Galina Ivanovna Ustvolskaya (russian: Гали́на Ива́новна Уство́льская , 17 June 1919 – 22 December 2006), was a Russian composer of

classical music Classical music generally refers to the art music of the Western world, considered to be distinct from Western folk music or popular music traditions. It is sometimes distinguished as Western classical music, as the term "classical music" also ...

Early years

Born in

Petrograd Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

, Ustvolskaya studied from 1937 to 1939 at the college attached to the

Leningrad Conservatory The N. A. Rimsky-Korsakov Saint Petersburg State Conservatory (russian: Санкт-Петербургская государственная консерватория имени Н. А. Римского-Корсакова) (formerly known as th ...

(later renamed the Rimsky-Korsakov Conservatory). From 1947 till 1977 she taught composition at this college. In 1939 she entered

Dmitri Shostakovich Dmitri Dmitriyevich Shostakovich, , group=n (9 August 1975) was a Soviet-era Russian composer and pianist who became internationally known after the premiere of his Symphony No. 1 (Shostakovich), First Symphony in 1926 and was regarded throug ...

's composition class at the Conservatory as the only female student in his class. Her composition teacher said of her: Shostakovich sent some of his own as yet unfinished works to Ustvolskaya, attaching great value to her comments. Some of these pieces contain quotations from his pupil's compositions; for example, he employed the second theme of the Finale of her clarinet trio throughout the Fifth String Quartet and in the Michelangelo Suite (no. 9). Ustvolskaya was a pupil of Shostakovich from 1939 to 1941 and from 1947 to 1948, but her works from the 1950s onwards retain little influence of his style. Until 1961 none of her true works were performed other than patriotic pieces written for official consumption. The middle of the 1960s witnessed greater tolerance for modernist music, and interest in Ustvolskaya began to grow – the Leningrad Union of Composers organized in the 1970s evenings of her music, which received high praise from listeners and critics. Widespread recognition came after her music was performed in several concerts of the 1989 Holland Festival.

Style

Ustvolskaya developed her own style, of which she said, "There is no link whatsoever between my music and that of any other composer, living or dead." Among its characteristics are the use of repeated,

homophonic In music, homophony (;, Greek: ὁμόφωνος, ''homóphōnos'', from ὁμός, ''homós'', "same" and φωνή, ''phōnē'', "sound, tone") is a texture in which a primary part is supported by one or more additional strands that flesh ...

blocks of sound -- which prompted the Dutch critic Elmer Schönberger to call her "the lady with the hammer" -- unusual combinations of instruments (such as eight

double bass The double bass (), also known simply as the bass () (or #Terminology, by other names), is the largest and lowest-pitched Bow (music), bowed (or plucked) string instrument in the modern orchestra, symphony orchestra (excluding unorthodox addit ...

es, piano and percussion in her Composition No. 2); use of extreme dynamics (as in her Piano Sonata No. 6); the employment of groups of instruments to introduce tone clusters; sparse harmonic textures; and the use of piano or percussion to beat out unchanging rhythms. The music of Galina Ustvolskaya was not openly censured in the USSR. However, she was accused of being unwilling to communicate and of "narrowness" and "obstinacy".

In literature

Ustvolskaya's relationship with Shostakovich from her time as a student through the 1950s is fictionalized in

William T. Vollmann William Tanner Vollmann (born July 28, 1959) is an American novelist, journalist, war correspondent, short story writer, and essayist. He won the 2005 National Book Award for Fiction with the novel ''Europe Central''.

National Book Award The National Book Awards are a set of annual U.S. literary awards. At the final National Book Awards Ceremony every November, the National Book Foundation presents the National Book Awards and two lifetime achievement awards to authors. The Nat ...

-winning historical novel ''

Europe Central ''Europe Central'' (2005) is a novel by William T. Vollmann that won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction.

''.

Legacy and remembrance

Ustvolskaya died in

Saint Petersburg Saint Petersburg ( rus, links=no, Санкт-Петербург, a=Ru-Sankt Peterburg Leningrad Petrograd Piter.ogg, r=Sankt-Peterburg, p=ˈsankt pʲɪtʲɪrˈburk), formerly known as Petrograd (1914–1924) and later Leningrad (1924–1991), i ...

