“Moscow” Letters by Giacomo Puccini to the Director Vladimir Alekseyev: First Publication

2021 ◽  
pp. 90-114
Author(s):  
Е.Е. Прыткова ◽  
А.В. Сахарова ◽  
Н.В. Хорошилова

В статье впервые публикуется переписка Джакомо Пуччини и оперного режиссера Владимира Алексеева, ставшего одним из первых популяризаторов творчества композитора в России. Указанные письма впервые вводятся в научный оборот и таким образом дополняют корпус переведенного ранее эпистолярного наследия. В письмах, относящихся к 1913–1917 годам, затрагиваются разные аспекты творчества Пуччини, в том числе связанные с российской музыкальной культурой: постановка оперы «Девушка с Запада» в Москве, отклики на творчество Скрябина, Рахманинова и Стравинского, ситуация с постановкой опер Пуччини в Большом театре. Сканированные копии писем предоставлены для работы Российским национальным музеем музыки. С разрешения Музея в статье приводится фотокопия одного из писем Пуччини. This article is the first publication of the correspondence between composer Giacomo Puccini and opera director Vladimir Alekseyev, who became one of the first popularizers of Puccini’s work in Russia. It is the first time that these letters are introduced into scientific circulation and thus supplement the corpus of the previously translated letters of the composer. Letters from 1913 to 1917 touch upon various aspects of Puccini’s work, including those related to Russian musical culture, such as production of the opera La fanciulla del West in Moscow, responses to the works of Scriabin, Rachmaninov and Stravinsky, the situation with staging of Puccini’s operas at the Bolshoi Theater. Scanned copies of the letters are made available for work by the Russian National Museum of Music. With the permission of the museum, the article presents a photocopy of one of Puccini’s letters.

2021 ◽  
Vol 1 (4) ◽  
pp. 187-194
Author(s):  
A. K. Sanko ◽  

The article is devoted to the pedagogical activity of Evgeny Kirillovich Golubev (1910– 1988) — composer, professor of the Moscow State Conservatory, whose 110th birthday was celebrated in 2020. The relevance of the study lies in the fact that for the first time Golubev's contribution to the education of not only Russian composers, but also representatives of different national cultures — Hrant Grigoryan, Kapan Musin, Todor Popov, Andrey Eshpai and others is considered. The questions of the master's compositional pedagogy, which were little studied until now, are touched. The object of the research is Golubev's diary "Alogisms", as well as the memories of his students. The author highlights activities of Golubev's students who connected their creativity with other national cultures. Among them were Valentin Konchakov (1933–1993) who worked in Karelia and contributed greatly to the development of folk art in this republic, and the composer Aida Isakova (1940–2012) who participated in the formation of Kazakh musical culture in Alma-Ata and wrote essays on national themes.


2020 ◽  
Vol 1 (2) ◽  
pp. 95-102
Author(s):  
V. A. Aleksandrova ◽  

The article is devoted to the history of an unrealized performance of M. P. Mussorgsky’s opera "Khovanshchina" orchestrated by B. V. Asafyev. On the basis of archival documents, stored in the Russian State Archive of Literature and Arts, the Russian National Museum of Music, Central State Archive of Literature and Art of Saint Petersburg, the Bolshoi Theatre Museum, most of which are introduced into scientific circulation for the first time, studied the circumstances under which the opera was planned to be staged in the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet (nowadays — the Mariinsky Theatre). Fragments from the reports of the Artistic Council of Opera at the State Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet meetings, the correspondence between B. V. Asafyev and P. A. Lamm, the manuscript "P. A. Lamm. A Biography" by O. P. Lamm and other unpublished archival documents are cited. The author comes to the conclusion that most attempts to perform "Khovanshchina" were hindered by the difficult socio-political circumstances of the 1930s, while the existing assumptions about the creative failure of the Asafyev’s orchestration don’t find clear affirmation, neither in historical documents, nor in the existing manuscript of the orchestral score.


