Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov
Encyclopedia
Major General Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov ' onMouseout='HidePop("7517")' href="/topics/Tver">Tver
1905 - Moscow 1994) was a Soviet Russian
composer, and, from 1946 to 1986, the second head of the Alexandrov Ensemble which was founded by his father, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov
. Alexandrov reached the rank of Major-General and was awarded the order of Hero of Socialist Labour, the Lenin Prize
and the State Prize of the USSR, and named People's Artist of the USSR
. Alexandrov is also the composer of the Anthem of Transnistria
.
in Moscow
, performing alongside singers such as Feodor Chaliapin
. Chaliapin was a great showman, as can be heard in his recording of Dark Eyes
,
and Boris would later carry the same attitude into his choral arrangements for the Ensemble.
From 1923 to 1929 he attended the Moscow Conservatory
, taught by RM Glier. He grew up among leading performers, and later collaborated with the leading Soviet composers and poets. From 1929 to 1937 he ran the music department of the newly established Central Theatre of the Red Army
and from 1933 to 1941 was associate professor of Moscow Conservatory
. He was also a composer, writing in various genres of symphonic and chamber instrumental music
.
In 1937, he became the deputy artistic director of the Alexandrov Ensemble and some of his best compositions date from this era. As a conductor, Boris Alexandrov apparently worked from two principles: interpreting a composer's work correctly, and making sure that a mass audience would appreciate it
.
, Boris Alexandrov, with his father, led the ensemble in All-Union
radio concerts and over 1500
concerts at the Front, officially to actively promote Russian folk music and the songs of Soviet composers and folk music
for the sake of patriotism and morale. During this time, Boris shouldered increasing responsibility, due to his father's heart condition. After Alexandrov's death in 1946, Boris Alexandrov, his son, went on to succeed his father as musical director for the ensemble
.
. He carried on the central idea which drove his father: that the choir was central to the ensemble, and that without the choir there would be no ensemble
.
at the Novodevichy Cemetery
. He was succeeded by Victor Fedorov, the chorus master since 1986.
The ensemble under Boris Alexandrov worked with the best musicians. The choir worked with People's Artist of Russia
, laureate of Stalin Prize KP Vinogradov; People's Artist of the USSR
Y. Petrov the Principal Chorus Master; VG Sokolov (later People's Artist of the USSR and Professor of the Moscow Conservatory
); BI Kulikov (later Rector of the Moscow Conservatory
); ES Tytyanko (People's Artist of the USSR); and VV Samsonenko, AP Kulygin and VI Chusei, all Honoured Artist of Russia. Dancers worked with People's Artist of the USSR PP Virsky, soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre
, Honored Art Worker AI Radunsky and Honoured Artist of Russia KG Farmanyants and People's Artist of the USSR U.P. Khmelnitski. The orchestra worked with VA Aleksandrov, VV Samsonenko both Honoured Artist of Russia, and People's Artist of Russia
VA Korobko
.
Wedding in Malinovka
which contained patriotic themes: revolutionaries, soldiers, peasants and folk music
. Other operettas include The Girl from Barcelona (1942) about Russian partisans and a female Spanish co-combatant; My Gyuzel (1946), Near You (1949) and The One Hundred and First Wife (1957). Ballets include Young Friendship and Southpaw (1955). He also wrote cantatas including Cantata of the Party (1955), the oratorio October Soldier Defending the World (1967), Book of the Motherland (1979), plus the suite Guarding (1981)
.
Alexandrov composed the song "Long live our state" (Да здравствует наша держава) to be the anthem
of the Soviet Union
. It was rejected however, but the 1943 composition (with different lyrics) became the national anthem
of Transnistria
in the 1990s. The song was used in parades in the Soviet Union and continues to be used at the end of Victory Day parades in Moscow today.
(1946); People's Artist of Russia
(1948); rank of Colonel
(1948); Order of Lenin
(1949); for concert performances the Stalin Prize, First Class (1950); People's Artist of the USSR
(1958); rank of Major General
(1973); for outstanding contribution to the development of culture and art Hero of Socialist Labour (1975); Lenin Prize
(1978); Order of the October Revolution
(1985)
. In all, he received the Order of Lenin three times and also the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
, Order of the Patriotic War, First Class
and a Stalin prize.
