Nicolai Karlovich Medtner

Nikolai Karlovich Medtner (Николай Карлович Метнер) (January 5, 1880 – November 13, 1951) was a Russian composer and pianist. Image File history File links Medtner. ... Image File history File links Medtner. ... January 5 is the 5th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 1880 was a leap year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... November 13 is the 317th day of the year (318th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 48 days remaining. ... :-* 1951 (MCMLI) was a common year starting on Monday; see its calendar. ... A composer is a person who writes music. ...

Biography

The youngest of five children, Nikolai Medtner was born in Moscow on the Russian Orthodox Christmas Eve. Medtner first took lessons from his mother until the age of ten, when he entered the Moscow Conservatory. Though initially a concert pianist, he went on to compose over sixty groups of works, to most of which he gave opus numbers. His life's work consists of fourteen piano sonatas, three more with violin (and one more with wordless solo voice,) and three piano concerti. He also wrote a piano quintet, two works for piano duo, many shorter piano pieces and almost 100 songs. The Moscow Conservatory is a prominent music school in Russia. ... Opus is a Latin word which means work (in the sense of a work of art). Some composers musical pieces are identified by opus numbers which generally run either in order of composition or in order of publication. ... A piano sonata is a sonata written for unaccompanied piano. ... A violin sonata is a musical composition for solo violin, often (but not always) accompanied by a piano or other keyboard instrument, or by figured bass in the Baroque. ... A piano concerto is a concerto for solo piano and orchestra. ...

His 38 piano pieces called Skazki (which translates as "legends" or "folktales" but are referred to as "Fairy Tales" in English at the suggestion of Medtner's wife), are central to his output as a whole and contain some of his most original music.

He graduated from the Moscow Conservatory in 1900 at the age of 20, taking the Anton Rubinstein prize, having studied under such teachers as Pabst, Sapellnikoff, Safonov, and Taneyev. Despite his conservative musical tastes, Medtner's compositions were highly regarded by his contemporaries and his skills as a piano virtuoso were second only to Rachmaninov. Although poised to become a concert pianist, he turned instead to composition at the urging of his teacher, Taneyev, and became one of the few composers who took up the musical challenge laid down by Beethoven in his late piano sonatas and string quartets, which served as the starting point for Medtner's own works. Anton Rubinstein Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein (Анто́н Григо́рьевич Рубинште́йн) (November 28, 1829 – November 20, 1894) was a Russian pianist, composer and conductor. ... Wassily Sapellnikoff (born 21 October/2 November 1867, Odessa; died 17 March 1941, San Remo, Italy) was a Russian pianist. ... Vasily Ilyich Safonov (Васи́лий Ильи́ч Сафо́нов) (February 6, 1852 - February 27, 1918); Russian pianist, teacher, conductor and composer. ... Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (also Taneev or Taneiev) (November 25 (old system??), 1856 - June 19, 1915), a pupil of Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky was a Russian composer, teacher, theorist and author. ... Sergei Vasilievich Rachmaninoff (Russian: , Sergej Vasilevič Rahmaninov, April 1, 1873 (N.S.) or March 20, 1873 (O.S.) – March 28, 1943) was a Russian-born American composer, pianist, and conductor. ... Ludwig van Beethoven by Carl Jäger (Date unknown). ...

During the years leading up to the 1917 Russian Revolution, Medtner lived at home with his parents. It was during this time that Medtner fell in love with Anna Mikhaylovna Bratenskaya, a well-regarded violinist and the young wife of his older brother Emil. Emil was later interned in Germany, where he had been studying when World War I broke out, and generously gave Anna her freedom to marry his brother. Medtner and Anna were married in 1918. The Russian Revolution of 1917 was a political movement in Russia which reached its peak in 1917 with the overthrow of the Provisional Government that had replaced the Russian Czarist system, and led to the establishment of the Soviet Union, which lasted until its collapse in 1991. ...

Unlike his friend Rachmaninov, Medtner did not leave Russia until well after the Revolution. Rachmaninov secured Medtner a tour of America and Canada in 1924. His recitals were often all-Medtner evenings consisting of sonatas interspersed with songs and shorter pieces. Medtner never adapted himself to the commercial aspects of touring and concerts became infrequent. Esteemed in England, he settled in London in 1936, modestly teaching, playing and composing to a strict daily routine. Motto: E pluribus unum (1789 to 1956) (Latin: Out of Many, One) In God We Trust (1956 to present) Anthem: The Star-Spangled Banner Capital Washington, D.C. Largest city New York City Official language(s) None at federal level; English de facto Government  â€¢ President  â€¢ Vice President Federal republic George...

