Every day I read all the new posts on this forum. On two occasions I came across Tikhon Krennikov : once in the thread "cds that stay in the box" (!) and once under "Pashchenko". On impulse, I listened to an audio extract on the net and instantly liked what I heard and proceeded to buy whatever cds I could find. I now have 2 symphonies, 2 PCs and 2 VCs. Also on order is the cd with all 3 of his symphonies. No surprise then that I say I really love Khrennikov's music! In many respects, I feel he is following on in the footsteps of Prokofiev (I love Russian music and Prokofiev is one of my favourites). Like Prokofiev, his music is full of spikey rhymns and he also has a penchant for slightly dissonant passages throughout his works. I do not however find these either abrasive or jarring. On the contrary, they are part of Knrennikov's vocabulary and I find them very appealing. I have to say though that I would not dare to suggest for a moment that Krennikov approaches the same level of lyricism that one associates with the best of Prokofiev's work. If however you like Prokofiev, then I can certainly recommend Khrennikov. May I ask you Pengelli what you mean by your "guilty cd pleasure"?
Do any other members of the forum know or like Khrennikov's music?
I know I opened a different thread on another composer - Einar Englund - but I would like to quickly refer to him also here as he too, to my mind, is rather like Khrennikov in the sense that his music equally at times is highly reminiscent of both Prokofiev's and even more so Shostokovich's music (Englund, born 1903). Surprisingly, only one other member in this forum knows Englund's work (referred to sym 2 only). My collection comprises his 7 symphonies and 5 of his 6 concertos (I can't find his flute concerto!) and I like his music every bit as much as Krennikov's!
Do no other members know of Englund's music? (too modern?)
Dear all - just a quick apology for the spelling mistakes in the prvious post. Of course the correct spelling is Khrennikov! Sorry!
Hello Mark/Alan - are you able to correct the typing mistake in the subject heading?
I'm getting old!
cheers
Dennis
Done. Given my habit of fistfuls of spelling errors and typos in posts, I'm certainly not going to criticise misspelling K(h)rennikov! Of whose music I have never heard a note. Wasn't he Stallin's musical enforcer?
I must admit to enjoying his music;although I don't like Hitler's paintings or Saddam Hussein's novels! Seriously,his music IS rather good,in a way.
Some of the playing on the cd of the Khrennikov symphonies is phenomenal. Or as that Gramophone reviewer originally put it,'mind boggling'.
Thanks Mark for correcting a rather too obvious typing error - I'm a lousy typist!
Was Khrennikov Stalin's musical enforcer? He certainly had the approval of Stalin as far as his music went and he indeed won the Stalin prize in 1941. In 1948 he was appointed the Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers, a post he held until 1991. According to Wikipedia, "he is credited by some (who?) for protecting and helping many Soviet composers".
My answer to your question is I don't really know as I simply do not have the background information required to answer your question with any degree of certainty. I can see though why many would subscribe to that view but having read Shostokovich's memoirs, it might be that he only appeared to tow the official party line. Perhaps other members of the forum can shed more like light on your question?
Hello Pengelli
Thanks for clarifying your take on Khrennikov. We seem to be in agreement and indeed I too could describe some of the playing of the orchestra under the baton of Svetlanov as phenomenal!
I personally feel that his music is more akin to that of Kabalevsky,who is also
underated,but with a more astringent quality. I played the cd over & over!
His music is often very tuneful & quite romantic,so he should fit here. It's a pity
that the cd companies can't put politics on one side & record his music.
Hello again Pengelli
You seem to be on my wavelength! Kabalevsky is also a favourite of mine and I have quite a number of his works, the symphonies and concertos of course. As I have said a couple of times now on this forum, I love Russian music and have made a point of searching out many of the lesser known composers! Yes, I agree that Khrennikov and Kabalevsky musically share some common ground and I particularly like the way you describe his music as being a little bit more astringent - spot on! I wonder whether other members will make a comment?
cheers
Dennis
Astringent,in an enjoyable way,of course. The sooner someone reissues the
cd's of his music the better. I note that there is a Khrennikov website,too.