. Her manuscripts are stored in the archive of the Paul Sacher Stiftung since 1994.

Works

Ustvolskaya's oeuvre is small, with only 21 pieces in her characteristic style (i.e. excluding the public, Soviet-style works). *Concerto for piano, full string orchestra and timpani (1946) *Sonata for cello and piano (1946) (destroyed) * Piano Sonata No. 1 (1947) *''The Dream of Stepan Razin'' (''Сон Степана Разина – Son Stepana Razina'') Bylina for bass and symphony orchestra (Russian folk text, 1949) *Trio for clarinet, violin and piano (1949) * Piano Sonata No. 2 (1949) *Octet for two oboes, four violins, timpani and piano (1950) *Sinfonietta (1951) (destroyed) * Piano Sonata No. 3 (1952) *Violin Sonata (1952) *Twelve Preludes for piano (1953) * Symphony No. 1, for two boys' voices and orchestra (Text by

Gianni Rodari Giovanni Francesco "Gianni" Rodari (; 23 October 1920 – 14 April 1980) was an Italian writer and journalist, most famous for his works of children's literature, notably '' Il romanzo di Cipollino''. For his lasting contribution as a children's ...

, 1955) *Suite for orchestra (1955) * Piano Sonata No. 4 (1957) *Symphonic Poem No. 1 (1959) *Symphonic Poem No. 2 (1957) *''Grand Duet'' for piano and cello (1959) *''Duet'' for piano and violin (1964) *Composition No. 1 ''Dona Nobis Pacem'', for piccolo, tuba and piano (1971) *Composition No. 2 ''Dies Irae'', for eight double basses, piano and wooden cube (1973) *Composition No. 3 ''Benedictus, Qui Venit'', for four flutes, four bassoons and piano (1975) * Symphony No. 2 - ''True and Eternal Bliss!'', for male reciter and small orchestra (1979) * Symphony No. 3 - ''Jesus Messiah, Save Us!'', for male reciter and small orchestra (1983) * Symphony No. 4 - ''Prayer'', for contralto, piano, trumpet and tam-tam (1985/7) * Piano Sonata No. 5 (1986) * Piano Sonata No. 6 (1988) * Symphony No. 5 - ''Amen'', for male reciter, oboe, trumpet, tuba, violin and wooden cube (1989/90)

