Aleksi Matschawariani

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Aleksi Matschawariani ( Georgian ალექსი მაჭავარიანი ; also Russian Alexei Matschawariani ; born September 10 . Jul / 23. September  1913 greg. In Gori ; † 31 December 1995 in Tbilisi ) was a Georgian composer .

Life

Matschawariani studied composition at the Tbilisi Conservatory from 1930 ; He completed his postgraduate studies in 1939 with Pyotr Ryazanov . From 1934 to 1937 and from 1939 to 1946 he headed the music department of the Comedy Theater in Tbilisi. From 1940 he worked as a teacher of music theory at the Conservatory in Tbilisi. From 1956 to 1958 he also directed the State Symphony Orchestra of Georgia.

The piano piece "Chorumi", a Georgian war dance, ensured Matschawariani's first success as a composer. At the suggestion of Evgeni Mikeladze , he soon wrote his first opera. In the 1940s he attracted international attention with his concert for piano and violin and his first symphony. However, he was publicly criticized as part of the formalism campaign of the Central Committee of the CPSU . In 1952, Matschawariani, who had been arrested several times in the 1920s and 1930s, was even scheduled for deportation, which ultimately did not take place.

At the same time his activity in the Georgian Composers Union began; from 1962 to 1973 he worked here as a secretary. His oratorio "The Day of My Home" and his ballet "Othello" brought him particular success. In 1961 he received (on the recommendation of Shostakovich and Chrennikov ) a professorship for composition at the Conservatory in Tbilisi, which he held until 1992. From 1962 to 1970 Matschawariani was a deputy of the Supreme Soviet . In the 1970s he wrote his ballet " The Recke in the Tiger's Skin ", which made him stand out again internationally.

According to his son Wachtang , a prominent Georgian conductor who was very committed to his father's music, Machavariani was generally in a rather weak position with the Soviet authorities. Nevertheless, during his career he repeatedly received prestigious prizes, such as the Stalin Prize in 1951 and the " People's Artist of the USSR " award in 1958 . In 1971 he received the Schota Rustaveli State Prize for the vocal-symphonic cycle "Five Monologues".

style

Matschawariani's music is initially strongly influenced by Georgian folklore. Concise rhythms, orientalizing melodies and harmonics with a fundamental orientation towards traditional European formal schemes are reminiscent of Chatschaturjan . The dramatically sharpened first symphony in particular also reveals the influence of Shostakovich , which manifests Matschawariani's interest in contemporary music within the framework of the Soviet Union.

In his ballet "Othello" psychologizing tendencies can be recognized as well as an increased preoccupation with literary subjects. His style underwent a significant change during this time. His stronger individual profile can be heard clearly for the first time in the second symphony. Compared to earlier works, Matschawariani uses considerably more stringent harmonics here; the tonality is not rejected, but it is often exceeded and distorted.

Influences of Georgian folklore can still be heard, but on a more abstract level (for example through concise drums or the recourse to older, archaic motifs). Matschawariani has also been called the founder of a Georgian "philosophical symphony".

His music of the later years is characterized by its massiveness, partly produced by very large ensembles and rather slow, broad tempos, and its generous structure - single-movement, extensive forms are preferred. The music concentrates on a gradual development that discharges in great increases. Small motifs are repeated as ostinati ; Contrasts and dark timbres are more prominent.

Works

  • Orchestral works
    • Symphony No. 1 in E minor (1947)
    • Symphony No. 2 (1972)
    • Symphony No. 3 (1983)
    • Symphony No. 4 "Youth Symphony" (1983)
    • Symphony No. 5 "Ushba" (1986)
    • Symphony No. 6 "Amirani" (1987)
    • Symphony No. 7 "Gelati" for choir and orchestra based on words by David the Builder (1989)
    • Georgian Festival Overture (1949)
    • Piano Concerto in G minor (1944)
    • Violin Concerto in D minor (1949)
    • Violoncello Concerto (1987)
    • Stage and film music (including film " The Secret of Two Oceans ", 1955)
  • Stage works
  • Other vocal works
    • "Auf den Tod des Helden" for choir and orchestra (1948)
    • "The day of my home", oratorio (1955)
    • Five monologues after Wascha-Pschawela for baritone and orchestra (1964)
    • Choirs
    • Songs
  • Chamber and piano music
    • 5 string quartets (1978, 1978, 1978, 1982, 1993)
    • Violin Sonata (1989)
    • Pieces for violin and piano
    • 2 piano sonatas (1985, 1985)
    • "Chorumi" (Georgian War Dance) for piano (1937)
    • "Georgian Frescoes" for piano (1977)
    • "Children's album", 12 pieces for piano (1962)
    • numerous other piano pieces

literature

Web links

personal data
SURNAME Matschawariani, Aleksi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES მაჭავარიანი, ალექსი (Georgian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Georgian composer
DATE OF BIRTH September 23, 1913
PLACE OF BIRTH Gori
DATE OF DEATH December 31, 1995
Place of death Tbilisi