2021 ◽  
Vol 43 (5) ◽  
pp. 51-77
Author(s):  
André Prost ◽  
Alexi Popov

Investigation of a large collection of Neuroptera from Northeastern Nigeria stored untouched in alcohol for four decades in the National Museum of Natural History, Sofia, provided the opportunity to examine unpublished specimens and conduct a thorough review of published literature, establishing the first comprehensive inventory of Ascalaphidae, Palparidae, and Myrmeleontidae of Northeastern Nigeria to date. Specimens had been collected between 1976 and 1978 in Northeastern Nigeria, mostly in Jos City and Plateau State. Five species of Ascalaphidae, four of Palparidae, and 26 of Myrmeleontidae were identified. Bankisus beroni sp. n. and Creoleon nigrithorax sp. n. are described. Gymnoleon gaillardi is not considered a synonym of Gymnoleon exilis and a new synonymy is established: Gymnoleon externus (Navás, 1911) (= Gymnoleon gaillardi Navás, 1912, syn. n.). An examination of unpublished specimens in museum collections and an exhaustive literature review were conducted in order to draw up a comprehensive inventory of the fauna of Northeastern Nigeria, which to date comprises 11 species of Ascalaphidae, 12 species of Palparidae, and 34 species of Myrmeleontidae, of which one species of Ascalaphidae, two species of Palparidae, and 16 species of Myrmeleontidae, as well as the genera Brevibarbis, Bankisus, and Capicua, had not been reported to occur in Nigeria. The chorological information on the genus Bankisus is reviewed, the ranges of the species are critically discussed and corrected, and all known localities are indicated on a map. Bankisus oculatus is reported for the first time from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The first recording of Centroclisis lineatipennis in West Africa is reported. Palpares cataractae and Palpares radiatus are deleted from the list of Nigerian fauna. With these new records, the known ranges of eight species are extended by more than 1400 km. In the process of assessing the geographical distribution of species present in Northeastern Nigeria, six species, as well as the genera Myrmecaelurus and Cueta and the tribe Nesoleontini, are reported for the first time from Burkina Faso.


Author(s):  
Svitlana Shcherbiі

The purpose of the article is to analyze the creative activity of the outstanding representative of the national choral culture Eleonora Vinogradova. To substantiate the importance of the choral conductor's personality and its influence on the formation of modern children's choral performance. To outline the multifaceted activity of E. Vinogradova as a choral conductor, teacher, music, and public figure in the context of active universalism. Understand that the biography of a creative person is an expression of the most typical features of the era, its basic ideas, and is a reflection of historical and socio-cultural events. Methodology. Features of the biographical approach allow us to explore the artist's biography as a way of reconstructing the cultural-historical concept. A systematic chronological approach is being implemented. The scientific novelty lies in the expediency of research and replenishment of new facts of E. Vinogradova's biography from the point of view of the development of choral culture. An attempt was made to recreate for the first time, full of selfless work, the creative path of the artist with an awareness of the essential characteristics of a particular historical period, its culture. Conclusions. According to archival documents and other information sources, the process of formation and formation of professional principles, as well as stylistic features of E. Vinogradova's creative activity is analyzed. The leading sphere of creative activity is defined, namely, the activity of the choral conductor. It is emphasized that the outstanding choral conductor and teacher, the representative of the Kyiv conducting and choral school Eleonora Vinogradova is an active participant of the Ukrainian artistic life with high professional potential. The high cultural potential of the universal creative personality of the conductor-teacher in the processes of formation and development of the national musical culture is proved.


Author(s):  
Oleksandr Antonenko ◽  
Margaryta Antonenko

The purpose of the article is to study the activities of festivals of spiritual songs in the context of the development of the musical culture of Ukraine in the late twentieth – early twentieth century. The methodology is based on historical and culturological approaches. A systematic method is also used to characterize festivals of the Orthodox music tradition in their connection with other components of culture; socio-cultural method – in the study of socio-cultural components of the artistic phenomenon of the festival. The scientific novelty of the work is that for the first time the activity of festivals of Orthodox sacred music as a new phenomenon in the musical culture of Ukraine is comprehensively analyzed. Conclusions. The emergence and active functioning of festivals of spiritual songs is one of the leading trends in the development of Orthodox musical culture in Ukraine. The ideological direction of the festivals is primarily of religious content, and, in addition to overcoming the negative trends in the field of culture, their leading function is the revival of orthodox traditions. Festivals of sacred music in Ukraine currently perform two main functions: educational and cultural. They contribute to the revival of the traditions of orthodox musical culture; demonstrate the traditions of orthodoxy in modern socio-cultural conditions; revive centuries-old traditions of spiritual choral singing of Ukraine; revive centuries-old traditions of spiritual choral singing of Ukraine.


Author(s):  
Aysel Asadova

The article analyzes the musical language of the opera Kerem by A. Adnan Saygun. Ahmet Adnan Saygun was born during the Ottoman period and lived in the newly created Republic of Turkey. Saygun is one of the founders of the Turkish School of Composing, as well as one of the founders of the Turkish Five. The composer paid great attention to folk art and national values. You can always see folk music and folklore in his works. The purpose of the research is to analyze Sufi motives in the scenes of the opera. Mainly, the attention is paid to musical drama and harmonic aspects of the opera, which directly reflect Turkish folklore and musical culture in general. The research methodology lies in solving a scientific and theoretical problem. A number of theoretical and analytical methods have been applied, highlighting the principle of using a literary text in musical scenes that contain phrases that reflect “reunification with the Creator” in Sufism. The use of characteristic rhythmic patterns in mystical scenes, when searching for information, the methods of the axiological concept of culture were used, which made it possible to highlight the characteristic features of Turkish music. The scientific novelty of the research lies in the fact that for the first time the reflection of religious characteristics based on folk music, in particular, based on modal structures and maqams, analysis of the mystical motives of the opera, in combination with modern musical techniques is considered. Conclusions. Saigun’s opera Kerem is one of the rare works based on Sufi philosophy. A clear reflection of the main thought of Sufi philosophy was noted in Kerem, according to which the suffering of the seeker of truth is marked by a return to it. The way of light is the way of Allah. The composer, to show the unique colour and character of Anatolia, the life and customs of people, used the fret and rhythmic structure characteristic of Turkish music. As a result of the study, we see how in Kerem the author enthusiastically and passionately works on national values in all aspects of the opera.


