Edison Denisov
Edison Vasilievich Denisov was born in Tomsk, Siberia on the 6th of April 1929. He initially studied mathematics before making a decisive turn toward composition. Dmitri Shostakovich enthusiastically supported this career change and provided him with private lessons. This mentorship proved crucial for his early development as an artist. In 1951 he entered the Moscow Conservatory to study composition under Vissarion Shebalin. He also took orchestration classes from Nikolai Rakov and analysis courses with Viktor Tsukkerman. Piano instruction came from Vladimir Belov during these formative years. The conservatory environment exposed him to scores that were difficult to obtain within the Soviet Union at that time. He began studying works by Mahler, Debussy, Boulez, and Stockhausen. These composers influenced his own experimental approach to writing music.
In 1979 the Sixth Congress of the Union of Soviet Composers marked a turning point for Edison Denisov. He became one of Khrennikov's Seven due to unapproved participation in festivals held in Western Europe. This designation led to frequent bans on performances of his works throughout the Soviet Union. Tikhon Khrennikov criticized his style as having western influences and erudition instead of creativity. The state labeled his work as total composer's arbitrary behavior. Despite these restrictions he remained active in the musical community. He taught orchestration and later composition at the Moscow Conservatory after graduating. His students included Dmitri Smirnov, Elena Firsova, Dilorom Saidaminova, and Vladimir Tarnopolsky. He also supported Dmitri Capyrin and Alexander Shchetynsky who were not his direct pupils. In 1990 he became a leader of the Association for Contemporary Music reestablished in Moscow.
His cycle Le soleil des Incas premiered in 1964 with poems by Gabriela Mistral set for soprano and chamber ensemble. Pierre Boulez dedicated this work to him and it gained international recognition following performances in Darmstadt and Paris during 1965. Igor Stravinsky praised the piece and discovered the remarkable talent of its composer. However domestic critics harshly attacked the work for its western influences. The Union of Soviet Composers condemned the score for its erudition rather than true creativity. This controversy resulted in frequent bans on his music within the USSR. Later commissions came from famous soloists like Aurèle Nicolet and Gidon Kremer. He wrote a flute concerto for Nicolet and a violin concerto for Kremer. Works for oboist Heinz Holliger and clarinetist Eduard Brunner followed these successes. A sonata for alto saxophone and piano was written for Jean-Marie Londeix. This piece became highly popular among saxophone players worldwide despite official restrictions at home.
Major works include operas such as L'écume des jours based on Boris Vian published in 1981. Another opera Quatre Filles appeared in 1986 after Pablo Picasso. Ballet Confession premiered in 1984 following Alfred de Musset. His sombre Requiem set multi-lingual texts including English, French, German, and Latin. It received its first performance in Hamburg during 1980. Chamber works span decades with pieces ranging from 1958 to 1996. String quartets, concertos, and symphonies define his stylistic evolution. The Sonata for Two Violins dates back to 1958 while the Symphony No. 2 arrived in 1996. He composed numerous concertos for various instruments like cello, piano, flute, and violin. A Concerto Piccolo for saxophone and six percussionists emerged in 1977. Variations on Bach chorale Es ist genung appeared in 1984 for viola and piano. His output included arrangements of Bach Partita BWV 1004 completed in 1981. He also finished Schubert's opera-oratorio Lazarus oder Die Feier der Auferstehung in 1995.
Political pressure eventually forced Edison Denisov to move to France after years of domestic censorship. An accident occurred shortly before his death leading to a long period of illness. He died in a Saint-Mandé hospital on the 24th of November 1996 at age sixty-seven. His final years were marked by both physical suffering and continued creative output. Even during this time he composed works like Sonata for two flutes released in May 1996. Femme et oiseaux served as an homage to Joan Miró for piano and string quartet. Avant le coucher du soleil was written for alto flute and vibraphone that same year. The state had previously banned many performances but his legacy grew abroad. Honours included People's Artist of the Russian Federation and Chevalier of the Legion of Honour. Commander of the Order of Arts and Letters recognized his contributions to music. Despite the hardships he maintained a significant presence in European new music circles until the end.
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Common questions
When and where was Edison Denisov born?
Edison Vasilievich Denisov was born in Tomsk, Siberia on the 6th of April 1929. He initially studied mathematics before making a decisive turn toward composition.
Who were the teachers who guided Edison Denisov at the Moscow Conservatory?
Edison Denisov studied composition under Vissarion Shebalin and took orchestration classes from Nikolai Rakov during his time at the Moscow Conservatory. He also received analysis courses with Viktor Tsukkerman and piano instruction from Vladimir Belov.
Why did the Soviet Union ban performances of Edison Denisov's music?
The state labeled his work as total composer's arbitrary behavior after he became one of Khrennikov's Seven due to unapproved participation in festivals held in Western Europe. Tikhon Khrennikov criticized his style as having western influences and erudition instead of creativity.
Which major operas did Edison Denisov compose between 1980 and 1995?
Major works include operas such as L'écume des jours based on Boris Vian published in 1981 and another opera Quatre Filles appeared in 1986 after Pablo Picasso. He also finished Schubert's opera-oratorio Lazarus oder Die Feier der Auferstehung in 1995.
When and where did Edison Denisov die?
He died in a Saint-Mandé hospital on the 24th of November 1996 at age sixty-seven following an accident that led to a long period of illness.