Georgy Catoire
Encyclopedia
Georgy Lvovich Catoire (Moscow, April 27, 1861–May 21, 1926) was a Russia
n composer of French
heritage.
in Berlin
with Karl Klindworth
(a friend of Richard Wagner
) from whom he learned to appreciate Wagner. Catoire became one of the few Russian 'Wagnerite' composers, joining the Wagner society in 1879. It is partially due to his steadfast loyalty to Wagner that Catoire's works are relatively unknown today: most of Rimsky-Korsakov's circle strongly disliked Wagner, which explains why Wagner's music was barely known by the Russian public or musicians. Rimsky-Korsakov and his circle were less supportive of Catoire than they might have been had Catoire been less enthusiastic about Wagner.
Catoire graduated from Moscow University in mathematics in 1884 with outstanding honours. Upon graduating, Catoire worked for his father's commercial business, only later becoming a full-time musician. It was at this time that Catoire began taking lessons in piano and basic harmony from Klindworth's student, V. I. Willborg. These lessons resulted in the composition of a piano sonata, some character pieces, and a few transcriptions. The most famous of these transcriptions was the piano transcription of Tchaikovsky's Introduction and Fugue from the First Orchestral Suite (which Jurgenson
later published at the recommendation of Tchaikovsky).
Not satisfied with his lessons with Willborg, Catoire went to Berlin
in late 1885 to continue his lessons with Klindworth. Throughout 1886, Catoire made brief trips to Moscow
, and on one of these trips, he became acquainted with Tchaikovsky, who was greatly pleased with Catoire's set of piano variations. Tchaikovsky told the younger composer that, "it would be a great sin if he did not devote himself to composition". It was during this visit to Moscow in which Catoire was introduced to the publisher Jurgenson. Catoire continued to study piano with Klindworth in Berlin throughout 1886, and simultaneously studied composition and theory with Otto Tirsch. Not satisfied with Tirsch's instruction, he began study with Philip Rufer. These lessons were also short-lived but resulted in the composition of a string quartet.
Catoire returned to Moscow in 1887. He declined to debut as a concert pianist in spite of Klindworth's recommendation. Catoire met Tchaikovsky again, and he showed him (along with Gubert and Sergei Taneyev
) the string quartet which he had written in Berlin for Rufer. They all agreed that the work was musically interesting but lacking in texture. On the recommendation of Tchaikovsky, Catoire went to St. Petersburg to Rimsky-Korsakov
with a request for composition and theory lessons. In a letter to Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky later described Catoire as, "very talented... but in need of serious schooling."
Rimsky-Korsakov gave Catoire one lesson before passing him to Lyadov
. This single lesson resulted in three piano pieces which were later published as Catoire's op.2. With Lyadov, Catoire studied counterpoint and wrote several pieces, including the lovely Caprice op.3. Lyadov's lessons concluded Catoire's formal schooling.
After returning to Moscow, Catoire became quite close to Anton Arensky
. During this period, Catoire wrote his second quartet (which he later rewrote as a quintet) and his cantata, "Rusalka", op.5, for solo voice, women's chorus and orchestra.
Catoire's family, friends, and colleagues were not sympathetic to his choice of career in composition, so in 1899, after a series of disappointments, Catoire withdrew to the countryside and nearly stopped composing entirely. After two years of withdrawal from society, having broken off almost all connections with musical friends, the op.7 Symphony emerged in the form of a sextet as a result of this seclusion.
From 1919 he was professor of composition in the Moscow Conservatory
. He wrote several treatises on theory and composition during his tenure. Nikolai Myaskovsky
considered students of Catoire with great regard.
Today he is very little known, although a few recordings exist of his piano works by Marc-Andre Hamelin
and Alexander Goldenweiser
, and David Oistrakh
recorded the complete violin music. His music has a certain semblance to the works of Tchaikovsky, the early works of Scriabin
, and the music of Fauré
. Catoire's compositions demand not only high virtuosity but also an ear for instrumental colour.
Georgy Catoire is the uncle of author and musician Jean Catoire
.