Quote from: DennisS on Sunday 20 September 2009, 16:05
Was Khrennikov Stalin's musical enforcer?
He was Stalin's mouthpiece. Whether or not he agreed with Stalin, he was willing to speak the words. But two of his brothers and his father were imprisoned by Stalin; all three died, either in prison, or shortly after their release. Khrennikov survived. Some Soviet composers, including Karen Khachaturian, stated that Khrennikov helped and protected them. When he announced that he was standing down, Khrennikov stated that his infamous 1948 speech that criticized Prokofiev and Shostakovich was handed to him by the Central Committee, "I didn't write a single line of it", and he added "I consider Prokofiev the greatest composer of the 20th century".
The Soviet system was evil, but it was possible for composers to exploit it. For example, fixed payments were made for each symphony produced, regardless of length or merit, so composers such as Knipper produced large number works that they called symphonies.
Which reminds me,that a cd of Lev Knipper's Violin Concerto No 1 and symphony
No 8 is currently being advertised on the internet.
Hopefully,this release will lead to more cd's of Lev Knipper's music,particularly the symphonies.
1. I am not one to criticize people for doing what they must do to protect their lives and the lives of their families in a dictatorship.
2. I do not let the political, social, religious, sexual or psychological characteristics of a composer affect my judgment of their music.
So, judge the music of Khrennikov and Kabalevsky on the basis of their music. But I think the notion that these two fellows protected other composers from the state is very questionable. Whether he personally agreed with the condemnation of Shostakovich, Prokofiev, Khachaturian and Myaskovsky for "elitist, anti-socialist" music and "formalism," he was head of the witch hunt and he did nothing to stop it. I was particularly disturbed to learn of the actions of Kabalevsky. He was on the list at the beginning, but he convinced the council that he was not to blame, that he was under the spell of Myaskovsky, and that Myaskovsky should be condemned instead. This was after Myaskovsky had won the Stalin Prize, and was especially dispicable because Myaskovsky was Kabalevsky's teacher. And yes, you can hear the influences of Myaskovsky in the early music of Kabalevsky. After the reprieve, Kabalevsky wrote mostly children's music and (IMO) banal pieces of schlock.
It's true, Khrennikov did say in an interview, that he was required to read the speech attacking Shostakovich and Prokofiev in 1948: "What else could I have done? If I'd refused, it could have been curtains ... death. They made me do it; and anyway, Shostakovich and Prokofiev were sympathetic to my plight - they knew I had no choice: I did everything I could to help them financially while they were banned and repressed ... and they were grateful to me".
But then he went on to brag about how proud he was of the power he wielded under Stalin: "My word was law", he says. "People knew I was appointed personally by Stalin and they were afraid that ... I would go and tell Stalin about them. I was Stalin's Commissar. When I said No! (he shouts), it meant No." He explained how brave he was, that he would "argue with the Great Leader over the fate of musicians, defending the truly deserving among them and condemning those who fell short."
If Khrennikov had any regrets about his actions, he sure didn't let on. He remained the head of the council, passing judgment on the music of composers, until 1991. As is the case of all who have the power of life and death in a dictatorship, he was a tyrant himself.
This is largely irrelevant in the enjoyment of his music. And Kabalevsky was merely trying to save his own skin, tossing out a sick man as a substitute, Myaskovsky, who had led the Moscow Conservatory for decades and taught so many (including Khachaturian).
People do things in crisis that they would never do under other circumstances. I am unable to condemn them for their weakness. It was a different world, a different time. The same can be said of Wagner and Pfitzner and others who were products of their time and place.
Even so, although I can say good things about their music, I'm unable to say good things about the men.
Quote from: Amphissa on Friday 25 September 2009, 03:15
This was after Myaskovsky had won the Stalin Prize, and was especially dispicable because Kabalevsky was Myaskovsky's teacher.