2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (3) ◽  
pp. 284-298
Author(s):  
Elena M. Shabshaevich

The article presents a focused look at the professional relations of the composer and pianist Anton Grigoryevich Rubinstein (1829—1894) with his main Russian publishers — V.V. Bessel and P.I. Jurgenson. The article is based on musical and historical research concerning the history of the Bessel and Jurgenson publishing houses, works on copyright, A.G. Rubinstein’s epistolary, and archival documents from the Russian National Museum of Music. For the first time in music science, there are revealed some pages of the history of personal and business contacts of the three named persons, primarily the conflicts related to the rights to publish the composer’s works in Russia. The first documented contract for the publications of A.G. Rubinstein was received by P.I. Jurgenson (for op. 82, 1868). However, the contract of A.G. Rubinstein with the trading house “Bessel and Co.”, concluded in 1871 (though Rubinstein’s first work had been published by Bessel two years earlier), was much more extensive and significant. Under this contract, it was supposed to publish more than fifty A.G. Rubinstein’s works of various genres, so in the 1870s, V.V. Bessel became the main Russian publisher of the composer. However, in 1879, A.G. Rubinstein unexpectedly changed his main publisher in Russia. This position was taken by P.I. Jurgenson, whose trading house also published an extensive list of Rubinstein’s compositions, as well as his literary works. This is evidenced by several notarized contracts, stored in the Russian National Museum of Music, between Rubinstein and “P.I. Jurgenson” company. Thus, the two leading Russian publishers of A.G. Rubinstein legally formalized their relations with the composer, which allows us to follow, in a reasoned and substantive way, the process of maturation of the institution of copyright for music publications in Russia in the last third of the 19th century.Using the example of A.G. Rubinstein, in comparison with the position of M.A. Balakirev, the article also raises the issue of granting copyright to a publisher not only in Russia, but also “forever and for all countries”. The comparative analysis of publications of the same composer by different publishing companies is also new to Russian musicology, this helps identify certain accents that publishers put in popularizing A.G. Rubinstein’s works. The publication of the composer’s works by various publishers also highlights new aspects in his creative process, in the history of the creation, receipt of the opus number, and the titles of some of his works.


2021 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 60-88
Author(s):  
Sean Curtice ◽  
Lydia Carlisi

The partimento tradition of eighteenth-century Italy developed within a musical culture that prioritized oral pedagogy. While these teaching methods were successful in producing generations of great composers, they have left scholars with vexing questions concerning the precise manner in which partimenti should be realized. The recent appearance of a remarkable and previously unknown manuscript—"Rudimenti di Musica per Accompagnare del Sig. Maestro Vignali," dated 1789—promises to shed invaluable new light on the oral tradition of partimento instruction. The manuscript's likely author is Gabriele Vignali (c. 1736– 1799), a maestro di cappella active in Bologna; it is unique in the presently known canon owing to the detailed footnotes that accompany each of its twenty-four Bassi (one in each major and minor key). Vignali's annotations provide precisely the sort of commentary that was ordinarily restricted to real-time explanation, teaching the student to recognize keys, scale degrees, modulations, cadences, typical bass progressions, and significant motives. The present article and accompanying English-language edition examine this exceptional partimento collection in detail, offering modern partimentisti the opportunity for the first time to listen in, as it were, on a series of lessons between an eighteenth-century maestro and his student.


Author(s):  
Agnieszka Lubera

A small but valuable collection of calendars was donated to the National Museum in Krakow in 1896, 1898 and 1906 by Ignacy Wolski, a Warsaw bibliophile. In the article an overview of these publications is given for the first time. The donation consists of calendars diverse in form and content, published from the end of the 18th century to the early 20th century. Only ten of them were found during the research in the Museum. Most of the preserved calendars was marked with characteristic provenance stamps or stickers;a part of them has some historical notes written by Wolski. They are a great testimony of the past. Wolski’s motifs and idea behind collecting calendars and leaving these publications for future generations in the Museum were also presented in the article.


2021 ◽  
pp. 232-247
Author(s):  
S.V. Anikienko

The article analyzes the circumstances of the publication (December 1903, in the Chernomorskoe poberezh’e provincial newspaper) of the opera singer Pyotr Lodia’s memoirs about his meetings with Pyotr Tchaikovsky, unknown to contemporary researchers till now. The fact that Lodia had performed long before the premiere staging of fragments from the Eugene Onegin opera served as the basis for the singer, referring to the composer’s opinion, to consider himself the first performer of Lensky’s part. The text of this document is being published for the first time. Previously unknown biographical information about the singer’s activities in Novorossiysk is given. The work continues the research line of studying the connections between capitals and provinces at the stage of formation of professional musical culture in the southern regions of the country.


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