Dmitry Borisovich Kabalevsky

Kabalevsky, Dmitry Borisovich (1904-1983), Russian composer and public figure. Born in St. Petersburg 17 (30) December 1904. He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory composition Miaskovsky in 1929. From 1932 until the end of life taught there, mostly to the track. In 1940-1946 was the chief editor of 'Soviet Music', in 1949-1952 headed the music section of the Institute of History of Art in Moscow. Since the early 1950's was a member of the governing bodies of the Union of Soviet Composers (after 1957 - the Union of Soviet Composers), . particularly, . From 1962 until the end of the day led the commission on the aesthetic education of children and youth, . was a member of the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the USSR (since 1971),
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The composer has created many works in various genres, his legacy of five operas, two of which - "Wheel Bryunon" by R. Rolland (1938, 2 nd ed. 1968) and "The Family of Taras" (based on the story from the era of the Second World War, . 1950) is widely becoming the life of the author, . and ballet, . operetta, . four symphonies, . poems and orchestral suites, . number of cantatas (of which the most conspicuous - "Requiem" to the words of RI Christmas, . 1964), . instrumental concerts, . chamber instrumental ensembles, . a lot of piano music and songs, he is the author of music to a large number of theatrical productions and films,


. The most popular works by composers for children and adolescents: the triad of instrumental concerts (including the piano concerto theme song "That birch, . then ash "), . cycles of piano pieces and songs, in vocal music stand is often performed in its time "Ten Sonnets" of Shakespeare (1955),
. Well owning a pen, Kabalevsky often appeared in the periodical press, has written several books about music and aesthetic education.

At one time the name was called Kabalevsky usually in the top five of Soviet composers, followed by Prokofiev, Shostakovich and Khachaturian, which is hardly consistent with the real situation. Kabalevsky was a cultured man and an educated musician, had no doubt, though not too deep, melodic talent (here - good luck in music for children and music for theater and cinema), owned by the classical forms. The role of Kabalevsky in the history of Soviet music is contradictory. Specifically, . still unclear, . why his name, . figured in the list of accused in the 'formalism' in 1948 (of course, . no reason to, . As with other victims 'zhdanovschiny'), . does not appear in the published text of the infamous decree "On the opera 'The great friendship'" (according to one version, . Kabalevsky managed to 'repent', . and his name was replaced by the name of another musician),
. In any case, after 1948 Kabalevsky, who was in his youth for some time a member of the Association of Contemporary Music, held exclusively retrograde position, especially in its journalism. Reform of school music education, undertaken on his initiative, and can not be considered successful. With the end of Soviet-era music by Kabalevsky, previously hard to plant, practically ceased to be heard.

Kabalevsky died in Moscow on February 14, 1983.