Hardship really hit at the outbreak of the Second World War; his income from German publishers disappeared and ill health became an increasing problem. His devoted pupil Edna Iles gave him shelter in Warwickshire where he completed his Third Piano Concerto, performing it at a 1943 Promenade Concert. In 1946 the unexpected happened. The Maharaja of Mysore, (part of India and state of Karnataka now), His Highness Jayachamaraja Wodeyar Bahadur, himself a music lover and amateur pianist, founded a Medtner Society to record all of Medtner’s works. Medtner was already in declining health but managed to record his three Piano Concertos plus sonatas, chamber music, numerous songs and shorter works before his death in London in 1951. In one of these recordings he partnered Benno Moiseiwitsch in his two-piano work entitled "Russian Round-Dance", Op 58 No 1, and accompanied Elisabeth Schwarzkopf in several of his lieder, including The Muse, a Pushkin setting from 1913. These historic recordings demonstrate a forceful creative personality undimmed by failing health. In gratitude to his patron, Medtner dedicated his Third Piano Concerto to the Maharaja of Mysore. Mushroom cloud from the nuclear explosion over Nagasaki rising 18 km into the air. ... Warwickshire (pronounced either /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃə/ or /ˈwɔːɹɪkˌʃɪə/) is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in central England. ... Mysore is the second largest city of the Indian state of Karnataka. ... Maharaja of Mysore H.H. Sri. ... Benno Moiseiwitsch (February 22, 1890 _ April 9, 1963) was a pianist. ... Elisabeth Schwarzkopf Dame Elisabeth Schwarzkopf DBE (b. ... Lied (plural Lieder) is a German word, literally meaning song; among English speakers, however, it is used primarily as a term for European classical music songs, also known as art songs. Typically, Lieder are arranged for a single singer and piano. ... Aleksandr Pushkin by Vasily Tropinin Aleksandr Sergeyevich Pushkin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Серге́евич Пу́шкин â–¶ (help· info)) (June 6 (May 26, O.S.), 1799 - February 10 (January 29, O.S.), 1837) was a Russian Romantic author whom many consider the greatest Russian poet and the founder of modern Russian literature. ...

He died at his home in Golder's Green, London in 1951, and is buried in Hendon.

Selected works

Solo piano

The First Piano Sonata, op. 5 in F minor, is a remarkable four-movement work from the years 1902–3 suggesting the style of Scriabin or Rachmaninov, but nonetheless entirely original. Medtner's craft gained subtlety and complexity in later years, though this work is already evidence of his unsurpassed mastery of musical structure. An opening Allegro, dramatic and imbued like much Russian music with a bell-like sonority, is separated by a rhythmic and forceful Intermezzo from a Largo divoto which reaches a Maestoso climax before plunging into the headlong Allegro risoluto finale. 1902 (MCMII) was a common year starting on Wednesday (see link for calendar). ... 1903 (MCMIII) was a common year starting on Thursday (see link for calendar). ... Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Russian: Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Скря́бин, Aleksandr Nikolaevič Skrjabin; sometimes transliterated as Skryabin or Skrjabin) (6 January 1872–27 April 1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. ...

The Second, Third and Fourth piano sonatas, one-movement works each, can be played separately, but together form the "Sonata-Triad" (op. 11, in A-flat, D minor and C major, written 1904–8.) The First is an ecstatic work with attractive, lyrical themes, prefaced by a poem by Goethe. The Second is entitled "Sonate-Elegie", opening slowly with one of Medtner's most memorable themes, closing with an animated coda (Allegro molto doppio movimento, in D major); and the Third returns to the lyricism of the First, a satisfying conclusion to this trio of works. 1904 (MCMIV) is a leap year starting on a Friday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1908 (MCMVIII) is a leap year starting on Wednesday (link will take you to calendar). ... Johann Wolfgang von Goethe Johann Wolfgang von Goethe (pronounced [gø tə]) (August 28, 1749–March 22, 1832) was a German writer, politician, humanist, scientist, and philosopher. ...