Sonata Op. 15, Poème Op. 20 [2nd Sonata]
Elégie Op. 26
Romanze Op. 1 No.4 [Version for Violin&Piano]
Laurent Albrecht Breuninger, Violin,
Anna Zassimova, Piano.
cpo 777 378-2
http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?task=review&REID=10974&RECID=17343
http://www.klassik-heute.com/kh/3cds/20100210_19584.shtml
Prélude As-Dur [Composition du jeune age]; Op. 12, Quatre Morceaux: Chant du Soir, Méditation, Nocturne, Etude fantastique; Op.34, Poème No.1 e-moll [first record], Poeme Op. 34 No.2 C-Dur. Anna Zassimova, Piano. CD „Vergessene Weisen“ [Forgotten Ways] - Russian Music at the turn of the 20th Century. Works for piano by Nicolas Medtner, Georgy Catoire, Alexander Skryabin, Nicolai Roslavez. ANTES EDITION, BM 31.9249, 2009
http://www.br-online.de/br-klassik/cd-tipps/klassik-cd-anna-zassimova-vergessene-weisen-ID1265298258650.xml
http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?task=record&RECID=16086&TITLE=Alle%A0Besprechungen&LANGUAGE=1&CONTENT=ALL&CFID=8274934&CFTOKEN=126d3a3a5f30c4f4-793F7E0E-FF35-1CCB-3BDDF48C10EE0E72
'
[Georges Catoire - seine Musik, sein leben, seine Ausstrahlung. Verlag Ernst Kuhn - Berlin, 2011].
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
n composer of French
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
heritage.
Life
He studied pianoPiano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
in Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
with Karl Klindworth
Karl Klindworth
Karl Klindworth was a German composer, pianist, conductor, violinist and music publisher.-Biography:Klindworth was born at Hanover in 1830. For a time he conducted a traveling opera troupe, but settled in Hanover as a teacher and composer. From there he went to Weimar, 1852, and studied the piano...
(a friend of Richard Wagner
Richard Wagner
Wilhelm Richard Wagner was a German composer, conductor, theatre director, philosopher, music theorist, poet, essayist and writer primarily known for his operas...
) from whom he learned to appreciate Wagner. Catoire became one of the few Russian 'Wagnerite' composers, joining the Wagner society in 1879. It is partially due to his steadfast loyalty to Wagner that Catoire's works are relatively unknown today: most of Rimsky-Korsakov's circle strongly disliked Wagner, which explains why Wagner's music was barely known by the Russian public or musicians. Rimsky-Korsakov and his circle were less supportive of Catoire than they might have been had Catoire been less enthusiastic about Wagner.
Catoire graduated from Moscow University in mathematics in 1884 with outstanding honours. Upon graduating, Catoire worked for his father's commercial business, only later becoming a full-time musician. It was at this time that Catoire began taking lessons in piano and basic harmony from Klindworth's student, V. I. Willborg. These lessons resulted in the composition of a piano sonata, some character pieces, and a few transcriptions. The most famous of these transcriptions was the piano transcription of Tchaikovsky's Introduction and Fugue from the First Orchestral Suite (which Jurgenson
P. Jurgenson
P. Jurgenson was, in the early 1900s, the largest publisher of classical sheet music in Russia.- History :Founded in 1861, the firm — in its original form, or as it was amalgamated in 1918 with other Russian music publishing firms into the state owned music publishing monopoly —...
later published at the recommendation of Tchaikovsky).
Not satisfied with his lessons with Willborg, Catoire went to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
in late 1885 to continue his lessons with Klindworth. Throughout 1886, Catoire made brief trips to 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...
, and on one of these trips, he became acquainted with Tchaikovsky, who was greatly pleased with Catoire's set of piano variations. Tchaikovsky told the younger composer that, "it would be a great sin if he did not devote himself to composition". It was during this visit to Moscow in which Catoire was introduced to the publisher Jurgenson. Catoire continued to study piano with Klindworth in Berlin throughout 1886, and simultaneously studied composition and theory with Otto Tirsch. Not satisfied with Tirsch's instruction, he began study with Philip Rufer. These lessons were also short-lived but resulted in the composition of a string quartet.
Catoire returned to Moscow in 1887. He declined to debut as a concert pianist in spite of Klindworth's recommendation. Catoire met Tchaikovsky again, and he showed him (along with Gubert and Sergei Taneyev
Sergei Taneyev
Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev , was a Russian composer, pianist, teacher of composition, music theorist and author.-Life:...
) the string quartet which he had written in Berlin for Rufer. They all agreed that the work was musically interesting but lacking in texture. On the recommendation of Tchaikovsky, Catoire went to St. Petersburg to Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov
Nikolai Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was a Russian composer, and a member of the group of composers known as The Five.The Five, also known as The Mighty Handful or The Mighty Coterie, refers to a circle of composers who met in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in the years 1856–1870: Mily Balakirev , César...
with a request for composition and theory lessons. In a letter to Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky later described Catoire as, "very talented... but in need of serious schooling."
Rimsky-Korsakov gave Catoire one lesson before passing him to Lyadov
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov
Anatoly Konstantinovich Lyadov or Liadov was a Russian composer, teacher and conductor.- Biography :Lyadov was born in St. Petersburg into a family of eminent Russian musicians. He was taught informally by his conductor father from 1860 to 1868, and then in 1870 entered the St. Petersburg...