For the oratorio October Soldier Defending the World and the poem Lenin Immortal, in 1971 a special award was set up by the Ministry of Culture of the USSR, the Union of Soviet Composers
and the main political management of the Soviet Army and Navy: the Gold Medal of Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov was to be awarded annually to subsequent Soviet composers for composition of military-patriotic music
.
Tver
Tver is a city and the administrative center of Tver Oblast, Russia. Population: 403,726 ; 408,903 ;...
1905 - Moscow 1994) was a Soviet Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
composer, and, from 1946 to 1986, the second head of the Alexandrov Ensemble which was founded by his father, Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov
Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov
Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov was a Russian Soviet composer, the founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who wrote the music for the national anthem of the Soviet Union, which, in 2001, became the anthem of Russia . During his career, he also worked as a professor of the Moscow State Conservatory,...
. Alexandrov reached the rank of Major-General and was awarded the order of Hero of Socialist Labour, the Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize
The Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
and the State Prize of the USSR, and named People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
. Alexandrov is also the composer of the Anthem of Transnistria
Anthem of Transnistria
The Anthem of Transnistria is named We sing the praises of Transnistria . The music was written by Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov, and the lyrics by Boris Parmenov, Nicholas Bozhko and Vitaly Pishenko. The anthem has lyrics in all three official languages of Transnistria: Moldovan, Russian,...
.
Early years
He began his musical career, aged 13, as a viola player and in the children's choir at the Bolshoi TheatreBolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
in Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
, performing alongside singers such as Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Chaliapin
Feodor Ivanovich Chaliapin was a Russian opera singer. The possessor of a large and expressive bass voice, he enjoyed an important international career at major opera houses and is often credited with establishing the tradition of naturalistic acting in his chosen art form.During the first phase...
. Chaliapin was a great showman, as can be heard in his recording of Dark Eyes
Dark Eyes (song)
Dark Eyes is a Russian song.The lyrics of the song were written by a Ukrainian poet and writer Yevhen Hrebinka. The first publication of the poem was in Literaturnaya gazeta on 17 January 1843....
,
and Boris would later carry the same attitude into his choral arrangements for the Ensemble.
From 1923 to 1929 he attended the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
, taught by RM Glier. He grew up among leading performers, and later collaborated with the leading Soviet composers and poets. From 1929 to 1937 he ran the music department of the newly established Central Theatre of the Red Army
Red Army
The Workers' and Peasants' Red Army started out as the Soviet Union's revolutionary communist combat groups during the Russian Civil War of 1918-1922. It grew into the national army of the Soviet Union. By the 1930s the Red Army was among the largest armies in history.The "Red Army" name refers to...
and from 1933 to 1941 was associate professor of Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
. He was also a composer, writing in various genres of symphonic and chamber instrumental music
.
In 1937, he became the deputy artistic director of the Alexandrov Ensemble and some of his best compositions date from this era. As a conductor, Boris Alexandrov apparently worked from two principles: interpreting a composer's work correctly, and making sure that a mass audience would appreciate it
.
World War II
During World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, Boris Alexandrov, with his father, led the ensemble in All-Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
radio concerts and over 1500
concerts at the Front, officially to actively promote Russian folk music and the songs of Soviet composers and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
for the sake of patriotism and morale. During this time, Boris shouldered increasing responsibility, due to his father's heart condition. After Alexandrov's death in 1946, Boris Alexandrov, his son, went on to succeed his father as musical director for the ensemble
.
Leadership of the Ensemble
Boris Alexandrov was a composer, arranger, conductor, music critic, artist and teacher: an important 20th century figure in Russian military music. He saw to the training and promotion of many fine soloists. After World War II, the ensemble, led by Boris Alexandrov, travelled abroad sixty-eight times and was well-received in many countries throughout EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
. He carried on the central idea which drove his father: that the choir was central to the ensemble, and that without the choir there would be no ensemble
.
Close of a long career
In 1985, his 80th birthday was publicly celebrated. Alexandrov finally retired in 1987. He was succeeded by Igor Agafonnikov the same year, with Anatoly Maltsev as the ensemble chief. He retired as the principal conductor in 1994; he died that year and was buried in MoscowMoscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
at the Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery
Novodevichy Cemetery is the most famous cemetery in Moscow, Russia. It is next to the 16th-century Novodevichy Convent, which is the city's third most popular tourist site. It should not be confused with the Novodevichy Cemetery in Saint Petersburg....
. He was succeeded by Victor Fedorov, the chorus master since 1986.