The Fifth and most popular of his sonatas, in G minor opus 22 of 1909 – 1910, alternates a slow Introduction with a three-theme, propulsive sonata movement one of whose themes was heard in the Introduction. The emotional center of this compact work (fifteen minutes in duration) is the Interludium: Andante lugubre which comprises most of the development section. It is the most recorded of any of his Piano Sonatas. 1909 (MCMIX) was a common year starting on Friday (see link for calendar). ... -1... Sonata form refers to both the standard layout of an entire musical composition and more specifically to the standardized form of the first movement. ...

The Sixth Sonata followed soon after, the first of two which comprise his opus 25. It bears the title "Sonata-Skazka," which translates as "Fairy Tale Sonata." This short work in C minor, written in 1910–1, is in three movements (the second and third are connected): Allegro abbandonamente, Andantino con moto, and Allegro con spirito. The first movement is a compact sonata-form, the slow movement rondo-like (the similarity to a famous melody by Rachmaninov is coincidental, as the latter was not written until some thirty years later!). A minatory final march with variations ends with a Coda which revisits earlier material.-1... 1911 (MCMXI) was a common year starting on Sunday (click on link for calendar). ...

The other half of opus 25 is entirely different. The Seventh Sonata in E minor, "Night Wind" (after Tyutchev's poem Silence, an excerpt of which provides an epigraph) was completed in 1911 and dedicated to Sergei Rachmaninov, who immediately recognised its greatness. It is a vast one-movement work, lasting almost 35 minutes, in two major parts: an Introduction and Allegro sonata-form, followed by a Fantasy capped by a shadowy but active Coda, the latter entirely and ingeniously based on material presented in the Introduction. As Geoffrey Tozer put it, this Sonata "has the reputation of being a fearsomely difficult work of extraordinary length, exhausting to play and to hear, but of magnificent quality and marvelous invention." Among recent recordings is a critically acclaimed performance by Paul Stewart which pairs it with the work Rachmaninov dedicated to Medtner, his Fourth Piano Concerto. Fyodor Ivanovich Tyutchev (1803 - 1873) was a significant Russian lyric poet. ... Paul Stewart is the name of many notable people: Paul Stewart (driver) Formula One driver from the famous racing family Paul Stewart (actor) who appear in Citizen Kane This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ...

The Eighth "Ballad-Sonata" (opus 27, in F-sharp major,) began as a one-movement work, and expanded into its present form over the period 1912–4: Ballade, Introduction and Finale. The tonality and some of the material make passing reference to Chopin's Barcarolle. The first movement opens with one of Medtner’s lovely pastoral melodies. The finale, like the Piano Quintet, has a thematic connection with his Pushkin setting The Muse. Medtner himself made a magnificent recording of this work. 1912 (MCMXII) was a leap year starting on Monday in the Gregorian calendar (or a leap year starting on Tuesday in the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ... 1914 (MCMXIV) is a common year starting on Thursday. ...

The one-movement Ninth Sonata, opus 30 in A minor, seems an odd man out for having no title (unless one counts the opus 5, or calls it "War Sonata" as is occasionally done: prefacing the score are the words "during the war 1914-1917") It is a dark, terse and harmonically exploratory work of considerable power. Ypres, 1917, in the vicinity of the Battle of Passchendaele. ...

The "Reminiscenza" Tenth Sonata, opus 38 no. 1 in A minor, commences a set of eight pieces entitled "Forgotten Melodies (First Cycle)" (there are three cycles in all, opp. 38, 39, and 40). Both this and the next Sonata were written 1918 – 1920. This single movement is one of Medtner's most poetic creations; as the title indicates, its character is nostalgic and wistful. Other pieces in opus 38 contain variants of the Sonata's opening theme, such as the concluding "Alla Reminiscenza". Gilels played the "Reminiscenza" often and memorably recorded it. (He also recorded opus 22.) 1918 (MCMXVIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday of the Gregorian calendar (see link for calendar) or a common year starting on Wednesday of the Julian calendar. ... 1920 (MCMXX) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Э́миль Григо́рьевич Ги́лельс) (October 19, 1916 – October 14, 1985) was a Ukrainian classical pianist of the Soviet era. ...

The Eleventh, "Sonata Tragica" opus 39 no. 5 in C minor, concludes "Forgotten Melodies (Second Cycle)". (There is some repetition of themes in this set as well— the piece which precedes the Sonata, "Canzona Mattinata", contains a theme which recurs in the Sonata, and according to Medtner's wishes both pieces are to be played attacca — without pause.) This is also a single movement sonata-form, but Allegro, dramatic and ferocious, with three themes of which one (the reminiscence from "Canzona Mattinata") fails to return. A violent coda concludes.

