Mikhail Isakovsky
Encyclopedia
Mikhail Vasil'evich Isakovsky (ru: Михаил Васильевич Исаковский) (Glotovka, near Smolensk
, - Moscow
, 20 July 1973) was a Russia
n poet, a laureate of 2 USSR State Prize
s (1943, 1949), a Hero of Socialist Labor
(1970). A member of CPSU since 1918.
A communist from an early age, he wrote many poems and songs in praise of the regime; but his most famous song is doubtless the rather apolitical Katyusha
.
uyezd
, Smolensk
, in a poor peasant family. A local priest taught him to read and write. Later he had been studying at a gym
nasium for 2 years. His first poem Просьба солдата was published in 1914 in an All-Russia newspaper Nov (Новь). In 1918 he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
. Since 1921 till 1931 he had been working in Smolensk
newspapers.
In 1926, being the editor of a newspaper, he helped his young talented countryman Aleksandr Tvardovsky
.
In 1927, his first book of poems Провода в соломе was published. Maxim Gorky
liked it.
In 1931, he left for Moscow
.
Many poems of Isakovsky are set to music. The most famous are Katyusha
(Катюша) (music by Matvey Blanter
), and The enemy burned my native hut (Враги сожгли родную хату) (music by Matvey Blanter
), and In the frontier forest (В лесу прифронтовом), and Migrant Birds Fly (Летят перелётные птицы), and Lonely Accordion (Одинокая гармонь), etc. His songs What you were that you are (Каким ты был, таким ты и остался), and Oh, arrowwood is blooming (Ой, цветет калина) to music by Isaak Dunayevsky
were used as soundtracks in the film, Cossacks of the Kuban
(Кубанские казаки) (1949).
The song The enemy burned my native hut (Враги сожгли родную хату) (1945) after publishing was officially criticized for "pessimism" and was not printed or sung until 1956
As a result of cooperation with Vladimir Zakharov the songs to words from Isakovsky appear in the repertoire of Pyatnitsky Choir
. The most widely known of them are Along the Village (Вдоль деревни), Seeing off (Провожанье), You can never tell (И кто его знает). According to the words of Alexandra Permyakova, today’s chief musician of Pyatnitsky Choir
, these songs made the Choir famous.
He twice got USSR State Prize
for his so cheerful songs (1943, 1949). In 1970 he was awarded the title of the Hero of Socialist Labor
. He is also awarded 4 Orders of Lenin, and some other orders and medals.
He published a lot of books of poems, and besides, the book About the Skills in Verse (О поэтическом мастерстве). He is also well-known by his translations from Ukrainian, Belarusian, and some other languages.
Mikhail Isakovsky died on July 20, 1973, and he was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery
.
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
, - 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...
, 20 July 1973) was a 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 poet, a laureate of 2 USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
s (1943, 1949), a Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
(1970). A member of CPSU since 1918.
A communist from an early age, he wrote many poems and songs in praise of the regime; but his most famous song is doubtless the rather apolitical Katyusha
Katyusha (song)
Katyusha, Katusha or Katjusha is a Soviet wartime song about a girl longing for her beloved, who is away on military service. The music was composed in 1938 by Matvei Blanter and the lyrics were written by Mikhail Isakovsky. It was first performed by Valentina Batishcheva in the Column Hall of...
.
Biography
Mikhail Isakovsky was born in village Glotovka, YelnyaYelnya
Yelnya is a town and the administrative center of Yelninsky District of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, situated on the Desna River from Smolensk. Population: -History:...
uyezd
Uyezd
Uyezd or uezd was an administrative subdivision of Rus', Muscovy, Russian Empire, and the early Russian SFSR which was in use from the 13th century. Uyezds for most of the history in Russia were a secondary-level of administrative division...
, Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
, in a poor peasant family. A local priest taught him to read and write. Later he had been studying at a gym
Gym
The word γυμνάσιον was used in Ancient Greece, that mean a locality for both physical and intellectual education of young men...
nasium for 2 years. His first poem Просьба солдата was published in 1914 in an All-Russia newspaper Nov (Новь). In 1918 he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union
Communist Party of the Soviet Union
The Communist Party of the Soviet Union was the only legal, ruling political party in the Soviet Union and one of the largest communist organizations in the world...
. Since 1921 till 1931 he had been working in Smolensk
Smolensk
Smolensk is a city and the administrative center of Smolensk Oblast, Russia, located on the Dnieper River. Situated west-southwest of Moscow, this walled city was destroyed several times throughout its long history since it was on the invasion routes of both Napoleon and Hitler. Today, Smolensk...
newspapers.
