Composer Sergey Taneev was born in 1856, belonged to a noble family. His father was also a talented music lover; he brought up Seryozha as a musical child. At an early age, S. Taneev entered the conservatory, where he studied under Tchaikovsky. Having subsequently shown professionalism in the genres of classical music: cantata, choir, vocal miniatures and chamber instrumental music, he carried out scientific and pedagogical activities in the field of musicology. But the main business of life is composer creativity. Creative biography is very interesting. Taneyev Sergey Ivanovich was an outstanding personality.
On areas of activity and creativity
Being authoritative in the cultural sphere, Sergey Taneev was the first musicologist in the country. Classes were held at the Moscow Conservatory. In the process of teaching and professorship, he brought up creative youth, among the students were famous composers: Rachmaninov, Scriabin, Glier.
Taneyev’s works created on the threshold of the 20th century relate to the direction of neoclassicism that developed at the beginning of this century. Composer activity was not recognized immediately. Musical works were considered dry, the result of scholarship and cabinet work. Taneyev’s fascination with Bach and Mozart also did not add interest. But from a historical point of view, the search for a solid foundation for Russian music was justified, applicable to merging with European culture. His music was versatile.
Prospects and Facts
Broad prospects opened up to the musician after receiving education. He performed at concerts, taught and was engaged in composer activities. Even at a young age he traveled to France to get acquainted with European culture. Everyone recognized Taneyev for his outstanding moral qualities, calling him "the conscience of musical Moscow." Taneyev Serey Ivanovich, whose brief biography is being considered, glorified his name.
Training
In 1866, the Moscow Conservatory was formed by Nikolai Rubinstein . Until that time, professional musicians were not taken seriously, and their activities too. But through the conservatory, the musician, as such, began to gain self-respect. Sergey Taneyev immediately, from the moment of foundation of the institution, entered 1 year of study at the age of 9 years. Tchaikovsky, who delivered a farewell speech at the opening, oriented students to an interest in art and the "glory of an honest artist." N.G. Rubinstein taught Taneyev the piano class and recommended him as an elect, predicted a promising future. And the teacher of composition at Taneyev was P.I. Chaikovsky.
From the point of view of the early musical development that Sergey Ivanovich Taneev received, a short biography for children will also be interesting.
Trip abroad
Having brilliantly graduated from the conservatory with a gold medal, in 1975 Taneev arrived in Paris. It was a tradition for the intelligentsia to get acquainted with the art of France. Weekly, he visited Pauline Viardot and met there with the writers Turgenev, G. Flaubert, the French composer Gounod. He was also a guest at Saint-Saens and performed the work of Tchaikovsky - the first concert on the piano. Acquainted with French culture, the musician decided that his education and horizons were not enough for him. Leaving France at the age of 20, Taneyev noted in his notebook that another time he would come abroad as a pianist, composer and an educated person.
Activities after graduation and travel
Showing purposefulness, the composer Taneyev decided to master the European traditions in music, trying to correlate them with domestic ones. He believed that Russian music lacks the historical foundations that exist in European. Lyricism in creativity was romantically combined with classics.
In Moscow, Sergei Ivanovich lived for a long time in the Prechistenki district with his nanny, and performed at concerts. In 1878, work began at the Moscow Conservatory. Tchaikovsky convincingly asked about the teaching activity. Composer's work had to be pushed into the background, as time was devoted to teaching theory.
He told the students that there were no inviolable rules, if something does not fit this style, then it will come in handy in another. The teacher Taneev was engaged in training in several disciplines, and also lectured on the counterpoint founded by him.
The scientific work "Mobile Counterpoint of Strictly Style" was the result of deep research. The theory was distinguished by universality and mathematical accuracy. At 28, Taneyev was the director of the Moscow Conservatory, again at the insistence of Tchaikovsky. And he was the first pianist to perform large works of Tchaikovsky.
About the early works of Taneyev
The cantata "John of Damascus" to the text of A. Tolstoy glorified the composer, and he called it the first number in his creative biography. That was in 1884.
The genre of classical cantata music characterizes the musician’s work. Bach cantatas inspired him to create such a Russian Orthodox work. According to the plan, this is a preparation for the opening of the Cathedral of Christ the Savior, but later the plans had to be changed. Nevertheless, this is a philosophical work on the life of a church writer who lived in the 17th and 18th centuries.
From that moment on, choral music entered the work. The works trace the desire to create a picture of the world, to show its grandeur through monumental designs. Another cantata of Taneyev "After reading the psalm" is also the pinnacle of his work, but created later.
The only opera - the Oresteia trilogy based on the works of Aeschylus translates the antique style and plot, applying it to Russian music. It took 10 years to compose an opera. The painstakingness shows how demanding Taneyev treated his works. But the unique work turned out to be untimely and was not recognized, since it did not receive understanding. Expressing an individuality that is different from modern trends, the composer was engaged in the search for generalizations in the form of moral ideas, ideal. That was Sergey Ivanovich Taneev.