The Twelfth Sonata, entitled "Romantica", opus 53 no. 1 (B-flat minor) was written some years later along with its twin, in 1931–2. Returning to a four-movement form, it consists of a Romance (B-flat minor,) a Scherzo (E-flat minor,) a Meditazione (B minor,) and a Finale (B-flat minor,) and was written between the Second and Third Piano Concerti. The ending quotes his Sonata-Skaza, opus 25 no. 1. 1931 (MCMXXXI) is a common year starting on Thursday. ... 1932 (MCMXXXII) is a leap year starting on Friday. ... A scherzo (plural scherzi) is a name given to a piece of music or a movement from a larger piece such as a symphony. ...

The Thirteenth Sonata, entitled "Minacciosa" ("Menacing", sometimes mistranslated as "Tempest",) opus 53 no. 2 (F minor) is another one‐movement work — indeed a menacing, highly-chromatic work (if not so much as opus 30), with an impressive fugue. It was dedicated to the Canadian pianist and pupil of Scriabin, Alfred Laliberte, one of Medtner's most loyal supporters. Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin (Алекса́ндр Никола́евич Скря́бин; sometimes transliterated as Skryabin) (January 6, 1872 – April 27, 1915) was a Russian composer and pianist. ...

The last of the sonatas, "Idyll-Sonata", opus 56 in G major, was written in 1937. This is a gentle, two-movement work — a short Allegretto cantabile Pastorale and a rondo Allegro moderato e cantabile (sempre al rigore di tempo) with delicate harmonic colorings, in which the "cantabile" indications in both movements reflect the overall mood. Rondo, and its French equivalent rondeau, is a word that has been used in music in a number of ways, most often in reference to a musical form, but also in reference to a character-type that is distinct from the form. ...

Other works

Piano Concerto no. 2, op. 50 in C minor 1920–7. Dedicated to Rachmaninov, who dedicated his own Fourth Concerto to Medtner. In three movements: Toccata, and a Romanza from which follows a Divertimento. The first movement is propulsive with kinetic energy, and there is much dialogue between piano and orchestra (a subsidiary theme resembles the Fairy Tale from the op. 14 (1906–7) pair, the March of the Paladin). The Romanza and Divertimento are each in their own way varied in character, the Divertimento particularly rich in inspiration. Medtner left behind a magisterial recording of this Concerto with the Philharmonia Orchestra, 1947. 1920 (MCMXX) is a leap year starting on Thursday (link will take you to calendar) // Events January January 7 - Forces of Russian White admiral Kolchak surrender in Krasnoyarsk. ... 1927 (MCMXXVII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1906 (MCMVI) was a common year starting on Monday (see link for calendar). ... 1907 (MCMVII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (see link for calendar) of the Gregorian calendar (or a common year starting on Wednesday of the 13-day-slower Julian calendar). ...

Piano Concerto no. 3, "Ballade", op. 60 in E minor, 1940–3. The factors which led to the creation of this work are closely connected to the circumstances of his final years. It is dedicated to his generous patron, the Maharaja of Mysore. Three connected movements: the first, Con moto largamente, sustained and profound, slowly developing motion and energy; the second an Interludium,Allegro, molto sostenuto, misterioso quotes the first movement and prefigures the finale; a lengthy Allegro molto. Svegliando, eroico vigorously concludes the work. The composer's own recording from 1947, with the Philharmonia Orchestra, is considered a classic. 1940 (MCMXL) was a leap year starting on Monday (link will take you to calendar). ... 1943 (MCMXLIII) is a common year starting on Friday. ...

Violin Sonata no. 3, op. 57 in E minor, 1938. Recorded by Oistrakh among others. A vast work in four movements, a counterpart to his "Night Wind" Piano Sonata No 7. Introduzione — Andante meditamente, Scherzo — Allegro molto vivace, leggiero, Andante con moto, Finale — Allegro molto. A motto theme in the Introduction juxtaposes chords quietly but insistently, joined by a melody on the violin. The melody becomes the first theme of the — lengthy — sonata-form movement that follows, juxtaposed with other themes including a march in imitation. The folksy and syncopated Scherzo in A minor, thematically related to the opening movement’s faster sections, is in Rondo-form. After a reminiscence of the motto, the Andante is a lament in F minor, extremely Russian in sentiment. The virtuoso Finale has thematic elements related to Russian Orthodox liturgical music (Medtner was born Lutheran but late in life converted to Orthodox). 1938 (MCMXXXVIII) was a common year starting on Saturday (link will take you to calendar). ... David Fiodorovich Oistrakh (Russian: Давид Фёдорович Ойстрах; September 30, 1908 – October 24, 1974) was a Jewish Soviet violinist who made many recordings, and was the dedicatee of numerous violin works. ...

