the aformentioned composers.  I have their piano scores in a book entitled "Early Soviet Piano Music."  This is a collection of 20 composers some of whose works have been recorded: viz, Feinberg, Roslavetz, Alexandrov.  I would love to listen to professional playing of represented titles by Leonid Polowinkin.

Dax

#167
Here's a curious resource of piano music which includes a number of works by Lyatoshinsky (plus hisSlavonic concert op 54 amongst the Ukrainian piano concertos). Also the odd piece by Lourie, Deshevov and several Russian composers I've not heard of.

http://nlib.org.ua/parts/piano1.html

It's a Ukrainian site with general interest stuff as well

http://nlib.org.ua/news1.html

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Dax on March 25, 2009, 03:13:59 AM
Here's a curious resource of piano music which includes a number of works by Lyatoshinsky (plus hisSlavonic concert op 54 amongst the Ukrainian piano concertos). Also the odd piece by Lourie, Deshevov and several Russian composers I've not heard of.

http://nlib.org.ua/parts/piano1.html

It's a Ukrainian site with general interest stuff as well

http://nlib.org.ua/news1.html

Interesting.  I accessed the site, but it was all in Russian. That is, The first site displayed.  I clicked on several sites within the general one  but received no response. I'll try again. Indeed there are many relatively unknown (save for the cognoscenti) Russian composers.  Many piano pieces.

pjme

#169
Quote from: Dax on March 24, 2009, 10:14:52 AM
http://www.mediafire.com/?nnm44jtzyml

Troisieme et dernier Testament
by
Nicolas Obouhow (Nikolay Obukhov)

thanks to Jonathan Powell on r3ok

thanks for that download! I attended that concert,but wasn't able to record it.
Here are the details :
Amsterdam Concertgebouw  june 17th 2006
Dutch Radio Philharmonic - Reinbert de Leeuw
Le troisième et dernier testament - 1946 for 5 voices, two pianos, Croix Sonore ( Theremin),organ and orchestra
"Victoire par l'amour: l'avant propos du Livre de Vie"
Part 1 : l'Heure est proche
Part 2 : C'est l'Heure

Monique Krüs : soprano ( Dieu - la - fiançée and Dieu - la -mariée)
Martina Rüping : soprano
Annelies Lamm :mezzo
Marcel Beekman : tenor
Dimitry Ivashenko : bas
4 voices : Seigneur-le - fiançé and Seigneur - le - marié)

Croix sonore/Theremin : Lydia Kavina ( for this performance Lydia Kavina had recontructed the Croix Sonore- a Theremin -with -light).However, the instrument would not perform...a "classic" Theremin was used.)

An e x t r a o r d i n a r y work,lasting ca 45 minutes. It's mostly slow and hieratic, but always "charged" - the orchestra an ever moving tapestry of sound. There are a few colossal climaxes and 1 or 2 quasi lyrical - extatic moments for Theremin and orchestra/voice and Theremin. Soprano Monique Krüs had the stamina to get through all the notes - she's amazing! I listened again today to this impossible, wonderful maelstrom....Reinbert de Leeuw has to be praised & thanked  for such an effort!

If you are willing to be immersed in a cosmic bath of Russian "sobornost" ' (a collective spiritual/artistic experience), go!

Peter



The reconstructed Croix Sonore. see http://viewmorepics.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=user.viewPicture&friendID=210842476



Dax


bhodges

Quote from: Dax on March 24, 2009, 10:14:52 AM
http://www.mediafire.com/?nnm44jtzyml

Troisieme et dernier Testament
by
Nicolas Obouhow (Nikolay Obukhov)

thanks to Jonathan Powell on r3ok

Just downloaded this, which sounds fascinating.  Many thanks!

--Bruce

vandermolen

Discovered two very good Russian/Soviet composers through being sent copies from a kind person on another forum (Musicweb). Balanchivadze and Alexandrov. The former's First Symphony is a terrific score and I have enjoyed discovering Alexandrov whose First Symphony was written at age 77,to be followed by a second at aged 89! Sadly there seems nothing on CD and I can't find anything much about either composer.
"Courage is going from failure to failure without losing enthusiasm" (Churchill).

'The test of a work of art is, in the end, our affection for it, not our ability to explain why it is good' (Stanley Kubrick).

Dax

Alexandrov piano music played by Hamish Milne. Recommended! A bit of Scriabin and Medtner in there. Not an avant-gardist, but no matter; there's good music there.

