The great Russian composer, conductor and pianist Sergei Prokofiev left a big mark in the history of world music. Despite the difficult fate, the People's Artist of Russia created brilliant musical works. The famous “Peter and the Wolf”, the ballet “Cinderella”, “The Fifth Symphony”, “Romeo and Juliet” - all this was written by Prokofiev. The list of the composer's works can be listed for a long time: from piano and symphonic to musical stage. Each of them is distinguished by the specificity of musical characteristics, the deep expression of images. Many said that Sergey Sergeyevich heard a plastic image in the sounds, which reflected his uniqueness, his talent. In the field of opera and ballet, he had no equal.
The work of the great composer
Prokofiev, whose list of works is distinguished by the diversity, richness and brightness of images, lived for a long time outside the territory of our country. Many connoisseurs of his talent were worried about whether the composer could "resist" foreign pressure in music and not plunge into the writing of sophisticated French compositions, paying off his element of the true Russian soul. The great pianist devoted himself completely to art, presenting his masterpieces to a wide section of the population, thanks to which he received such an extensive international recognition, despite new musical trends.
Prokofiev noted such a natural attitude to music that works, as he said, were born from life itself: from everything that surrounded him, it excited and pleased. The composer said that he had never looked for his works, everything turned out by itself. One of the most striking creations created in the homeland was a delightful ballet called “Romeo and Juliet”. All the images are so realistic that they are breathtaking, and the music is notable for its extraordinary depth and strength, accurate depiction of every detail and element.
Tragedy and immortal love in the ballet Romeo and Juliet
The basis of the dramaturgy of the ballet under consideration by Prokofiev is the persuasiveness and power of opposing, opposing sides (hatred and boundless love). Antagonistic principles collide with each other, conflicting, and simultaneously develop, which causes strong feelings from what they hear. Images of love in ballet symbolize Juliet and her lover. The composer focuses on a passionate love theme, which is confirmed by the introduction of the orchestra. This is the bright side. The dark is represented by the struggle of two families, which is expressed by a straightforward musical theme, more crude and even sinister.
Each of the presented images is distinguished by dynamics, rapid movement. This is especially true of the main character, who from a young girl who does not know the worries and hardships of the world, turned at the end of the act into another person. The image of Juliet manifests a hot character, a passionate soul and a madly loving heart.
Mass scenes of the ballet are written out by Prokofiev as colorful and bright as possible. These are the moments of the morning awakening of the city, and carnival days with a jubilant crowd. However, this is only a background for the main events, contributing to the multiple intensification of the drama of history and some certain points, for example, the clash between Tybalt and Romeo.
This magnificent work did not immediately resonate with the audience. Many believed that music was completely unsuitable for ballet, and Prokofiev (whose list of works can be seen below) received several times refusals from staging at the Bolshoi Theater. In the early forties of the XX century, ballet was staged. This was influenced by a symphonic suite created from different numbers of Romeo and Juliet.
Piano miniatures and operas
At the same time with the tragedy, the composer creates famous miniatures called “Children's Music”. They hear the sounds of native nature, cheerful children's motifs, you can also hear elements of pioneer songs in the form of marches, which will later expressively and vividly unfold in Pete and the Wolf. Such works as The Tale of the Stone Flower will also become famous. In this ballet, the audience remembered the plays entitled “The Waltz of Diamonds”, as well as “Evening”.
Opera is a separate chapter in the work of the composer. It was because of them that Prokofiev sounded in a completely new way for the audience. The list of works is as follows:
- Sonatas for piano.
- "Watching the world."
- "Fire Angel".
- Concerts for instruments with an orchestra.
- "Semyon Kotko."
- Seven symphonies.
- "The Tale of the Stone Flower."
- "Betrothal in a monastery."
- "Alexander Nevskiy".
Also considered outstanding: Cinderella, Love for Three Oranges, War and Peace, Petya and the Wolf, Romeo and Juliet, and music for films.
Famous symphonic children's fairy tale
One of the most popular in the pre-war time was a symphonic work-tale called "Peter and the Wolf", and it was known far beyond the borders of our country. Later, animator and director Walt Disney used this music in his multiproject. The work differs from all other creations written by the composer in its melody and chant, the fairy tale has a pronounced rhythmic pattern. In his work, Prokofiev acts not only as a wise creator, but also as a storyteller, distinguished by his wit and cheerful mood. He had a clear goal - to introduce young listeners to various musical instruments, to display all the possibilities of the main components of a symphony orchestra.
The author himself has repeatedly pointed out that each hero of the work displays a specific musical instrument, and vice versa. For example, a cat is a clarinet, a small bird is a flute, grandfather is a bassoon, and a duck is an oboe. The wolf appears before the audience in the form of three horns and chords, and the main character - Petya - is a string quartet. Children immediately determined the shots of hunters, focusing on the loud sounds of drums and timpani. Many school programs still include this work in order to identify children with a whole group of instruments of a symphony orchestra.
Each image is very pronounced in the musical fairy tale: a slight flutter of birds is heard, the slip of a cunning cat and its purrs, the grumbling of Grandfather Petya or the formidable roar of a gray predator are clearly defined. The composer has repeatedly noted that he loves children very much, so creating miniatures gave him great pleasure. In addition to “Petit and the Wolf”, the “Winter Bonfire” suite, as well as the “Chatterbox”, based on the verses of the famous Agnia Barto, were still remembered.