I think you have it reversed. Kabalevsky was Myaskovsky's pupil.
Thanks for catching my typo, Jim. And for actually reading my rant!
I've corrected the text.
It's with great interest that I've read the posts on Khrennikov, especially Amphissa's contribution (Reply #14). I don't know his music, and probably I'll never do, unless someone can tell me that his music is reminiscent of Rachmaninov or late-Romantic. However, the history behind the man, his behaviour and his music is interesting enough.
If you search on Google you will find a lot of information, e.g. at www.khrennikov.ru/eng/ (http://www.khrennikov.ru/eng/)
Dennis, I understand that he was not born in 1903, but on 10 June 1913. He passed away on 14 August 2007, 94 years old.
Hello Peter1953
Thank you for pointing out the error re-Khrennikov's birth date. I did in fact know he was born 1913 but when I did the posting, I was in fact looking at two composers, the other being born on 1903 (for the moment I can't remember who the second composer was!!!). I simply confused the two! I later read that he died in 2007. On the cds I purchased, it states merely born 1913, hence the original posting.
Mark, can you please amend my original posting to read "1913-2007". Sorry for another typo, I stand duly reprimanded!
cheers
Dennis
Dennis, was the other composer perhaps Aram Khachaturian? Well, never mind the year of birth. I'm fascinated what the relations can be between the composers life, attitude or behaviour and his (hers) music (or musical development). Not seldom while listening to a remarkable piece of music I wonder under what personal circumstances the composer wrote it. So I wonder how about Khrennikov?
___________
Well, didn't Khrennikov say that Prokofiev and Shostakovich were his favourite composers? I can now understand why. Here are samples of four of his short concertos: http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Tikhon-Khrennikov-Klavierkonzerte-Nr-2-3-op-21-28/hnum/2993564 (http://www.jpc.de/jpcng/classic/detail/-/art/Tikhon-Khrennikov-Klavierkonzerte-Nr-2-3-op-21-28/hnum/2993564)
Do I hear Bartok as well? Or does his music really stand on its own? For me the disc is not a must-buy.
Hello Peter1953
Re- the wrong birth date of Khrennikov
When I did the posting, I was looking at two cds, 2 different composers with 2 different birth dates. The 2nd cd was neither Khatchaturian nor Kabalevsky (both composers I like). Retracing my steps, I can't find the cd I am referring to, so where I got the 1903 date from, haven't a clue!! I did in fact refer to Einar Englund and 1903 but that is wrong as well, so I'm going to put it down to an aberration on my part! The cd you referred to, i.e. the 4 concertos is one that I purchased. I personally like the cd but think the PCs better than the VCs. As I said earlier, Khrennikov does not have the lyricism of Prokofiev but his music was influenced by him and perhaps also a little bit by Shostokovich, hence my liking of his music. I would hesitate to say Khrennikov's music is "great" but I enjoy it. I fully accept that musical preferences are highly subjective and therefore there will always be differences of opinion. This is as it should be.
cheers
Dennis
The old comrade's still provoking controversy,eh?
The Northern Flowers cd of Lev Knippers eighth symphony & Violin Concerto will be released on the 13th of October. So we can decide for ourselves,perhaps?!!!
The Northern Flowers website also lists new cds of symphonies by Gavril Popov,
Mossolov (Iron Foundry,anyone?)& the complete string quartets of Myaskovsky.
Quote from: Pengelli on Tuesday 29 September 2009, 00:22
The Northern Flowers website also lists new cds of symphonies by Gavril Popov,
Mossolov (Iron Foundry,anyone?)& the complete string quartets of Myaskovsky
Leaving to one side the doubtful pleasures of Mossolov and Popov, the 12 quartets of Myaskovsky should be of interest (if his symphonies and and sonatas are any indication), and I see that quartets of dry as dust Taneyev also feature (his chamber music is Brahmsian rather than Russian).
Quoteand I see that quartets of dry as dust Taneyev also feature (his chamber music is Brahmsian rather than Russian).