. This single lesson resulted in three piano pieces which were later published as Catoire's op.2. With Lyadov, Catoire studied counterpoint and wrote several pieces, including the lovely Caprice op.3. Lyadov's lessons concluded Catoire's formal schooling.
After returning to Moscow, Catoire became quite close to Anton Arensky
Anton Arensky
Anton Stepanovich Arensky -Biography:Arensky was born in Novgorod, Russia. He was musically precocious and had composed a number of songs and piano pieces by the age of nine...
. During this period, Catoire wrote his second quartet (which he later rewrote as a quintet) and his cantata, "Rusalka", op.5, for solo voice, women's chorus and orchestra.
Catoire's family, friends, and colleagues were not sympathetic to his choice of career in composition, so in 1899, after a series of disappointments, Catoire withdrew to the countryside and nearly stopped composing entirely. After two years of withdrawal from society, having broken off almost all connections with musical friends, the op.7 Symphony emerged in the form of a sextet as a result of this seclusion.
From 1919 he was professor of composition in 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...
. He wrote several treatises on theory and composition during his tenure. Nikolai Myaskovsky
Nikolai Myaskovsky
Nikolai Yakovlevich Myaskovsky was a Russian and Soviet composer. He is sometimes referred to as the "father of the Soviet symphony".-Early years and first important works:...
considered students of Catoire with great regard.
Today he is very little known, although a few recordings exist of his piano works by Marc-Andre Hamelin
Marc-André Hamelin
Marc-André Hamelin, OC, CQ, is a French Canadian virtuoso pianist and composer.Born in Montreal, Quebec, Marc-André Hamelin began his piano studies at the age of five. His father, a pharmacist by trade who was also a pianist, introduced him to the works of Alkan, Godowsky, and Sorabji when he was...
and Alexander Goldenweiser
Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser
Alexander Borisovich Goldenweiser was a Russian pianist, teacher, composer and public figure.Goldenweiser was born in Kishinev, Bessarabia and studied at the Moscow Conservatory under Sergei Taneyev and Vassily Safonoff, winning the Gold Medal for Piano upon his graduation in 1897...
, and David Oistrakh
David Oistrakh
David Fyodorovich Oistrakh , , David Fiodorović Ojstrakh, ; – October 24, 1974, was a Soviet violinist....
recorded the complete violin music. His music has a certain semblance to the works of Tchaikovsky, the early works of Scriabin
Alexander Scriabin
Alexander Nikolayevich Scriabin was a Russian composer and pianist who initially developed a lyrical and idiosyncratic tonal language inspired by the music of Frédéric Chopin. Quite independent of the innovations of Arnold Schoenberg, Scriabin developed an increasingly atonal musical system,...
, and the music of Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
. Catoire's compositions demand not only high virtuosity but also an ear for instrumental colour.
Georgy Catoire is the uncle of author and musician Jean Catoire
Jean Catoire
Jean Catoire was a French composer of contemporary classical music.He studied with Olivier Messiaen and developed a personal style that was spiritual in outlook; in this regard his output is comparable to that of the Estonian composer Arvo Pärt. He was prolific, producing 604 opus numbers by 1996...
.
Selected discography
- Chamber music (Room music, Hyperion)
- Piano music (Marc-Andre Hamelin, Hyperion)
- Works for Violin&Piano:
Sonata Op. 15, Poème Op. 20 [2nd Sonata]
Elégie Op. 26
Romanze Op. 1 No.4 [Version for Violin&Piano]
Laurent Albrecht Breuninger, Violin,
Anna Zassimova, Piano.
cpo 777 378-2
http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?task=review&REID=10974&RECID=17343
http://www.klassik-heute.com/kh/3cds/20100210_19584.shtml
- Piano Music
Prélude As-Dur [Composition du jeune age]; Op. 12, Quatre Morceaux: Chant du Soir, Méditation, Nocturne, Etude fantastique; Op.34, Poème No.1 e-moll [first record], Poeme Op. 34 No.2 C-Dur. Anna Zassimova, Piano. CD „Vergessene Weisen“ [Forgotten Ways] - Russian Music at the turn of the 20th Century. Works for piano by Nicolas Medtner, Georgy Catoire, Alexander Skryabin, Nicolai Roslavez. ANTES EDITION, BM 31.9249, 2009
http://www.br-online.de/br-klassik/cd-tipps/klassik-cd-anna-zassimova-vergessene-weisen-ID1265298258650.xml
http://magazin.klassik.com/reviews/reviews.cfm?task=record&RECID=16086&TITLE=Alle%A0Besprechungen&LANGUAGE=1&CONTENT=ALL&CFID=8274934&CFTOKEN=126d3a3a5f30c4f4-793F7E0E-FF35-1CCB-3BDDF48C10EE0E72
Selected works
- Op. 1 Four Lieder: no.4, Lied for voice and piano on Lermontov's "Нет, не тебя так пылко я люблю..."