Discography

*Composition No. 1 :– Zoon / Oostendorp / Malov RN (Radio Netherlands) :– Renggli / Le Clair / Schroeder Hat Art CD 6130 :– Tokarev / Arbuszov / Malov Megadisc MDC 7867 :– Members of the Schönberg Ensemble / de Leeuw* Philips 442 532-2 :– Osten/ Hilgers / Hagen Koch 31 170-2 H1 *Composition No. 2 :– Propischin / Kolosov / Goryachev / Vulik / Kovulenko / Peresipkin / Sokolov / Nefedov / Javmertchik / Sandovskaya / Malov Megadisc MDC 7867, Megadisc MDC 7858 :– Schönberg Ensemble / de Leeuw* Philips 442 532-2 *Composition No. 3 :– Amsterdam Wind Ensemble / Friesen RN (Radio Netherlands) Globe 6903 :– Danilina / Osipova / Rodina / Tokarev / Makarov / Shevchuk / Sokolov / Krasnik / Sandovskaya / Malov Megadisc MDC 7867 :– Schönberg Ensemble / de Leeuw* Philips 442 532-2 :– Jones / Coffin / Keen / Stevenson / O’Neill / Antcliffe / Newman / McNaughton / Stephenson / Stephenson Conifer 75605 51 194-2 *Concerto for Piano, String Orchestra and Timpani :– Lubimov / Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie / Schiff Erato 0630 12 709-2 :– Seribryakov / Chamber Orchestra of the Leningrad Philharmonic / Malov. Musica Non Grata Series. Melodiya BMG 74321 49 956-2 *Duet for Violin and Piano :– Beths / de Leeuw* Hat Art CD 6115 :– Shustin / Malov Megadisc MDC 7863 :– Rissin / Rissin-Morenova SST 30211 *Grand Duet for Violoncello and Piano :– Stolpner / Malov ... (LP) Melodia C10 23283 007, Musica Non Grata Series. Melodiya BMG 74321 49 956-2 :– Vassiliev / Malov Megadisc MDC 7863 :– Uitti / Malov RN (Radio Netherlands) :– Kooistra / Denyer* Etcetera KTC 1170 :– de Saram / Schroeder Hat Art CD 6130 :– Beiser / Oldfather Koch 37 301-2 H1 :– Rostropovich / Lubimov EMI 572016-2 *Ustvolskaya’s preferred recording *Octet for 2 Oboes, 4 Violins, Timpani and Piano :– Kossoyan / Tchinakov / Stang / Liskovich / Dukor / Soakov / Snamenski / Karandashova (LP) Melodia C10 0 715 152 Musica Non Grata Series. Melodiya BMG 74321 49 956-2 :– Neretin / Tosenko / Stang / Ritalchenko / Lukin / Tkachenko / Znamenskii / Malov Megadisc MDC 7865 :– Bohling / Tindale / Fletcher / Muszaros / Tombling /Iwabucchi / Cole / Stephenson* Conifer 75605 51 194-2 *Piano Sonata :– Malov / Liss / Ural Philharmonic Orchestra (CD) Megadisc MDC 7856 (2000) *Sonata for Piano No. 1 :– Malov(LP) Melodia C10 23 283 007, Megadisc MDC 7876 :– Denyer* Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Schroeder HEK Hat 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Piano No. 2 :– Malov Megadisc MDC 7876, Megadisc MDC 7858 :– Denyer Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Vedernikov* Teichiku TECC – 28170 :– Schroeder HEK HAT 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Piano No. 3 :– Malov Melodia C10 0715 152 (LP), Megadisc MDC 7876, Musica Non Grata Series. Melodiya BMG 74321 49 956-2 :– Denyer* Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Karlen ECM 449936-2 :– Schroeder HEK Hat 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Piano No. 4 :– Malov (LP) Melodia C10 23283 007, Megadisc MDC 7876 :– Denyer* Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Varsi Mediaphon 72. 158 :– Schroeder HEK Hat 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Piano No. 5 :– de Leeuw* Hat Art CD 6115 :– Denyer Etcetera KTC 1170, Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Malov Megadisc MDC 7876, MEGADISC MDC 7858 :– de Leeuw WD 02 (

Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik The Wittener Tage für neue Kammermusik (Witten Days for New Chamber Music) is a music festival for contemporary chamber music, jointly organised by the town Witten in the Ruhr Area and the broadcasting station Westdeutscher Rundfunk (WDR). The con ...

) :– Karlen ECM 449 936-2 :– Schroeder HEK Hat 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Piano No. 6 :– Malov Megadisc MDC 7876 Megadisc MDC 8000 :– Denyer* Conifer 75605 51 262-2 :– Mukaiyama BVHAAST CD 9406 :– Arden Koch 37 301-2 H1, KOCH 37 603-2 H1 :– Schroeder HEK Hat 6170 :– Hinterhäuser COL Legno WWE 20019 *Sonata for Violin and Piano :– Shustin / Malov Megadisc MDC 7865 :– Rissin / Rissin-Morenova SST 30211 *Symphony No. 1 :– Malov / Liss / Ural Philharmonic Orchestra (CD) Megadisc MDC 7856 (2000) *Symphony No. 2 – True and Eternal Bliss :– The St. Petersburg Soloists / Malov / Liss Megadisc MDC 7858 *Symphony No. 3 – Jesus Messiah, Save Us! :– The St. Petersburg Soloists / Malov / Liss Megadisc MDC 7858 :– Symphonieorchester des Bayerische n Rundfunks / Stenz / Sherstanoi Megadisc MDC 7858 *Symphony No. 4 – Prayer :– van Vliet / Konink / Denyer / Meeuwsen Etcetera KTC 1170, Megadisc MDC 8000 :– Marrs / Keemss / Miller / Sperber Mediaphon MED 72 115 :– The St. Petersburg Soloists / Malov / Liss Megadisc MDC 7858 *Symphony No. 5 – Anen :– Leiferkus / Fletcher / Bohling / Hultmark / Powell / Cole / Stephenson CONIFER 75605 51 194-2 :– The St. Petersburg Soloists / Malov / Liss MEGADISC MDC 7858 *Twelve Preludes for Piano :– Schroeder Hat Art CD 6130 :– Malov Megadisc MDC 7867 :– Arden* Koch 37 301-2 H1 *Trio for Clarinet, Violin and Piano :– Beths / de Boer / de Leeuw* Hat Art CD 6115 :– Keser / Anderson / Denyer* Etcetera KTC 1170 :– Shustin / Feodorov / Malov Megadisc MDC 7865