For those living in London I would recommend this:

Tate Modern Gallery
London
9 May, 7pm
In exhibition Constructivists ? Rodchenko and Popova

Roslavets      Prelude, Three Compositions   
Wyschnegradsky   Quatre fragments     
Protopopov      Sonata no.3           
Mosolov      Turkmenian Nights nos.2 and 3
Deshevov      Rails           
Polovinkin      Ukrainian Folksong     
Zaderatsky      Parade           
Shostakovich      Sonata no.1         

Jonathan Powell, piano

http://www.tate.org.uk/modern/eventseducation/musicperform/18449.htm

and then a trio from Greece playing another group of pieces at 8pm.

karlhenning

Quote from: snyprrr on May 30, 2009, 04:46:57 PM
I have a nice Ivashkin cd of the cello works (on some obscure Russian-like label) as a companion to another Ivashkin disc of Russian cello rarities on the same label. I believe the label has 4 letters in the name. Then, OF COURSE, on any other Russian cello disc I have, whoomp, there it is! I just find it overrated...what's the big deal? And cello sonata No.2 is just too typical of his late style. Was Schnittke the first to... to do WHAT? Did he INVENT the "miserable" sound?

The Chandos disc with the Shostakovich re-scoring of the Schumann Cello Concerto (with Ivashkin as the soloist) also has a Shostakovich re-scoring of a Cello Concerto by Tishchenko.

Drasko

Should be out by late July, from Fuga Libera:



QuotePolovinkin - Piano Works
World Premiere Recordings
   
Suite: Dzuba
Events, Op. 5
Danse Lyrique, Op. 20
Two Pieces, Op. 30
Humoresques 1 & 2
Suite: Les Attraits Seventh Event
Sonata No. 4

Anait Karpova (piano)

Leonid Polovinkin (1894-1949) was a tireless animator of the Russian avant-garde in the 1920s. He then became the official musician and the companion in life of the great Natalia Sats, who founded the renowned musical Theatre for Youth in Moscow - which commissioned Peter and the Wolf. He composed numerous operas for children, ballets, film music, but after Stalin's reign, the war and his premature death, he was forgotten. It is thus a real discovery that Anait Karpova, soloist at the Moscow Philharmonic Orchestra and direct descendant of Natalia Sats, proposes this cd.The extraordinary range of Polovinkin, from innocent joy to dark anxiety, will charm all piano and Russian music lovers.

The new erato



Nikolaj OBUCHOV (1892-1954)
Invocation (1916) [5:33]
Deux Pièces (1915) [6:42]
Conversion (1916) [5:00]
Icône (1915) [3:35]
Création de l'Or (1916) [4:50]

Ivan WYSCHNEGRADSKY (1893-1979)
Deux Préludes pour Piano (1916) [3:40]

Sergey PROTOPOPOV (1893-1954)
II Sonate op.5 (1924) [13:01]
Ivan WYSCHNEGRADSKY
Etude sur le Carré Magique Sonore op.40 (1957) [8:22]

Nikolaj OBUCHOV
Aimons-nous les uns les autres (1942) [1:51]
La paix pour les réconciliés - vers la source avec le calice (1948) [2:49]
Le Temple est mesuré, l'Esprit est incarné (1952) [2:59]
Adorons Christ - Fragment du troisième et dernier Testament (1945) [8:09]

Thomas Günther (piano), rec. 1-4 November 2008, Deutschlandfunk Kammermusiksaal, Köln.

CYBELE SACD 160.404

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Drasko on June 30, 2009, 05:07:15 AM
Should be out by late July, from Fuga Libera:



Indeed!  That one is a must for me.  Is it, or will it be accessible via ArchiveMusic? I'm sure it will be soon.  Thanks for this one.

Drasko

Quote from: erato on June 30, 2009, 05:36:43 AM


Excellent! I missed that one, and it seems it's only the first in the series. July looks like a fine month for fans of obscure piano repertoire. But why on earth Gunther chose Protopopov's 2nd Sonata, that's about only Protopopov that has been already recorded, by Schleiermacher on HatHut. Hopefully he'll venture beyond 2nd in next volumes.

Quote from: schweitzeralan on June 30, 2009, 06:09:14 AM
Indeed!  That one is a must for me.  Is it, or will it be accessible via ArchiveMusic? I'm sure it will be soon.  Thanks for this one.

If you mean ArkivMusic, yes they have it scheduled as future release for August.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=226313&album_group=1

schweitzeralan

Quote from: Drasko on June 30, 2009, 07:25:09 AM
Excellent! I missed that one, and it seems it's only the first in the series. July looks like a fine month for fans of obscure piano repertoire. But why on earth Gunther chose Protopopov's 2nd Sonata, that's about only Protopopov that has been already recorded, by Schleiermacher on HatHut. Hopefully he'll venture beyond 2nd in next volumes.

If you mean ArkivMusic, yes they have it scheduled as future release for August.

http://www.arkivmusic.com/classical/album.jsp?album_id=226313&album_group=1
I did order it from Amazon.  I may order from Archivmusic if Amazon's order is delayed.  Nice to knowthat  the piano works of this composer are now recorded.