The choral work of the composer is a special and significant section of his biography. To create choral works, both individual numbers and combined into cycles, he turns to the poetry of Tyutchev, Fet, Polonsky, Khomyakov, Balmont.
The creative impulse to create a cycle, which is recognized as the pinnacle of Russian choral music, entitled "Twelve choirs and cappella for mixed voices" was the poems of the famous Russian poet Yakov Petrovich Polonsky. Before him, Russian music did not yet know such monumental and serious choral works. They are embodied in his philosophical, highly moral nature, the breadth and power of ideas, and the bright talent of the polyphonist composer has also manifested.
Stage of activity after work at the conservatory
After the transfer of authority to the director of the conservatory in 1889, V. Safronov, Taneev formed friendly contacts with St. Petersburg musicians. The pre-revolutionary period of the country's history followed, and many students participated in strikes. Taneyev opposed their deductions for these actions. After finishing teaching, Taneev continued to teach for free, giving private lessons, because he considered payment an obstacle to the selection of musicians.
On the threshold of the 20th century, friendship with L. Tolstoy was established, as a result of which the composer often visited Yasnaya Polyana. He even lived there in the wing provided by L. Tolstoy, worked, was fond of chess. At the end of the chess game, the loser had to perform his work in the form of reading out loud or playing the piano. But L. Tolstov had a family breakdown in connection with this friendship, as the writer’s wife began to feel sympathy for Taneyev. But at the same time, she expressed enthusiasm for the music and said that she remained alive after the death of her son thanks to her. But the composer himself behaved as usual dry, secretive and was not the cause of personal conflict. Sofya Andreyevna was a grateful listener of works, symphonies, but in search of beauty and ideality this was not noticed by the composer.
Personal life
At the same time, the composer was not insensitive, but was strong-willed and possessed subtle humor. He kept a diary in Esperanto and wrote several romances on it. Taneyev also had love for the wife of the artist Benoit, the mother of four children. According to the laws of that time, divorce meant the transfer of children to a spouse, father. Taneyeva was haunted by drama for several years, as the relationship had to be broken.
Interesting facts from life
Nanny Taneeva lived with him and was engaged in his household. After concerts, lovers of his work gave him wreaths of laurel. It turns out that the nanny used this bay leaf for cooking, as she once said: "You would give a concert, otherwise the bay leaf ends."
This is not the only humorous story that Sergey Ivanovich Taneev faced. We will consider interesting facts from life below.
Once he was recommended a student who suffered from drunkenness, saying that he was a good musician, but often sick. To this, Taneev answered that the question is not this, but whether he is recovering on time?
The life path that Taneyev Sergey Ivanovich went through is quite accompanied by humor. Interesting facts from his life can be listed for a long time.
In Russia there were many people who loved to drink. The musician was tolerant of this. He said: "Drinking is most likely not a flaw, but an excess."
Creativity from the beginning of the 20th century
The symphony "C Minor" with the features of philosophical symphony was dedicated to Glazunov, who also directed its premiere. In the center of the plot is a lyrical hero, overcoming the chaos of being and the tragedy of life. Appearing after the Sixth Symphony of Tchaikovsky, this work could be ranked with some symphonies of Beethoven and Brahms.
Contribution to the genre of instrumental music, the prosperity of the chamber ensemble was provided by Sergey Ivanovich Taneev. A biography whose works indicate the beginning of a cultural transformation in the country's music. Subsequently, the direction was developed by other composers of the Soviet period. Methods and means of expression were subjected to selectivity. Quartets and ensembles used the style of polyphony, the smooth development of the theme. The romances, which were distinguished by their melody, were popular.
Taneyev gives concerts and participates in the life of musical Moscow. In 1910, the young composer Sergei Prokofiev received his support when trying to publish a work. Portrait photographs of those years reflect the creative look. Taneyev Sergey Ivanovich, whose photo can be seen in the article, is a national pride.
The end of life and creativity
A. Scriabin, a student of the composer, died in 1915. Sergey Taneev came to the funeral in light clothing, as a result of which he caught a cold and died a few weeks later. The whole Moscow came to see the composer. This concludes the biography. Taneyev Sergey Ivanovich passed away at the age of 58 years.
Conclusion
The name Taneyeva adorns the plaque in front of the entrance to the stalls of the Small Hall of the Conservatory. He is undoubtedly an outstanding composer, as well as a scientist who worked as a professor at the conservatory. The virtuoso pianist of his time Taneev was a renowned performer. His diverse work has features inherent in late romanticism and symbolism, and also covers several genres.
A great contribution to Russian culture was made by Sergey Taneyev, whose biography testifies to this. Occupying a special place in Russian music of the 19-20 centuries, he captured his work with an exceptional attitude to art.