Keys to a Russian national composer: An introduction to Georgy Sviridov

A national musical culture is defined by its traditions. Georgy Sviridov (b. 1915) is the strongest contemporary link to Russia's great musical heritage. The perennial Russian themes run through his work in abundant clarity and force: patriotism, depiction of nature and peasant life in all their rich and varied regional forms, reflection on the great religious topics--love and repentance, and a profound reliance on the word. He is the son of an era which witnessed the tragic failure of the last Christian government, claimed nearly one hundred million lives, and produced conflict of unbelievable proportions: old Russia was replaced by new Russia, Orthodox Christianity by Communism, the peasant and peasant life by the factory worker and the industrial military machine, and, ultimately, man's dignity by a seventy-four-year-old lie. As a true patriot, Sviridov ponders the meaning of his country's historical path, her predicament and her future; he longs to be of service to his country and her people. Her trials are his trials and her people's pain is his pain. By proclaiming himself the musical poet of Russia's catastrophic path and by embracing her cultural traditions, Sviridov linked himself to a line of distinguished predecessors and, in so doing, became a national composer with universal merit.

Name thesis:degree_name

D.M.A.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2011

Author dc:creator

• Jermihov, Peter

Contributors dc:contributor

• Johnston, Ben

• Biography
• Literature, Slavic and East European
• Anthropology, Cultural
• Music

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 1992 Jermihov, Peter

Language dc:language

eng

Identifier

AAI9236490
(UMI)AAI9236490

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/20764