References

Viktor Suslin Viktor Yevseyevich Suslin (russian: Ви́ктор Евсе́евич Су́слин; June 13, 1942, Miass, Ural, Russia – July 10, 2012, Hamburg, Germany) was a Russian composer. An associate of Sofia Gubaidulina's, together with her and Vy ...

: ''The music of Spiritual Independence: Galina Ustvolskaya'' in «Ex oriente...I» Ten Composers from the former USSR.

, Dmitri Smirnov,

Arvo Pärt Arvo Pärt (; born 11 September 1935) is an Estonian composer of contemporary classical music. Since the late 1970s, Pärt has worked in a minimalist style that employs tintinnabuli, a compositional technique he invented. Pärt's music is in pa ...

Yury Kasparov Yuri Sergeyevich Kasparov (born 8 June 1955, in Moscow, russian: link=no, Юрий Серге́евич Каспа́ров—his name is variously transliterated) is a Russian composer, music teacher and a professor at the Moscow Conservatory wh ...

, Galina Ustvolskaya,

Nikolai Sidelnikov Nikolai Nikolayevich Sidelnikov (russian: Никола́й Никола́евич Сиде́льников; June 5, 1930, Tver – June 20, 1992) was a Russian Soviet composer. Sidelnikov studied with E. O. Messner and Yuri Shaporin at the M ...

Elena Firsova Elena Olegovna Firsova (russian: link=no, Еле́на Оле́говна Фи́рсова; also ''Yelena'' or ''Jelena Firssowa''; born 21 March 1950) is a Russian composer. Life Firsova was born in Leningrad into the family of physicists Ol ...

Vladimir Martynov Vladimir Ivanovich Martynov (Russian: Владимир Иванович Мартынов) (Moscow, 20 February 1946) is a Russian composer, known for his compositions in the concerto, orchestral music, chamber music, and choral music genres. ...

Andrei Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai (russian: Андре́й Я́ковлевич Эшпа́й; 15 May 1925 – 8 November 2015) was an ethnic Mari (Russian and Soviet) composer. He was awarded the title of People's Artist of the USSR in 1981. Bio ...

Boris Chaikovsky Boris Alexandrovich Tchaikovsky (russian: Бори́с Алекса́ндрович Чайко́вский; 10 September 1925 – 7 February 1996), PAU, was a Soviet and Russian composer, born in Moscow, whose oeuvre includes orchestral works, c ...

. Edited by Valeria Tsenova (studia slavica musicologica, Bd. 25), Verlag Ernst Kuhn – Berlin. pp. 207–266 (in English) *Lemaire, Frans. Notes to ''Symphonies 2,3,4 and 5''. Megadisc MDC 7854. *Simon Bokman. Variations on the Theme Galina Ustvolskaya. Translated by Irina Behrendt. (studia slavica musicologica, Bd.40), Verlag Ernst Kuhn - Berlin,2007. (in English) *Rachel Jeremiah-Foulds: 'An Extraordinary Relationship and Acrimonious Split - Galina Ustvolskaya and Dmitri Shostakovich' in Mitteilungen der Paul Sacher Stiftung, No. 23, April 2010. *Rachel Jeremiah-Foulds: 'Spiritual Independence or a Cultural Norm? Galina Ustvolskaya and the Znamenny Raspev' in Church, State and Nation in Orthodox Church Music, Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Orthodox Church Music, University of Joensuu, Finland - 8–14 June 2009.

External links

Official site
* *

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ustvolskaya, Galina 1919 births 2006 deaths 20th-century classical composers Russian women classical composers Russian classical composers Soviet classical composers Soviet composers Soviet women classical composers Soviet women composers 20th-century women composers