Showing posts with label Russische Klassik. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Russische Klassik. Show all posts

Wednesday, February 12, 2014

Nocturne by Alexander Scriabin

Alexander N. Skriabin - His Music and His Life

The Russian Alexander Nikolajewitsch Skriabin was born in Moscow on January 10, 1872 and got his education at the Cadets Corps in Moscow. At the Moscow Conversatory, Skriabin studied piano play and composition together with Sergey Tanejeff (1856-1915) and Anton St. Arenski (1861-1906).

Skriabin toured whole Europe as dazzling and fascinating virtuoso with nervous brilliancy. In his compositions Skriabin tried to link and united himself with Frederic Chopin and Richard Wagner, while he criticized Peter Tschaikowsk's music as "disagreeable"!

Skriabin's composition dreams contented of "selected art", an art with its own regularity; an "art-for-art-standpoint",which has been very unbelievable and unique. A new complete art of work was his first symphony composed within five years from 1895 - 1900.

In 1908 follwed "Le Poeme de l'Extase"; in 1911 "Promoetheus". More and more ecstasy and satanic traits became parts in Skriabin's compositions. Sometimes his exaltations appeared shocking and dis-pleasing. Some dances and sonatas can be found on some very rare records.

Alexander Skriabin passed away in Moscow on April 14, 1915.

Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Modest Mussorgski - His Music and Life

The Russian Modest Mussorgski was born on March 21, 1839 in Karewo/Pskow. He passed away in Saint Petersburg on March 28, 1881.

His ancestors have been Russian princes and their relatives. He was appointed to start an officer's cadet career. In 1856, Mussorgski joined a guard regiment. He became acquainted with Alexander Dargomischski, Cesar Cui and Mily Balakirew.

Modest, meanwhile an alcoholic, didn't know how to convert his incredible music talent into a successful classical music composer career. A genius finder talent let him rush centuries in advance in subscribing incredible composer talents. He developed a unique expressionism and impressionism of unknown Russian music reality.

"Pictures at an Exhibition" and "A Night on a Bald Mountain" as well as "The Dances of the Deaths" belonged to Russian classical music jewels.

Sunday, November 4, 2012

Serge Prokofieff - His Music and Life

Born in Sonzowka-Jekaterinoslaw/Russia on April 23, 1891, Serge Prokofieff passed away on March 5, 1953. His father was an estate trustee; his mother taught him effusive music classes.

At the age of 9, Prokofieff couldn't read or write, but being able to compose, he started with his first opera. His teachers have been all very well-known: Reinhold Gliere (1875-1956), Anatol Liadow (1855-1914), and Nikolai Rimsky-Korssakof (1844-1908).

The "Piano Sonata f-minor" from 1909 became his Opus 1. In 1913, Prokofieff played his "Second Piano Concerto in g-minor" for the honorable dedication of Serge Diaghilew (1872-1929).

At the end of his studies in 1914, he won the "Rubinstein Trophy".

Prokofieff's ballet "Ala and Lolly" became a flop; some pieces from this ballet, known as "Skythetic Suite" became a scandal in 1916. Prokofieff's ironical hemisphere, especially remarkable in his piano pieces "Sarcasm" (1912, opus 17) widened certain uneasiness among music lovers. 

His "Symphony classic d-major" (1916/1917) became a continuous success.

(To be continued!)