Search - Julian Krein, Michael Gnesin, Gregor Kirkor :: Russian Futurism, Vol. 3

Julian Krein (1913-1996) belonged to a younger group of Russian Jewish composers who, in contrast to previous generations, rejected any attempt towards aesthetic confinement. To his tonal language he also brought elements of folklore (in this case, Hebraic), and thus many passages in his music remind one of similarly conceived works by Béla Bartók or Dmitri Shostakovitch. The music of Georg Kirkor (1910-1980) was also heavily influenced by "modern" compositional techniques of the West. The name of Michail F. Gnesin (1883-1957) automatically recalls the conservatory in Moscow that bears his family name. Many famous musicians have issued from its ranks, among them Aram Khatchaturian. Mikhail Gnesin himself taught at the school between the years 1925-35, before he was invited to join the faculty of the Leningrad (St. Petersburg) Conservatory.