Essay on Russian Composers - 1830 Words

nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp;nbsp; Russian composers are often mentioned in history as the most influential in the world. With style unlike any other, Russians are able to capture mood through a unique ability to capture exactly what they feel. Exactly how the Russians are able to do this is unknown, though through this, the greatest composers have turned out to be Russian. Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninoff and Shostakovich are all able to write and portray the most detailed feelings and moods, and it is to them that we owe the advancement of all music. Tchaikovsky is one of the most beloved composers in history. An inspired craftsman of melody, orchestration and tonal color, he wrote in an astonishing variety of musical forms, from symphonies to†¦show more content†¦At the same time, he was coming into his own as a composer, writing his Fourth Symphony (1877) and other works. He also was starting to experience chronic depression. Many music historians say this was in response to hiding his homosexuality, while others point to a clinical conditional condition which was only exacerbated by his chaotic personal life (Sadie, 94). He wrote the magnificent Violin concerto in D in 1878, and endured its rejection by Leopold Auer, who deemed the work unplayable and followed with the Symphony No 6 and other legendary works (Mason, 70). Throughout the 1880s, his fame spread to Europe and America, and his financial position improved. In 1889 Madame von Meck suddenly, for unknown reasons, cut off her financial support, a blow from which Tchaikovsky never recovered (Mason, 70). In the same year he saw the premiere of Sleeping Beauty, a work which brought even higher acclaim to the now famous composer (Sadie, 94). In 1891 to 1892 he toured Europe and the United States, conducting concerts of his music and winning praises from the public as well as the critics (Mason, 70). Never a robust person, in constant strain from mental and physical disorders, Tchaikovsky died in 1893 under mysterious circumstances. Some believe he contracted cholera during a trip to St. Petersburg, while others believe he committed suicide or wasShow MoreRelatedRussian Opera Essay753 Words   |  4 PagesRussian Opera The seeds of a distinctively national art music in Russia are usually dated from the first half of the 19th century. The performance of the opera A Life for the Tsar (1836), by Mikhail GLINKA, is usually cited as the turning point for Russian music (Russias national anthem is taken from this opera). In this historical opera, as well as in his subsequent opera Ruslan and Ludmila (1842), the orchestral fantasy Kamarinskaya (1848), and numerous songs, Glinka successfully fusedRead MoreIgor Stravinsky, a Russian Composer559 Words   |  2 Pages Igor Stravinsky is known as one of the most important and influential composers of the twentieth century. 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