KABALEVSKY, Dmitri  (1904-1987)

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Kabalevsky, Dmitri noted Russian composer;b. St. Petersburg, Dec. 30, 1904; d. Moscow, Feb. 14, 1987. When he was 14 years old, his family moved to Moscow; he received his primary musical education at the Scriabin Music School (1919—25); also studied music theory privately with Gregory Catoire; in 1925 he entered the Moscow Cons. as a student of Miaskovsky in composition and Goldenweiser in piano; in 1932 he was appointed instructor in composition there; in 1939, became afullprof. As a pedagogue, he developed effective methods of musical education; in 1962, was elected head of the Commission of Musical Esthetic Education of Children; in 1969, became president of the Scientific Council of Educational Esthetics in the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the U.S.S.R.; in 1972, received the honorary degree of president of the International Soc. of Musical Education. As a pianist, composer, and conductor, he made guest appearances in Europe and the U.S. Kabalevskys music represents a paradigm of the Russian school of composition in its Soviet period; his melodic writing is marked by broad diatonic lines invigorated by an energetic rhythmic pulse; while adhering to basic tonality, his harmony is apt to be rich in euphonious dissonances. A prolific composer, he wrote in all musical genres; in his operas he successfully reflected both the lyrical and the dramatic aspects of the librettos, several of which are based on Soviet subjects faithful to the tenets of socialist realism. His instrumental writing was functional, taking into consideration the idiomatic capacities of the instruments.

Works: OPERAS: Colas Breugnan, after Romain Rolland (Leningrad, Feb. 22, 1938); At Moscow (Moscow, Nov. 28, 1943; rev, as In the Fire, Moscow, Nov. 7,1947); The Family of Taras (Leningrad, Nov. 7,1950); Nikita Vershinin (Moscow,. Nov. 26, 1955); The Sisters (1969). ORCH.: 4 syms.: No. I (Moscow, Nov. 9,1932); No. 2 (Moscow, Dec. 25, 1934); No. 3, Requiem for Lenin (Moscow, Jan. 21,1934); No.4 (Moscow, Oct. 17, 1956); The Comedians, orch. suite, from incidental. music to a play (1940); Spring, symphonic poem (1960); Pa• thetic Overture (1960); 3 piano concertos: No. 1 (Moscow, Dec. 11, 1931, composer soloist); No. 2 (Moscow May 12 1936); No. 3 (Moscow, Feb. 1,1953, Ashkenazy soloist corn poser conducting); Violin Concerto (Leningrad, Oct 29 1948) 2 cello concertos: No. I (Moscow, March 15, 1949) and No

2 (1964). CHAMBER: 2 string quartets (1928, 1945) 20 Simple Pieces for Violin and Piano (1965). ps~r’io: 3 piano sonatas (1928, 1945, 1946); 24 preludes (1943); many other piano pieces, including 30 children’s pieces (1938); 24 Simple Pieces for children (1944). vOCAL: 7 Merry Songs for Voice and Piano (1945); numerous school songs and choruses; Requiem fcr Voices and Orch. (Moscow, Feb. 9, 1963); oratono A Letter to the 30th Century (1970); also incidental music for playo, film scores.