In 1926, being the editor of a newspaper, he helped his young talented countryman Aleksandr Tvardovsky
Aleksandr Tvardovsky
Aleksandr Trifonovich Tvardovsky was a Soviet poet, chief editor of Novy Mir literary magazine from 1950 to 1954 and 1958 to 1970...
.
In 1927, his first book of poems Провода в соломе was published. Maxim Gorky
Maxim Gorky
Alexei Maximovich Peshkov , primarily known as Maxim Gorky , was a Russian and Soviet author, a founder of the Socialist Realism literary method and a political activist.-Early years:...
liked it.
In 1931, he left for 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...
.
Many poems of Isakovsky are set to music. The most famous are Katyusha
Katyusha (song)
Katyusha, Katusha or Katjusha is a Soviet wartime song about a girl longing for her beloved, who is away on military service. The music was composed in 1938 by Matvei Blanter and the lyrics were written by Mikhail Isakovsky. It was first performed by Valentina Batishcheva in the Column Hall of...
(Катюша) (music by Matvey Blanter
Matvey Blanter
Matvei Isaakovich Blanter was one of the most prominent composers of popular songs and film music in the Soviet Union. Among many other works, he wrote the internationally famous "Katyusha" , performed to this day in countries around the world...
), and The enemy burned my native hut (Враги сожгли родную хату) (music by Matvey Blanter
Matvey Blanter
Matvei Isaakovich Blanter was one of the most prominent composers of popular songs and film music in the Soviet Union. Among many other works, he wrote the internationally famous "Katyusha" , performed to this day in countries around the world...
), and In the frontier forest (В лесу прифронтовом), and Migrant Birds Fly (Летят перелётные птицы), and Lonely Accordion (Одинокая гармонь), etc. His songs What you were that you are (Каким ты был, таким ты и остался), and Oh, arrowwood is blooming (Ой, цветет калина) to music by Isaak Dunayevsky
Isaak Dunayevsky
Isaak Osipovich Dunayevsky was the biggest Soviet film composer and conductor of the 1930s and 1940s, who achieved huge success in music for operetta and film comedies, frequently working with the film director Grigori Aleksandrov...
were used as soundtracks in the film, Cossacks of the Kuban
Cossacks of the Kuban
The Cossack of the Kuban from Mosfilm is a color film, glorifying the life of the farmers in the kolkhoz of the Soviet Union's Kuban region, directed by Ivan Pyryev and starring Marina Ladynina, his wife at that time.-Cast:* Marina Ladynina, as Galina...
(Кубанские казаки) (1949).
The song The enemy burned my native hut (Враги сожгли родную хату) (1945) after publishing was officially criticized for "pessimism" and was not printed or sung until 1956
As a result of cooperation with Vladimir Zakharov the songs to words from Isakovsky appear in the repertoire of Pyatnitsky Choir
Pyatnitsky Choir
The Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus was established by Mitrofan Pyatnitsky in 1910 initially with 18 peasants from Voronezh, Ryazan and Smolensk gubernias. The peasant chorus held its first performance at the Small hall of the Moscow Nobility Club on March 2, 1911.Pyatnitsky focused on...
. The most widely known of them are Along the Village (Вдоль деревни), Seeing off (Провожанье), You can never tell (И кто его знает). According to the words of Alexandra Permyakova, today’s chief musician of Pyatnitsky Choir
Pyatnitsky Choir
The Pyatnitsky Russian Folk Chorus was established by Mitrofan Pyatnitsky in 1910 initially with 18 peasants from Voronezh, Ryazan and Smolensk gubernias. The peasant chorus held its first performance at the Small hall of the Moscow Nobility Club on March 2, 1911.Pyatnitsky focused on...
, these songs made the Choir famous.
He twice got USSR State Prize
USSR State Prize
The USSR State Prize was the Soviet Union's state honour. It was established on September 9, 1966. After the breakup of the Soviet Union, the prize was followed up by the State Prize of the Russian Federation....
for his so cheerful songs (1943, 1949). In 1970 he was awarded the title of the Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labor
Hero of Socialist Labour was an honorary title in the Soviet Union and other Warsaw Pact countries. It was the highest degree of distinction for exceptional achievements in national economy and culture...
. He is also awarded 4 Orders of Lenin, and some other orders and medals.
He published a lot of books of poems, and besides, the book About the Skills in Verse (О поэтическом мастерстве). He is also well-known by his translations from Ukrainian, Belarusian, and some other languages.
Mikhail Isakovsky died on July 20, 1973, and he was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
.