Two objections to this:
(i) Taneyev's music is not dry as dust: it reveals a master-composer who wrote fabulous music in many genres (symphony, opera, choral, chamber).
(ii) The idea that the chamber music is 'Brahmsian' is laughable. What
is true is that Taneyev looks more to the West than most of his contemporaries - a little like Glazunov. The 'Brahmsian' label is the refuge of lazy musical criticism.
Hi all
I agree with Alan re Taneyev. In addition, he was not a 20th century composer. And I have no problems with 'Brahmsian' influences anyway. Or Reinecke, Saint Saens, Raff et all influences on 20th century composers. I just wish those influences had lasted and triumphed, rather than those of the 2nd Viennese School, jazz, atonalism and other fads.
I note that the sharp and perceptive Nicolas Slonimsky tends to emphasise home grown aspects of Khrennikov's music: "his own works express forcefully the desirable qualties of Soviet music, a flowing melody suggesting the broad modalities of Russian folk songs, a vibrant and expressive lyricism, and effective instrumental formation". I have only his piano concertos to go on, Amphissa, and have not heard them for a while. But as I recall, despite Slonimsky's mild and kindly assessment, he was no Rachmaninov.
The same writer has this to say about Lev Knipper: "under the influence of western European trends he wrote music in a fairly advanced style of composition, but soon abandoned these experiments and devoted himself to the study of of folk music of different nationalities..." That sounds like code for 'he conformed' after somebody in authority had words with him.
regards
Peter
Kabalevsky is no Rachmaninov,but I wouldn't want to be without his music.
Personally,I love the spicy harmonies in Khrennikov's music.Bring it on!
Does anyone know where I can get a copy of Khrennikov's Cello Concerto No. 2 ?
Re Englund: have heard a number of his works - quite good in my opinion. Stylistically sometimes like Shostakovich (and not just in the 4th symphony specifically dedicated to him, I mean) ...
Eric (who enjoys some works I've heard by Khrennikov- the first two symphonies, some of the concertos, e.g.- I hope to hear the late string quartet and cello sonata he wrote, sometime, but am not sure they've been recorded yet. The quartet's opening seems to borrow stylistically from Prokofiev in the latter's ballet mode...)
Eric
Hello Christopher
As a great admirer of Khrennikov, I was intrigued by your question re- Cello concerto no 2. Sadly, I have neither of the cello concertos. Having started this thread however, I felt I should do some further research. As you know, his 3 symphonies, 3 PCs and VC are all relatively easy to find (I have them all). That said, there does not seem to be any cd recording of either cello concerto. I discovered however that Rostopovitch (surprise, surprise!) did in fact record at least one of the concertos on LP - I think in 1964. If you were absolutely hell bent on getting a recording, the LP is still available in the US. I found a couple of obscure(?) rare LP suppliers in the US who still offer the LP. You can find them on the web quite easily by typing in Khrennikov cello concerto. Sorry I can't be of more help but hope this info is useful. P.S. I too would like a copy of his cello concerto but I cannot abide the crackling/static on all those old LPs!
Cheers
Dennis
Thanks for your reply Dennis. I actually have a copy of the Rostropovich Khrennikov VC1, and can happily email it to you if you give me your email address. It took me years to find it. The source I eventually got it from told me the following:
"Russian Disc was sued by Rostropovich, as he did not give permission for the performance rights. However, the recordings belonged to a Russian radio archive, and the recordings were legal (EMI put out a 13 CD box in 1997, with many of those same recordings, though they were monaural, while the Russian Disc recordings were stereo). The 3 people who owned Russian Disc could not afford an attorney, and caved-in to Rostropovich. Rostropovich publicly destroyed all of the CD's that featured him (the Khrennikov you're looking for was one of those discs), so about 500 copies may have been sold, before the company folded."
I have seen references on the net to LP recordings of the VC2 (eg - http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/khrenn.htm which references LP Melodiya C10 24747 002: Moscow Philharmonic SO, V. Gergiev (cond), M. Brunello (cello) )
Some of the correspondents on this thread also imply they have a copy.
