Kabalevsky, Dmitri (Borisovich)
Kabalevsky, Dmitri (Borisovich)
Kabalevsky, Dmitri (Borisovich), noted Russian composer and pedagogue; b. St. Petersburg, Dec. 30, 1904; d. Moscow, Feb. 14, 1987. When he was 14 years old, his family moved to Moscow, where he received his primary music education at the Scriabin Music School (1919–25). He also studied theory privately with Gregory Catoire, and in 1925 entered the Cons. as a student of Miaskovsky in composition and Goldenweiser in piano. In 1932 he was appointed instructor in composition there, becoming a full prof. in 1939. As a pedagogue, he developed effective methods of musical education. In 1962 he was elected head of the Commission of Musical Esthetic Education of Children, and in 1969 he became president of the Scientific Council of Educational Aesthetics in the Academy of Pedagogical Sciences of the U.S.S.R. In 1972 he 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. Kabalevsky’s 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. 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
dramatic:Opera: Kola Bryunon: Master iz Klamsi (Colas Breugnon: The Master of Klamsi), after Romain Rolland (1936-38; Leningrad, Feb. 22, 1938; rev. version, Leningrad, April 16, 1970); Vogne: Pod Moskvoi (Into the Fire: Near Moscow; 1942; Moscow, Sept. 19, 1943; rev. version, Moscow, Nov. 7, 1947); Semya Tarasa (The Family of Taras; Moscow, Nov. 2, 1947; rev. version, Leningrad, Nov. 7, 1950; 2nd rev. version, Moscow, Nov. 17, 1967); Nikita Vershinin (1954-55; Moscow, Nov. 26, 1955). operetta:Vesna poyot (Spring Sings; Moscow, Nov. 4, 1957); Syostrï (The Sisters; 1967; Perm, May 31, 1969). Also incidental music for plays and film scores. orch.: 3 piano concertos: No. 1 (1928; Moscow, Dec. 11, 1931, composer soloist), No. 2 (1935; Moscow, May 12, 1936), and No. 3 (1952; Moscow, Feb. 1, 1953, Ashkenazy soloist, composer conducting); 4 syms.: No. 1 (Moscow, Nov. 9, 1932), No. 2 (Moscow, Dec. 25, 1934), No. 3, Requiem for Lenin, for Chorus and Orch. (1933; Moscow, Jan. 21, 1934), and No. 4 (1954; Moscow, Oct. 17, 1956); The Comedians, suite for Small Orch. (1940); Suite for Jazz Orch. (1940); Violin Concerto (Leningrad, Oct. 29, 1948); 2 cello concertos: No. 1 (1948-49; Moscow, March 15, 1949) and No. 2 (1964); Pathétique Overture (1960); Spring, symphonic poem (1960); Rhapsody for Piano and Orch. (1963); In Memory of theHeroes of Gorlovka, symphonic poem (1965). chamber: 2 Pieces for Cello and Piano (1927); 2 string quartets (1928, 1945); Improvisation for Violin and Piano (1934); Rondo for Violin and Piano (1961); Cello Sonata (1962); 20 Simple Pieces for Violin and Piano (1965).Piano: 3 sonatas (1927, 1945, 1946); 2 sonatinas (1930, 1933); 24 préludes (1943–44); 6 Préludes and Fugues (1958–59); many children’s pieces. vocal:Poem of Struggle for Chorus and Orch. (1930); The Mighty Homeland, cantata for Voices and Orch. (1941–42); The People’s Avengers for Chorus and Orch. (1942); Song of Morning, Spring, and Peace, cantata for Children’s Chorus and Orch. (1957–58); Leninists for Youth and Adult Choruses (1959); Requiem for Voices and Orch. (1962; Moscow, Feb. 9, 1963); Of the Homeland, cantata for Voices and Orch. (1965); Letter to the 30th Century, oratorio for Voices and Orch. (1972); numerous choral pieces.
Bibliography
L. Danilevich, D. K. (Moscow, 1954); G. Abramovsky, D. K. (Moscow, 1960); R. Glezer, K. (Moscow, 1969); P. Nazarevsky, ed., D.B. K.: Notograficheskiy i bibliografischeskiy spravochnik (D.B. K.: Worklist and Bibliography; Moscow, 1969); Y. Korev, K. (Moscow, 1970).
—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire