Fyodor Keneman
Encyclopedia
Feodor Feodorovich Koenemann (Russian
: Фёдор Фёдорович Кёнеман; sometimes transliterated as Fyodor Keneman) (Moscow
, Russia
, 8 April 1873 – 29 March 1937) was Russia
n pianist
, composer
and music teacher.
His last name originated from the Prussian family name Könemann of his father Friedrich Napoleon Könemann (Moscow, 27 February 1838 - Moscow, 23 March 1903).
under Nikolay Zverev
(1892–1895, piano), Vasily Safonov (1895–1897, piano), Anton Arensky
, Sergei Taneyev
and Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
(1897, Music Theory). He was graduated in 1897 with the Great Gold Medal with two specialities - Pianist
and Music theory
.
From 1896 to 1897 Koenemann, being a student, worked as a piano teacher at the Moscow Aleksandrovsky Institute (Russian: Московский Александровский Институт) (Institute for Noble Maidens
).
After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory in 1897, Koenemann moved for two years to Astrakhan
where he was appointed as a director and a piano teacher of the Astrakhan Music Classes. He also organized in Astrakhan the city chorus and the symphony orchestra, finding musicians among the music teachers, students and the military band
s. In 1899 he was called back to Moscow to become a piano teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, and from 1899 to 1901 he was also a conductor of the Russian Choral Society in Moscow.
For the grand opening of the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on 7 April 1901, Koenemann wrote the cantata
-hymn
, which became the official anthem of the Moscow Conservatory.
In 1912, Koenemann became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory and was teaching piano until his retirement in 1932.
He died in Moscow.
, "The Orchestra".
In 1896, he met Feodor Chaliapin
who just moved to Moscow from St. Petersburg to sing at the Moscow Private Opera owned by Savva Mamontov
. Koenemann started a twenty-four-year collaboration with Chaliapin, both as an accompanist and arranger; his arrangement of The Volga Boatmen's Song
made the song well-known abroad after Chaliapin's emigration. Koenemann and Chaliapin - the "Two Feodors" - created the perfect duet
- Koenemann was a virtuoso
pianist, and Chaliapin - was a singer-wunderkind. Chaliapin was 66 days older than Koenemann.
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
: Фёдор Фёдорович Кёнеман; sometimes transliterated as Fyodor Keneman) (Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
, 8 April 1873 – 29 March 1937) was Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and music teacher.
His last name originated from the Prussian family name Könemann of his father Friedrich Napoleon Könemann (Moscow, 27 February 1838 - Moscow, 23 March 1903).
Biography
Feodor Koenemann was trained from 1892 to 1897 at the Moscow ConservatoryMoscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
under Nikolay Zverev
Nikolai Zverev
Nikolai Sergeyevich Zverev was a Russian pianist and teacher known for his pupils Alexander Siloti, Sergei Rachmaninoff, Alexander Scriabin, Konstantin Igumnov, Alexander Goldenweiser, and others.- Life :...
(1892–1895, piano), Vasily Safonov (1895–1897, piano), Anton Arensky
Anton Arensky
Anton Stepanovich Arensky -Biography:Arensky was born in Novgorod, Russia. He was musically precocious and had composed a number of songs and piano pieces by the age of nine...
, Sergei Taneyev
Sergei Taneyev
Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev , was a Russian composer, pianist, teacher of composition, music theorist and author.-Life:...
and Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov
Mikhail Mikhailovich Ippolitov-Ivanov was a Russian composer, conductor and teacher.- Biography :...
(1897, Music Theory). He was graduated in 1897 with the Great Gold Medal with two specialities - Pianist
Pianist
A pianist is a musician who plays the piano. A professional pianist can perform solo pieces, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers, solo instrumentalists, or other performers.-Choice of genres:...
and Music theory
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
.
From 1896 to 1897 Koenemann, being a student, worked as a piano teacher at the Moscow Aleksandrovsky Institute (Russian: Московский Александровский Институт) (Institute for Noble Maidens
Institute for Noble Maidens
Institute for Noble Maidens was a type of educational institution, finishing school in late Imperial Russia. It was devised by Ivan Betskoy as a girl-only institution for girls of noble origin. The first and most famous of these was the Smolny Institute in St.Petersburg.-Institutes for Noble...
).
After graduating from the Moscow Conservatory in 1897, Koenemann moved for two years to Astrakhan
Astrakhan
Astrakhan is a major city in southern European Russia and the administrative center of Astrakhan Oblast. The city lies on the left bank of the Volga River, close to where it discharges into the Caspian Sea at an altitude of below the sea level. Population:...
where he was appointed as a director and a piano teacher of the Astrakhan Music Classes. He also organized in Astrakhan the city chorus and the symphony orchestra, finding musicians among the music teachers, students and the military band
Military band
A military band originally was a group of personnel that performs musical duties for military functions, usually for the armed forces. A typical military band consists mostly of wind and percussion instruments. The conductor of a band commonly bears the title of Bandmaster or Director of Music...
s. In 1899 he was called back to Moscow to become a piano teacher at the Moscow Conservatory, and from 1899 to 1901 he was also a conductor of the Russian Choral Society in Moscow.
For the grand opening of the Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory on 7 April 1901, Koenemann wrote the cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
-hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, which became the official anthem of the Moscow Conservatory.
In 1912, Koenemann became a professor at the Moscow Conservatory and was teaching piano until his retirement in 1932.
He died in Moscow.
Works
Koenemann wrote over one hundred works. He also translated into Russian a theoretical work by Ebenezer ProutEbenezer Prout
Ebenezer Prout , was an English musical theorist, writer, teacher and composer, whose instruction, afterwards embodied in a series of standard works, underpinned the work of many British musicians of succeeding generations....
, "The Orchestra".
In 1896, he met Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
who just moved to Moscow from St. Petersburg to sing at the Moscow Private Opera owned by Savva Mamontov
Savva Mamontov
Savva Ivanovich Mamontov was a famous Russian industrialist, merchant, entrepreneur, and patron of the arts.-Biography:He was a son of the wealthy merchant and industrialist Ivan Feodorovich Mamontov and Maria Tikhonovna . In 1841 the family moved to Moscow. From 1852 he studied in St...
. Koenemann started a twenty-four-year collaboration with Chaliapin, both as an accompanist and arranger; his arrangement of The Volga Boatmen's Song
The Volga Boatmen's Song
The "Song of the Volga Boatmen" is a well-known traditional Russian song collected by Mily Balakirev, and published in his book of folk songs in 1866. It is a genuine shanty sung by burlaks, or barge-haulers, on the Volga River. Balakirev published it with only one verse . The other two verses...
made the song well-known abroad after Chaliapin's emigration. Koenemann and Chaliapin - the "Two Feodors" - created the perfect duet
Duet (music)
A duet is a musical composition for two performers. In classical music, the term is most often used for a composition for two singers or pianists; with other instruments, the word duo is also often used. A piece performed by two pianists performing together on the same piano is referred to as...
- Koenemann was a virtuoso
Virtuoso
A virtuoso is an individual who possesses outstanding technical ability in the fine arts, at singing or playing a musical instrument. The plural form is either virtuosi or the Anglicisation, virtuosos, and the feminine form sometimes used is virtuosa...
pianist, and Chaliapin - was a singer-wunderkind. Chaliapin was 66 days older than Koenemann.