Quote from: eschiss1 on Friday 04 June 2010, 03:10
I hope to hear the late string quartet and cello sonata he wrote, sometime, but am not sure they've been recorded yet.
Both the 1988 String quartet Op.33 and the 1989 Cello Sonata Op.34 have been recorded in a CD devoted to Khrennikov's chamber music issued by the Russian label Kapelmeister (KAP 012). Interestingly, this very same CD contains the hitherto only recording of his 4th Piano Concerto Op.37 of 1991. It can be obtained from Russian CD dealers through e-bay.
Also, for Khrennikov lovers, I would recommend to search secondhand dealers for an old Russian Disc CD (RD CD 10 070) recording of his ballet "Napoleon Bonaparte", which contains some of his most powerful music. His "Three pieces for violin and orchestra Op.26" performed by Igor Oistrakh on Audiophile Classics (APL 101.532) are also well worth to pursue.
Quote from: Christopher on Friday 04 June 2010, 13:29
Thanks for your reply Dennis. I actually have a copy of the Rostropovich Khrennikov VC1, and can happily email it to you if you give me your email address. It took me years to find it. The source I eventually got it from told me the following:
"Russian Disc was sued by Rostropovich, as he did not give permission for the performance rights. However, the recordings belonged to a Russian radio archive, and the recordings were legal (EMI put out a 13 CD box in 1997, with many of those same recordings, though they were monaural, while the Russian Disc recordings were stereo). The 3 people who owned Russian Disc could not afford an attorney, and caved-in to Rostropovich. Rostropovich publicly destroyed all of the CD's that featured him (the Khrennikov you're looking for was one of those discs), so about 500 copies may have been sold, before the company folded."
I have seen references on the net to LP recordings of the VC2 (eg - http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/khrenn.htm which references LP Melodiya C10 24747 002: Moscow Philharmonic SO, V. Gergiev (cond), M. Brunello (cello) )
Some of the correspondents on this thread also imply they have a copy.
I think your terminologies are mixed up, Christopher. VC is Violin Concerto. I think you mean CC. ;)
Thanks JimL - yet sorry for mixing up. I always think "violoncello" when I see "VC". But I did mean that I have a recording of the Cello Concerto No.1 with Rostropovich, and that link I posted references a recording of the Cello Concerto No.2!
This morning I was listening to Khrennikov's second symphony and reading this thread.
As fate would have it, a couple hours ago I stumbled across a rare CD of Schnittke and Khrennikov's Love for Love Suite at the Goodwill for $3. Can't wait to get the chance to listen to it!
Hello, I am new here.
I like Khrennikov's Second Symphony - especially the darkly moving conclusion to the slow movement and the jaunty, annoying tune in the finale which stays in the mind. Oddly enough I once saw Khrennikov in the flesh. It was New Year's Day 1986 and I was on a trip to the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. They were playing a rather anonymous and amorphous work - at the end of which a spotlight was directed at one of the boxes in the theatre; and there, alone, was the lugubrious figure of Tikhon Khrennikov, whom I recognised from a photo.
I have moved alberto's post to this previous thread in order to avoid duplication...
<<Today unsung, in the past not so (even in the West), T.K. appears to have been the politically more prominent of Soviet composers since 1948 and for decades (appointed personally by Stalin as Secretary of the Union of Soviet Composers).
Unlikely to be mentioned or remembered as a "symphatetic guy", he appears however a not ungifted composer.
At least in the Symphony n.1 op.4 (1935, T.K. aged 22) he is not negligible (the work was premiered in US by Stokowsky in 1936).I have a "Monitor" LP recording by Gauk. Svetlanov recorded all three symphonies (not heard by me).
The Violin Concerto op.14 is rather tuneful (I have a LP recording with Kogan, Leningrad Phil. and K.Sanderling- remote "Joker " label. Other exists (even by Vengerov and Repin when -I suppose- T.K. power had faltered).