- Op. 2 Trois Morceaux for piano (pub. 1888): 1. Chant intime, E major 2. Loin du Foyer, E♭ major 3. Soiree d'Hiver D major
- Op. 3 Caprice for piano G♭ major (pub. 1886)
- Op. 4 --unknown--
- Op. 5 "Rusalka" cantata for solo voice, women's chorus, orchestra (1888)
- Op. 6 Six Morceaux for piano (1897): 1. Rêverie, A major 2. Prélude, G♭ major, 3. Scherzo, B♭ major 4. Paysage, A major 5. Intermezzo, B♭ major 6. Contraste, B minor
- Op. 7 Symphony in C minor
- Op. 8 Vision (Etude) for piano (pub. 1897)
- Op. 9 Lieder: no.1 Lied for voice and piano on Apukhtin's "Опять весна"; no.4, Lied for voice and piano on Apukhtin's "Вечер"
- Op. 10 Cinq Morceaux for piano (pub. c1899): 1. Prelude 2. Prelude 3. Capriccioso 4. Reverie 5. Legende
- Op. 11 Lieder: no.1, Lied for voice and piano on Lermontov's "Песнь Русалки"; no.4, Lied for voice and piano on A. Tolstoy's "Не ветер, вея с высоты..."
- Op. 12 Quatre Morceaux for piano (pub. 1901): 1. Chant du soir 2. Meditation 3. Nocturne 4. Etude fantastique
- Op. 13 Mcyri (or Mtsyri) - Symphonic Poem (after Lermontov's "The Novice") (1899)
- Op. 14 Piano Trio in F minor (1900) (pub. 1902)
- Op. 15 Violin Sonata No.1 in B minor (in 3 movements)
- Op. 16 String Quintet in C minor (two violins, viola, and two cellos)
- Op. 17 Quatre Preludes for piano (pub. c1909)
- Op. 18 Three Poems for female Choir and Piano
- Op. 19 Three poems for Voice and Piano: no.1, Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Как над горячею золой..."; no.2, Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Silentium! (Молчание!)"
- Op. 20 Violin Sonata no. 2 "Poeme" (single-mvt work) (1906)
- Op. 21 Piano Concerto (1909) (pub. 1912)
- Op. 22 Six songs
- Op. 23 String quartet in F sharp minor (1909)
- Op. 24 Chants du Crepuscule for piano (pub. 1914)
- Op. 25 Prelude and Fugue in G minor for piano (pub. 1914)
- Op. 26 Elegie for violin and piano (pub. 1916)
- Op. 27 Vokal'nye ansambli for Voices and Piano
- Op. 28 Piano Quintet (1914)
- Op. 29 Seven Songs (1915): no.3, Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Сей день, я помню..."; no.6, Lied for voice and piano on F. Tiutchev's "Полдень"
- Op. 30 Valse for piano (pub. 1916)
- Op. 31 Piano Quartet in A minor (1916) (pub. c1928)
- Op. 32 Six poems by Balmont for voice and piano (1916) (pub. c1924)
- Op. 33 Six poems by Vladimir Soloviev for voice and piano (1916) (pub. c1924)
- Op. 34 Quatre Morceaux for piano (1,2,4: composed 1924-6; 3: composition of youth) (pub. 1928): 1. Poeme 2. Poeme 3. Prelude 4. Etude
- Op. 35 Tempest etude for piano (pub. 1928)
- Op. 36 Valse for piano (composition of youth) (pub. 1928)
- WoO Concert transcription of J.S. Bach's Passacaglia in C minor for piano (pub. 1889)
'
Selected bibliography
- Anna Zassimova: Georges Catoire - Life, Music, Significance. [Deutsch]. Publishing House Ernst Kuhn, Berlin, 2011.
[Georges Catoire - seine Musik, sein leben, seine Ausstrahlung. Verlag Ernst Kuhn - Berlin, 2011].
- Anna Zassimova: The Correspondence between P.I. Tschaikowsky and G.L. Catoire. [Deutsch] Edition 15 of the Tschaikowsky Society Tübingen, 2008 [Der Briefwechsel zwischen P.I. Tschaikowsky und Jegor (Georgij) L. Catoire. Deutsche Tschaikowsky Gesellschaft, Mitteilungen 15. Tübingen, 2008]
- Anna Zassimova: G. L. Catoire. Poem for Violin and Piano Op. 20. On Artistic Interpretation. [russ.] Editorial of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Moscow, 2000
- Anna Zassimova: The Piano Works of G. L. Catoire in the Contemporary Pianist's Repertory. [russ.] Editorial of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. Moscow, 2001