Nikolay Sokolov

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Nikolay Alexandrovich Sokolov (March 26, 1859–March 27, 1922) was a Russian composer of classical music, and a member of the circle that grew around the publisher Mitrofan Belyayev. A student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, Sokolov taught Dmitri Shostakovich and Yuri Shaporin ([1]) at the Moscow Conservatory. He was the posthumous dedicatee of Shostakovich's opus 3, an early set of variations for orchestra. ([2], [3]).

Sokolov's recorded works include his contributions to several collaborative projects of the "Belyayev circle", including the set of character pieces for string quartet known as Les Vendredis as well as a set of variations for piano and orchestra on a Russian theme.

Other works include a quintet opus 3, also arranged for string orchestra as a serenade; opus 5 (final chorus from Tolstoi's Don Juan); opus 12 (choruses for women's voices, published 1892); piano variations (opus 25); variations on a popular Russian theme for string quartet published in 1899. There are also three string quartets, in F major, A major and D minor, and a string trio in D minor, his opus 45 (published in 1916). All of these were published by Belyayev's firm.

It is possible, as noted here that when Diaghilev was looking for a composer for The Firebird, that Sokolov was considered, after Anatoly Lyadov had failed to deliver, and before finally Stravinsky was settled on. This tale is also told in Stephen Walsh's Stravinsky biography.

[edit] External links

The Lieder Database Sokolov entry
Review of a recording of Les Vendredis A review of a collaborative production of the Belyayev circle.
Notes to a recording of the Variations Contains biographical information. (This is one source for the assertion that Sokolov taught Shostakovich.)
Review of a recording of Shaporin's opera The Decembrists

[edit] Books

Sokolov, N. LinkImitatsii na cantus firmus; posobie pri izuchenii kontrapunkta strogogo stilia. Leningrad: Izd. Gosudarstvennoi konservatorii. 1928. (62 pages, of which pages 23-62 are score.)