More ordinary for me (but playful) "Three songs for violin and orch. op.26 (I have a CD "Audiophile Classics" by Igor Oistrakh, cond. A.Katz). I don't know other works (he -with a lot of political charges- reached op.42).
About performances:
Oddly enough (at least for the first one) the First Symphony has been performed in Torino three times (not by Soviet visiting orchestras, but by the Torino Radio Orchestra).
The first , an absolute oddity, in wartime 1941, conducted by Willy Ferrero (a former child prodigy and a great conductor, himself worthy a digression), who evidently chose himself the work (and succeeded in conducting it in wartime).
The second in 1960 was conducted by Kirill Kondrashin (then aged 46). Maybe it was a "duty" for the great conductor (certainly not an "apparatus" man).
The third was conducted in 1974 by the young Mariss Jansons (born 1943) on the occasion of a three concert "Festival of Russian and Soviet Union in the frame of cultural exchanges between Italy and Soviet Union".
On that occasion Yuri Temirkanov conducted a (rather fine) Sviridov cantata . The rest was Sciostakovich (living), Tchaicovskj and Prokofiev.
Has anyone some to say/comment about T.K.?>>
I like what I've heard by him, and now that I know a recording has been made of his later chamber music (quartet, cello sonata) really should try to get a listen to it.
I can't say I think much of Khrennikov - especially when compared to an unsung master like Weinberg. Not enough guts and originality for me.
Although i still do enjoy a few of Khrennikov works, specially his pc no.1 and 2. Sometimes i still like to compare him with shostakovich, because its like comparing steibelt to beethoven.
All best,
Tony
though to be fair, until recently most of us classical fans knew very little by Steibelt either in score or on recording to compare that composer to anyone. (Thanks to e.g. BSB for uploading quite a few of his chamber works to give a better view of his output. Comparing someone to Beethoven is easy, comparing him to Herz, Louis Berger, Reissiger, or Henri Rosellen is harder when one knows only one or two works of his and those possibly among his worst.)
I studied a one page easy piano piece by Khrennikov, a Berceuse. Beautiful little piece. Then i read about Khrennikpv s polotical trajectory and i have to say that was it for me with this composer ... But i m intrigued now.
Quote from: imirizaldu on Thursday 07 July 2011, 14:28
I studied a one page easy piano piece by Khrennikov, a Berceuse. Beautiful little piece. Then i read about Khrennikpv s polotical trajectory and i have to say that was it for me with this composer ... But i m intrigued now.
Read the Economist's obituary to Khrennikon of August 2007 - http://www.economist.com/node/9721710 - the magazine is decidedly anti all things Soviet, but their obituary to him is surprisingly sympathetic. One interesting passage - "he attended Prokofiev's funeral in 1953 and helped his first wife when she came out of prison. Though he publicly disliked the avant-garde music of Alfred Schnittke, he was among the first to help Schnittke when he suffered a stroke in 1985. And he was instrumental in inviting Igor Stravinsky to Russia in 1962. He was part of a ruthless system; but he did not deliver up Jewish composers to Stalin's goons, and did not write negative references when the party demanded them. (Instead, he would say that the composer had been warned of the dangers of modernism, as if the lesson was already safely learned.) None of the composers he had charge of was killed; very few were arrested. Many, however, reported on him—for being influenced by his Jewish wife, Klara Vaks, and for sheltering Jews. "
It is certainly true that he lived in very difficult times. Probably in order to be able to some good (described above), he had to be seen to be playing the game and upholding the system. It's not easy to sit in judgment.
As another remark, we can have little idea of the character traits of long-dead composers, but that doesn't stop us appreciating and loving their music! Who is to know if Mozart wasn't incredibly annoying, Handel a glutton, Tchaikovsky too morose to tolerate, etc etc?! Also – many wrote music to glorify their patrons who were often politically powerful figures in regimes that today we would disapprove of.
Absoultely, i guess what iread about him may have been biased. And i agree with you ... music comes first. Thank you!