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Performed by (presumably): Leningrad State Concert Orchestra, 1983 *** Valery Gavrilin (probably the last great Russian classical composer) was born in 1939 in Vologda. In 1964 graduated from Leningrad Conservatoire. Died in St. Petersburg in 1999 at the age of 59 following two severe heart attacks. *** The art of Gavrilin is one of the most vivid and striking features of Russian culture. After having composed “The Russian Music Book“ he entered into music of 1960es in the period of the so-called “neo-folklore wave“ which was a kind of parallel to the art of such Russian “country-writers“ in the genre prose as , , . The truthful picture of the contemporary life of people, their mood, expectation, hopes and sorrows is presented in Gavrilin's music. Both the esthetics and the style in Gavrilin's art are the vivid example of the neo-romantic. First of all it can be seen in the composer's inclination towards the genre of song mostly favored by romantics, in the ethical and fine development of song forms. To reveal the tragic content the composer uses the developed and symphonized song form which is sometimes close in the manner of intonation to “crying“ and “lamentations“. They are traditional genres of a Russian village song. In Gavrilin's instrumental music an appreciable place is given to a programme miniature, to character and genre pieces forming his suits, orchestra suits and variety entertainments. Having been staged in the Naples theatre “San-Carlo“ and in the Bolshoy in Moscow by Gavrilin's ballet “Anuta“ became widely known. Being vocal by nature Gavrilin's talent has its own unique intonation. Just like his beloved romantics he worships melody. The soul of his music is in a fresh primordial melodiousness. Its pure national character is also expressed in the composer's inclination to the “natural“ and “native“ harmonies. (from Wiki article)