The Piano Quintet in C Major, Opus Post., was published after the composer's death. He worked on sketches of the work from 1903 until its completion in 1949. Medtner considered it the ultimate summary of his musical life and it contains some of his finest and most spiritual music. Medtner recorded the work in the last years of his life but it has never been commercially released.

Legacy

Whether Medtner’s music makes inroads into the wider repertoire or remains the territory of a few performers and listeners depends on whether it is true, as is said (by some other than the aforementioned performers and listeners...) that he sacrificed melodic interest, beauty, and communicativeness (or enough of them) on the altar of complexity, the sonata form, and counterpoint. His music is in constant intellectual ferment and, with rare exceptions, has a restless quality that demands repeated listenings to penetrate. The music often has a psychologically intense, almost demonic character. The piano works in particular are notoriously difficult to sight-read and require enormous technical resources to perform. Yet at the top of his game, Medtner's melodies have the rare ability to stay with the listener on a direct emotional level. It may be that some of his works are better advocates for him in this connection--his songs are much more directly communicative than the solo piano music, the violin sonatas more extroverted--than others (the piano concerti, and indeed, some of these sonatas, perhaps depending on the performance, of course)--and it is also true that his music is now that of a cult composer, at least in reputation and possibly in fact. (The availability now of more of his music on recording should help any debate, of course.)

Those who championed Medtner's work and left behind recordings include Vladimir Horowitz, Earl Wild, Benno Moiseiwitsch, Eugene Istomin, Emil Gilels, Geoffrey Tozer, Marc-André Hamelin, Paul Stewart, Nikolai Demidenko, Hamish Milne, and Evgeny Kissin, who recently recorded Sonata reminiscenza. Vladimir Horowitz (Russian: Владимир Самойлович Горовиц, Ukrainian: Володимир Самійлович Горовиць) (OS 18 September, NS October 1, 1903 – November 5, 1989) was a classical pianist of Jewish origin. ... Earl Wild (born November 26, 1915) is an American pianist known especially for his transciptions of classical music and jazz. ... Benno Moiseiwitsch (February 22, 1890 _ April 9, 1963) was a pianist. ... Eugene George Istomin (November 26, 1925—October 10, 2003) was an American pianist born in New York City. ... Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (Э́миль Григо́рьевич Ги́лельс) (October 19, 1916 – October 14, 1985) was a Ukrainian classical pianist of the Soviet era. ... Geoffrey Tozer is an Australian pianist of great international renown. ... Marc-André Hamelin (born September 5, 1961) is a French-Canadian classical pianist and composer. ... Paul Stewart is the name of many notable people: Paul Stewart (driver) Formula One driver from the famous racing family Paul Stewart (actor) who appear in Citizen Kane This is a disambiguation page — a navigational aid which lists pages that might otherwise share the same title. ... Nikolai Demidenko (born 1956) is a Russian pianist. ... Hamish Milne is a British pianist known for his advocacy of Nikolai Medtner. ... Evgeny Kissin Evgeny Kissin (Евге́ний Ки́син) (born October 10, 1971) is a well-known Russian piaUNIQc93f57335a22d7d-math15a013372570200000001nist. ...

In spring 1910 Medtner recorded ten pieces for the reproducing piano Welte-Mignon, nine from his own works. The player piano is a type of piano that plays music without the need for a human pianist to depress the normal keys or pedals. ... M. Welte & Sons, Freiburg and New York From 1832 until 1932, the firm produced mechanical musical Instruments of high quality. ...

Publications

Medtner’s one book, The muse and the fashion, being a defence of the foundations of the art of music (1935, republished 1957 but may not be in print) was a statement of his artistic credo and reaction to some of the trends of the time. He believed strongly that there were immutable laws to music, whose essence was in song.

(Unrelatedly) The composer was a BBC Radio 3 Composer of the Week in 2001. BBC Radio 3 is a domestic UK BBC radio station, which devotes most of its schedule to classical music. ...

External links

• Medtner Worklist with Dates