Collaborations
People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia, also sometimes translated as National Artist of Russia, is an honorary title granted to citizens of Russia.It succeeded both the all-Soviet union award People's Artist of the USSR , and more directly the local republic award, People's Artist of the RSFSR , after the...
, laureate of Stalin Prize KP Vinogradov; People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
Y. Petrov the Principal Chorus Master; VG Sokolov (later People's Artist of the USSR and Professor of the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
); BI Kulikov (later Rector of the Moscow Conservatory
Moscow Conservatory
The Moscow Conservatory is a higher musical education institution in Moscow, and the second oldest conservatory in Russia after St. Petersburg Conservatory. Along with the St...
); ES Tytyanko (People's Artist of the USSR); and VV Samsonenko, AP Kulygin and VI Chusei, all Honoured Artist of Russia. Dancers worked with People's Artist of the USSR PP Virsky, soloists of the Bolshoi Theatre
Bolshoi Theatre
The Bolshoi Theatre is a historic theatre in Moscow, Russia, designed by architect Joseph Bové, which holds performances of ballet and opera. The Bolshoi Ballet and Bolshoi Opera are amongst the oldest and most renowned ballet and opera companies in the world...
, Honored Art Worker AI Radunsky and Honoured Artist of Russia KG Farmanyants and People's Artist of the USSR U.P. Khmelnitski. The orchestra worked with VA Aleksandrov, VV Samsonenko both Honoured Artist of Russia, and People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia, also sometimes translated as National Artist of Russia, is an honorary title granted to citizens of Russia.It succeeded both the all-Soviet union award People's Artist of the USSR , and more directly the local republic award, People's Artist of the RSFSR , after the...
VA Korobko
.
Compositions and arrangements
He added over 150 new works to the repertoire, including works of composers local to the countries visited by the ensemble. He worked with living Soviet composers, enriching both works and performance. He wrote symphonic, chamber, instrumental, vocal-symphonic and theatrical music, and specialized in military music. He wrote a national anthem for which he received an award from the Ministry of Culture of the Soviet Union, and for which he was known by contemporaries as "the soldier-patriot". In 1937 he wrote the operettaOperetta
Operetta is a genre of light opera, light in terms both of music and subject matter. It is also closely related, in English-language works, to forms of musical theatre.-Origins:...
Wedding in Malinovka
Wedding in Malinovka
Wedding in Malinovka is a 1967 Soviet comedy film directed by Andrei Tutyshkin based on a operetta by Boris Aleksandrov adapted by Leonid Yukhvid. Produced by Semyon Malkin . Runtime - 95 min....
which contained patriotic themes: revolutionaries, soldiers, peasants and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
. Other operettas include The Girl from Barcelona (1942) about Russian partisans and a female Spanish co-combatant; My Gyuzel (1946), Near You (1949) and The One Hundred and First Wife (1957). Ballets include Young Friendship and Southpaw (1955). He also wrote cantatas including Cantata of the Party (1955), the oratorio October Soldier Defending the World (1967), Book of the Motherland (1979), plus the suite Guarding (1981)
.
Alexandrov composed the song "Long live our state" (Да здравствует наша держава) to be the anthem
National Anthem of the Soviet Union
The National Anthem of the Soviet Union or the State Anthem of the USSR was introduced during World War II on March 15, 1944, replacing The Internationale as the official national anthem of the Soviet Union as well as the national anthem of the Russian SFSR...
of the Soviet Union
Soviet Union
The Soviet Union , officially the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics , was a constitutionally socialist state that existed in Eurasia between 1922 and 1991....
. It was rejected however, but the 1943 composition (with different lyrics) became the national anthem
Anthem of Transnistria
The Anthem of Transnistria is named We sing the praises of Transnistria . The music was written by Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov, and the lyrics by Boris Parmenov, Nicholas Bozhko and Vitaly Pishenko. The anthem has lyrics in all three official languages of Transnistria: Moldovan, Russian,...
of Transnistria
Transnistria
Transnistria is a breakaway territory located mostly on a strip of land between the Dniester River and the eastern Moldovan border to Ukraine...
in the 1990s. The song was used in parades in the Soviet Union and continues to be used at the end of Victory Day parades in Moscow today.
