Dmitri Borissowitsch Kabalewski

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Dmitri Borisovich Kabalevsky ( Russian Дмитрий Борисович Кабалевский ., Scientific transliteration Dmitrij Borisovič Kabalevskij ; born 17 jul. / The 30th December  1904 greg. In St. Petersburg ; † 14. February 1987 in Moscow ) was a Russian composer .

Life

Kabalewski, the son of a mathematician at an insurance company, showed obvious artistic talents in the fields of painting and poetry as a child . In 1912 he also received his first piano lessons, and in 1918 the family moved to Moscow. At first Kabalewski occupied himself with mathematics and economics at the request of his father , but from 1922 earned his living as a silent film pianist. In 1925 he finally entered the Moscow Conservatory , where he studied composition with Georgi Catoire and Nikolai Mjaskowski and piano with Alexander Goldenweiser until 1930 . In 1932 he himself became a composition teacher at this institute after he had been v. a. made a name for himself as a composer with his 1st piano concerto. This year also saw the founding of the Soviet Composers' Union, in which Kabalewski worked in a variety of functions throughout his life. In 1939 he was appointed professor of composition, which he remained until his retirement in 1980.

In 1940 he began working as editor-in-chief of the magazine Sovetskaya Musyka and remained in this position until 1946.

Also in 1940 Kabalewski joined the CPSU , which is why he was entrusted with many public offices throughout his life. In the party resolution of 1948, which attacked the "formalism" in the works of some composers such as Sergei Prokofjew and Dmitri Shostakovich , Kabalewski was not called a formalist, although initially in the criticism. Until his death Kabalewski held many offices and tasks (e.g. he became a member of the Ministry of Culture in 1956). He increasingly turned to educational tasks, which resulted in the establishment of his own magazine on the subject.

Kabalewski received various awards, e. B. in the years 1946, 1949, 1951 the Stalin Prize , 1972 the Lenin Prize , 1980 the State Prize of the USSR and 1974 the title Hero of Socialist Labor . In 1970 he became a corresponding member of the German Academy of the Arts , he was an honorary member of the International Music Council .

Audio language

Kabalewski was initially under the influence of his teacher Nikolai Mjaskowski, later he orientated himself more towards Sergei Prokofjew. The basis of his work are the demands of socialist realism . His music is firmly anchored in tradition and always moves within the framework of tonality . A playful change between major and minor is particularly characteristic of his style . The subject is mostly catchy and popular; Kabalewski was brilliant as an orchestrator and knew how to use the orchestra effectively. The great vitality and freshness of his compositions should be emphasized. Often this is associated with a neoclassical touch. However, this does not exclude drama and great pathos, especially in the works that thematize social events. In particular, he knew how to compose very effectively for certain instruments. A special focus in Kabalewski's work is the work for young musicians. In this area he showed the great ability to compose on the one hand in a technically easy way and easily understandable for children, on the other hand not to slide into the banal, but on the contrary to address the intellect of the young player. In his later works (from around 1960) Kabalewski showed a tendency towards greater introversion and freer harmony formation.

Works

Orchestral works

  • Symphony No. 1 in C sharp minor op.18 (1932)
  • Symphony No. 2 in C minor, Op. 19 (1934)
  • Symphony No. 3 in B flat minor op. 22 "Requiem" with choir (1933)
  • Symphony No. 4 in C minor, Op. 54 (1956)
  • "The Comedians", Suite op. 26 (1940)
  • Pathetic Overture in B minor, Op. 64 (1960)
  • "To the Eternal Fire", symphonic poem op. 85 (1968)
  • further symphonic poems

Concerts

  • Piano Concerto No. 1 in A minor, Op. 9 (1928)
  • Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor, Op. 23 (1935, rev. 1973)
  • Piano Concerto No. 3 in D major op.50 (1952)
  • Piano Concerto No. 4 in C major, Op. 99 “Prague Concert” (1975)
  • Violin Concerto in C major op.48 (1948)
  • Violoncello Concerto No. 1 in G minor op.49 (1949)
  • Violoncello Concerto No. 2 in C minor, Op. 77 (1964)

Operas

  • "Colas Breugnon" op. 24 (1937, rev. 1968)
  • "In the Fire" op. 37 (1942)
  • "The Taras Family" op. 47 (1947, rev. 1967)
  • 2 more operas and one operetta

Other vocal music

  • " Poem des Kampfes " for choir and orchestra op. 12 (1931)
  • Requiem op.72 (1962)
  • "Über die Heimat", cantata for children's choir and orchestra op. 82 (1965)
  • Songs
  • Children's songs (including "Our Country", 1950)
  • Music for films (including Shchors , 1939; Enemy Whirlwind , 1953)

Chamber music

  • String Quartet No. 1 in A minor op.8 (1928)
  • String Quartet No. 2 in G minor op.44 (1945)
  • 2 pieces for violoncello and piano op.2 (1927)
  • 5 Etudes in major and minor for solo cello op.68 (1961)
  • Violoncello Sonata in B flat major op.71 (1962)

Piano music

  • Piano Sonata No. 1 in F major, Op. 6 (1927)
  • Piano Sonata No. 2 in E flat minor, Op. 45 (1945)
  • Piano Sonata No. 3 in F major, Op. 46 (1946)
  • 30 Children's Pieces, Op. 27 (1938)
  • 24 preludes op.38 (1944)
  • 24 easy pieces op.39 (1944)
  • "Lyric Wise Men" op. 93 (1972)
  • many more smaller pieces

Film music

  • 1953: Enemy whirlwind ( Вихри враждебные / Wichri wraschdebnyje )

Web links

Commons : Dmitry Kabalevsky  - collection of pictures, videos and audio files

Individual evidence

  1. ^ Igor Karpinsky:  Kabalevskij, Dmitrij Borisovič. In: Ludwig Finscher (Hrsg.): The music in past and present . Second edition, personal section, volume 9 (Himmel - Kelz). Bärenreiter / Metzler, Kassel et al. 2003, ISBN 3-7618-1119-5  ( online edition , subscription required for full access)
  2. ↑ Dmitri Kabalewski on the WarHeroes page. Retrieved September 9, 2018 (Russian).
  3. ^ Members of Honor IMC
personal data
SURNAME Kabalewski, Dmitri Borissowitsch
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Кабалевский, Дмитрий Борисович (Russian)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Russian composer
DATE OF BIRTH December 30, 1904
PLACE OF BIRTH St. Petersburg
DATE OF DEATH February 14, 1987
Place of death Moscow