G. Sviridov "Blizzard"
Incredibly beautiful melodies, barely perceptible easy chime of bells, romance intonations that existed at the beginning of the 19th century, gentlest melodies, true Russian music - all this makes Sviridov's "Blizzard" one of the jewels of classical music.
The history of "Snowstorm" Sviridov, the content of the work and many interesting facts read on our page.
History of creation
The well-known artist and director V. Basov offered the composer Sviridov cooperation when he began work on the movie "The Snowstorm", which was based on the story of brilliant Pushkin.
It should be noted separately that this work was written by the poet during a special period of his work - “Boldin Autumn”. In fact, this is a small ironic story about a young girl who decided to run away from home. The purpose of the escape was very weighty - she wanted to get married with her lover, who was poor and because of this, the girl's parents did not accept him. That's just the nature itself intervenes in the fate of the main characters and because of the strong snowstorm, everything changes radically. Of course, the girl accidentally marries a completely different person and as a result turns out to be even happier!
The composer really liked the proposal of the director, especially since he was impressed with the image of Pushkin provincial Russia and set to work with pleasure. But in his music Sviridov tried to get away a little from the Pushkin plot, removing the irony that is so noticeable in the story. And in general, he tried not to follow a strictly literary source, his music is a separate, important hero of the film. It is noteworthy that since the 1950s Sviridov has been trying to pay attention only to those works that are exclusively Russian in nature, since he was very attracted to this subject. Plus, many researchers of his work point out that of all the seasons of the year, he preferred winter, because he believed that only she expresses the nature of Russia most of all.
Not surprisingly, he enthusiastically set about working on the music for the film "The Snowstorm." It was written in 1964 and became very popular with the public. This music was often heard on radio and television.
That is why nine years later Sviridov decided to make the editorial staff of the score. So in 1974 an independent work on the music for the film appeared, which has already been called Musical Illustrations for A. Pushkin's story "The Snowstorm".
Interesting Facts
- The idea to rework the score of music for the film into a separate independent work prompted the composer to his spouse.
- His story is the poet of genius A.S. Pushkin composed in just one day.
- Despite the fact that the composer gave a slightly different name to the work, it is better known to the audience as the suite "The Snowstorm". There is no mistake in this, because this work belongs to this genre, with characteristic contrasts between the neighboring parts.
- It is believed that the extreme parts of the suite are not accidentally built on the same material and resemble the cover of a book.
- On this music in due time ballet has been put.
- Regarding the division into parts in the suite and, in fact, their content is debated among musicologists. Some argue that there are only seven, while others have nine sections. They also define them differently.
- After this suite was performed by a symphony orchestra conducted by Fedoseyev, world popularity and public recognition came to Sviridov.
- It is considered that the sequence of numbers does not follow exactly the plot of the story, but rather obeys musical logic.
- Even during his student years, Sviridov was teased by the nickname "The Ingenious Composer" because in the room where 20 people lived, he was the only one who was engaged in composition.
- He was the most popular composer not only in his own country, but also abroad, but all this time Sviridov did not have his own instrument. The grand piano on which he composed his masterpieces was rented from the Union of Composers.
- Sviridov also wrote his first works on Pushkin’s poems in 1935.
- The composer wrote music for 13 films.
Content
The suite includes nine rooms, which in fact are vivid illustrations of Pushkin's story. A cycle opens with a play called "Troika". It begins very actively, with powerful, heavy chords of a group of brass instruments. The acoustics in this play are simply amazing. It is possible not only to hear, but also to “see” a troika of harnessed horses rushing past, in which the small bells are ringing on the arcs, and their hoofs plowing snow drifts. The rhythmic beats of a tambourine, tremolo timpani, small drumming, as well as a wide oboe song, all this creates an indescribable atmosphere.
"Three" (listen)
The second room of the suite is "Waltz". It begins with the invocation chords that open the festive evening. A beautiful tune whirls guests of the ball in this magnificent dance. Moreover, it is not magnificent, it cannot be called palace either. Such a waltz could sound during a festive evening in a provincial town or a small manor.
"Waltz" (listen)
The third number is "Spring and Autumn". These are small miniatures that convey the beauty of nature. In the first of them the gentlest melody of a flute accompanied by strings sounds. The second miniature draws autumn and the same motif sounds, but it is already noticeably muffled, and accompanied by a brass band. The play ends on a barely audible pianissimo. Perhaps, the feelings of the protagonists also change, slowly, with time. So, the spring bright feeling for Vladimir gradually changed, leaving only sad memories.
The fourth number is "Romance". In the role of the soloist is the violin performing the main part, the gentlest melody that gives the listeners goosebumps and the heart stops, there is no doubt about what she sings, of course about love. Then the viola joins her and they continue to perform the romance as a duet. All this sounds to the accompaniment of the piano traditional for the mid-19th century romance music. Undoubtedly - this is the scene explaining the main characters, Marya Gavrilovny and Burmina. "I love you ... I love you passionately ..." words are heard in a beautiful melody. It is in this play that the most important and main conversation of the characters and the real intensity of emotions take place.
The fifth number is "Pastoral". There is no loud sonority, only a naive melody performed by an oboe and a swaying six-part movement. It is like a small respite to enhance the contrast of the next issue.
"Military March". He read with a powerful sound of a brass band. What can be heard in this solemn music? This is humor, cheerfulness and recklessness of youth. It was the custom to greet the winners, it’s no secret that the appearance of an officer in small towns has always been a real triumph and was always greeted accordingly.
"Military march" (listen)
With the onset of the seventh play "Wedding" the contrast reappears. This is a slow, quivering, peaceful sound of strings. An atmosphere of mystery and tenderness is created, only occasionally replaced by passionate exclamations. Mentally, students are transferred to a small church where they witness the wedding ceremony of two young people. The play ends with powerful chords performed by the orchestra - it's like blows of fate, when the bride Marya Gavrilovna exclaims: “Ay, not him! Not him!” and falls without creation.
Eighth number - "Echoes of a waltz", already familiar melody, which sounds muffled and only reminds of what happened once. It is like a memory of the first love that still lives in the heart.
Finishes the suite play "Winter road". She again conveys that image of a fast-moving troika. It only sounds a little calmer. The story of the main characters is over, and very well for them.
"Winter Road" (listen)
There is hardly a person whose heart does not freeze in admiration for the first chords of the famous "Waltz" or "Romance". And while listening to the entire suite, our imagination immediately begins to draw pictures of nature, the Russian winter, a chic ball, a fast-moving troika of horses. Sviridov’s music is remarkably graphic and hard to disagree with. This work is studied with pleasure by students in music schools and is loved by avid music lovers. Famous director M. Schweider said that Sviridov's music is forever. It miraculously combines time that goes on forever, and it’s also hard to disagree.
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