Awards
Photographs and films of Alexandrovich show him wearing a large number of medals. Besides those mentioned above, he had a Labour medal (1939) for helping to form the Ensemble; Honorary Artist of Russia (1944); rank of Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonel
Lieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
(1946); People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia
People's Artist of Russia, also sometimes translated as National Artist of Russia, is an honorary title granted to citizens of Russia.It succeeded both the all-Soviet union award People's Artist of the USSR , and more directly the local republic award, People's Artist of the RSFSR , after the...
(1948); rank of Colonel
Colonel
Colonel , abbreviated Col or COL, is a military rank of a senior commissioned officer. It or a corresponding rank exists in most armies and in many air forces; the naval equivalent rank is generally "Captain". It is also used in some police forces and other paramilitary rank structures...
(1948); Order of Lenin
Order of Lenin
The Order of Lenin , named after the leader of the Russian October Revolution, was the highest decoration bestowed by the Soviet Union...
(1949); for concert performances the Stalin Prize, First Class (1950); People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR
People's Artist of the USSR, also sometimes translated as National Artist of the USSR, was an honorary title granted to citizens of the Soviet Union.- Nomenclature and significance :...
(1958); rank of Major General
Major General
Major general or major-general is a military rank used in many countries. It is derived from the older rank of sergeant major general. A major general is a high-ranking officer, normally subordinate to the rank of lieutenant general and senior to the ranks of brigadier and brigadier general...
(1973); for outstanding contribution to the development of culture and art Hero of Socialist Labour (1975); Lenin Prize
Lenin Prize
The Lenin Prize was one of the most prestigious awards of the USSR, presented to individuals for accomplishments relating to science, literature, arts, architecture, and technology. It was created on June 23, 1925 and was awarded until 1934. During the period from 1935 to 1956, the Lenin Prize was...
(1978); Order of the October Revolution
Order of the October Revolution
The Order of the October Revolution was instituted on October 31, 1967, in time for the 50th anniversary of the October Revolution. It was awarded to individuals or groups for services furthering communism or the state, or in enhancing the defenses of the Soviet Union, military and civil...
(1985)
. In all, he received the Order of Lenin three times and also the Order of the Red Banner of Labour
Order of the Red Banner of Labour
The Order of the Red Banner of Labour was an order of the Soviet Union for accomplishments in labour and civil service. It is the labour counterpart of the military Order of the Red Banner. A few institutions and factories, being the pride of Soviet Union, also received the order.-History:The Red...
, Order of the Patriotic War, First Class
Order of the Patriotic War
The Order of the Patriotic War is a Soviet military decoration that was awarded to all soldiers in the Soviet armed forces, security troops, and to partisans for heroic deeds during the German-Soviet War, known by the former-Soviet Union as the Great Patriotic War.- History :The Order was...
and a Stalin prize.
For the oratorio October Soldier Defending the World and the poem Lenin Immortal, in 1971 a special award was set up by the Ministry of Culture of the USSR, the Union of Soviet Composers
Union of Soviet Composers
The USSR Union of Composers or Union of Composers of the USSR , , was a professional organisation of composers in the Soviet Union...
and the main political management of the Soviet Army and Navy: the Gold Medal of Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov was to be awarded annually to subsequent Soviet composers for composition of military-patriotic music
.
See also
- Alexandrov Ensemble
- Alexandrov Ensemble choirAlexandrov Ensemble choirThe Alexandrov Ensemble choir is the choir of the Alexandrov Ensemble.It has for most of its history been a male-voice choir of tenors and basses, based in Moscow and directed and conducted by Alexander V. Alexandrov from 1926 to 1946, by his son Boris A. Alexandrov from 1946 to 1987, and by...
- Alexandrov Ensemble soloistsAlexandrov Ensemble soloistsThis is an alphabetical list of the basso profondo, bass, bass-baritone and tenor soloists who have performed with the Alexandrov Ensemble since its establishment in 1928. It is difficult to differentiate between regular and guest soloists, since many have alternated between the one category and...
- Alexandrov Ensemble discographyAlexandrov Ensemble discographyThis is a list of recordings made by the Alexandrov Ensemble since 1928. Within each section they are in alphabetical order of record labels.- Facets: Leningrad Cowboys - Total Balalaika Show :...
- Alexander Vasilyevich AlexandrovAlexander Vasilyevich AlexandrovAlexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov was a Russian Soviet composer, the founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who wrote the music for the national anthem of the Soviet Union, which, in 2001, became the anthem of Russia . During his career, he also worked as a professor of the Moscow State Conservatory,...