Boris Alexandrovich Arapov

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Boris Alexandrovich Arapov (12 September 1905, Saint Petersburg – 21 January 1992) was a Russian composer.

Arapov grew up in Poltava in Ukraine, and received there his first musical instruction. His first desire was to become a pianist. When he moved to Petrograd (formerly St. Petersburg) in 1921, he took piano lessons with Maria Yudina. However, a hand disease later forced him to abandon this dream. His instruction in composition started in 1923 at the Leningrad Conservatory, where he was taught by, amongst others, Vladimir Shcherbachov.

He later became a teacher at the conservatory, and a professor in 1940. In 1951 he became the director of the faculty for orchestration, and of the faculty of composition in 1976. He received, in his time the honours "people's artist of the USSR" (1976) and Order of Lenin (1986).

Arapov oriented himself first of all towards the officially desirable composition style and worked primarily with nationalist elements, mainly restricting his subject matter to Russian folklore. However, from around 1960, his compositional style started to become more experimental, introducing a more complicated harmonic, rhythmic and sound colour. As subject matter, he more often selected works of literature. Although this later work is generally tonal, the levels of internal discord are higher than previously. In his very last works, Arapov introduced a religious subject matter.

[edit] Selected works

  • Orchestral
    • Symphony No.1 in C minor (1947)
    • Symphony No.2 in D major (1959)
    • Symphony No.3 (1963)
    • Symphony No.4 for voices, choir and orchestra (1975)
    • Symphony No.5 (1981)
    • Symphony No.6 for voices, choir and orchestra Orchester (1983)
    • Symphony No.7 (1991)
    • Concerto for orchestra (1969)
    • "Tajik Suite" (1938)
    • "Russian Suite" (1951)
    • Violin Concerto (1963/64)
    • Concerto for violin, piano, percussion and chamber orchestra (1973)
    • "The revelation of the Jews" for violoncello, piano, percussion and string orchestra (1989)
  • Stage works and other vocal music
  • Chamber music
    • Trio with Mongolian themes, for clarinet, viola and piano (1938)
    • Violin sonata (1978)
    • Cello sonata (1985)
    • French Horn sonata (1981)
    • Sonata for solo violin (1930)
    • Quintet for oboe, horn, harp, viola and cello (1979)
  • Piano music
    • Piano sonata No.1 (1970)
    • Piano sonata No.2 (1976)
    • Piano sonata No.3 (1987)
    • Piano sonata No.4 (1990)
    • Piano sonata No.5 "De profundis" (1992)
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