Seven Songs on Poems by Alexander Blok
Encyclopedia
Seven Songs on Poems by Alexander Blok (Op. 127) is a vocal-instrumental suite by Russian
composer
Dmitri Shostakovich
. It was inspired by verses of poet Alexander Blok
(1880–1921).
It was written in 1967, formally to 50th anniversary of the October Revolution
. In fact Shostakovich dedicated the work to singer Galina Vishnevskaya
. The composition is written for soprano
, violoncello, violin
and piano
. The first performance took place on October 25, 1967 at the Moscow Conservatoire Hall with Mstislav Rostropovich
on cello, Moisey Vainberg on piano, David Oistrakh
on violin and with Vishnevskaya.
Music, written to pessimist, symbolist verses, is terse and often returns to the theme of suffering and death.
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
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...
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Shostakovich
Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich was a Soviet Russian composer and one of the most celebrated composers of the 20th century....
. It was inspired by verses of poet Alexander Blok
Alexander Blok
Alexander Alexandrovich Blok was a Russian lyrical poet.-Life and career:Blok was born in Saint Petersburg, into a sophisticated and intellectual family. Some of his relatives were literary men, his father being a law professor in Warsaw, and his maternal grandfather the rector of Saint Petersburg...
(1880–1921).
It was written in 1967, formally to 50th anniversary of the October Revolution
October Revolution
The October Revolution , also known as the Great October Socialist Revolution , Red October, the October Uprising or the Bolshevik Revolution, was a political revolution and a part of the Russian Revolution of 1917...
. In fact Shostakovich dedicated the work to singer Galina Vishnevskaya
Galina Vishnevskaya
Galina Pavlovna Vishnevskaya is a Russian soprano opera singer and recitalist who was named a People's Artist of the USSR in 1966.-Biography:...
. The composition is written for soprano
Soprano
A soprano is a voice type with a vocal range from approximately middle C to "high A" in choral music, or to "soprano C" or higher in operatic music. In four-part chorale style harmony, the soprano takes the highest part, which usually encompasses the melody...
, violoncello, violin
Violin
The violin is a string instrument, usually with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is the smallest, highest-pitched member of the violin family of string instruments, which includes the viola and cello....
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
. The first performance took place on October 25, 1967 at the Moscow Conservatoire Hall with Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Rostropovich
Mstislav Leopoldovich Rostropovich, KBE , known to close friends as Slava, was a Soviet and Russian cellist and conductor. He was married to the soprano Galina Vishnevskaya. He is widely considered to have been the greatest cellist of the second half of the 20th century, and one of the greatest of...
on cello, Moisey Vainberg on piano, David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
on violin and with Vishnevskaya.
Structure
The cycle consists of seven parts:- 1) Song of Ophelia
- 2) Gamayun, the Bird of Prophecy
- 3) We Were Together
- 4) Gloom Enwraps the Sleeping City
- 5) The Storm
- 6) Secret Signs
- 7) Music
Music, written to pessimist, symbolist verses, is terse and often returns to the theme of suffering and death.