Music for films and performances
In the year when the centenary of the death of the great poet Pushkin was celebrated, the composer created music for the film called The Queen of Spades. In addition, his name could be seen on the posters of the performances "Eugene Onegin", as well as "Boris Godunov." Creating this magnificent music, Prokofiev discovered a new side in himself - a strong interest in the main events of the country's history. It was during this period that listeners enthusiastically accepted such works as “Alexander Nevsky” and “Semyon Kotko”. They heard powerful notes of courage of the heroes of that era, the approach of formidable and terrible events.
In the tenths of the last century, the composer pays special attention in his works to contrasts, various means of expression, rhythmic pressure, and at the same time, unique lyrics and grace of melodies. It is also worth noting the share of humor and irony that are present in many works of that time. These masterpieces include the following:
- "The Tale of the Jester" (ballet staged in the 20s in the capital of France).
- Transience for Piano.
- Several romances to verses by famous Akhmatova.
- 2 sonatas written for piano.
- The first concert for violin (accompanied by an orchestra).
The composer and pianist was in constant creative inspiration. His works are so contrasting that it is sometimes difficult to determine whether one author wrote them. Vivid examples: “Love for three oranges” and “On guard of the world”, “Petya and the wolf” and “Romeo and Juliet” and so on.
Symphonic suites and songs
Many critics noted Prokofiev's extraordinary talent for works written "for the country." For example, the work “Lieutenant Kizhe”, which became the music of the film of the same name in the 30s of the last century, or the suite called “Egyptian Nights”, is the musical basis of the performance staged at the Moscow Chamber Theater in those same years. Before the great pianist returned to his homeland in the early 30s, a second concert for violin and orchestra was written, in which you can catch many happy melodic accents.
The song “White Swan” deserves special attention, which the author always personally performed and did so with such enthusiasm that every listener felt for himself all the emotions and experiences embedded by Prokofiev. Admirers of his talent have repeatedly noted this attitude of the author to their own songs. However, the “White Swan” could not help but touch with such a sensitive and soulful performance.
The enticing change of musical phrases in two instruments - the piano and cello - is amazing when listening to one of Prokofiev’s most striking works. This is the “Ballad for cello”, in which the styles of writing the creator clearly overlap. The composition is distinguished by diverse musical qualities.
World famous prokofiev ballets
All those principles of symphonic music, which were traced in the sensational work “Romeo and Juliet”, did not stop rapidly developing in other famous ballets. Vivid examples: The Tale of a Stone Flower, written in the 50s, as well as Cinderella (in the 40s of the last century). Together with the latter, a performance was born, distinguished by poetry and a deep sense, telling about the difficult life of the girl, humiliated by her own stepmother and her two daughters.
Music simply radiated waves of love for life, honesty and decency, and at the same time a bitter longing for injustice - such multifaceted feelings and emotions were put in by Prokofiev. The Mazurka from the ballet is more cheerful. She symbolizes the hidden optimism that is present in the depths of the soul of an unhappy girl. At every musical mention of the main character, warmth, tenderness and affection are heard. Many say that this particular work, written by Sergei Prokofiev, is closest to the drama that Tchaikovsky sent to listeners and spectators.
Plays and Overtures
At the beginning of the twentieth century, magnificent four plays were written that Prokofiev loved to play. The "March", "Tale", as well as the "Ghost" and "Joke" have been refined more than once. A little later, four more works were written:
- "Obsession."
- "Rush".
- "Memory".
- "Despair".
I always tried to bring my works to the ideal imagery of the piano thinking of Prokofiev. “Joke”, “Rush”, “Tale” and so on - all this formed a certain image of the author’s play, his individual piano language, based on special characteristic techniques. All the works under consideration have been refined more than once, and for many years. In his plays, Prokofiev (“March”, “Obsession”, “Despair”) only emphasized the specific pianism that was outlined in his early sketches.
During a trip to the United States at the beginning of the last century, the pianist wrote an amazing piece especially for clarinet, piano and string quartet. It was an overture on Jewish topics. The structure of the composition corresponds to the standard form of the overture, but a certain individuality can be traced in it - an accented roll call of two instruments in the first and second themes - clarinet and cello (they imitate each other, playing both themes, but alternately). The piano part is notable for the low level of complexity of the game, which makes it possible for many novice talents to enjoy wonderful music without certain virtuoso skills.
The Fifth Symphony
During the war, the composer wrote his famous "Fifth Symphony" (B Flat Major). Its first predecessor was created fourteen years before the writing of the fifth part. The author himself said that he had invested in it all the strength and grandeur of the human spirit. Traits traced in the work are drama, monumentality, grandeur. The symphony develops all the heroic traditions of Russian symphonic music.
The work consists of four parts:
- "Andante".
- Allegro Marcato.
- "Adagio".
- "Allegro Gyokoso."
The last part of the symphony - Allegro giocoso - is breathtaking with its power and penetration. The premiere was stunning, and still this very symphony (lasting more than 40 minutes) remains one of the most masterpieces of the great pianist, conductor and composer.
Revolutionary motives
Sergei Prokofiev devoted himself entirely to his beloved work, devoting almost fifty years to music. The composer lived only 62 years. Despite the difficult trials that he went through in a foreign country, he proudly returned to his homeland and tried to join such a close and dear environment as quickly as possible. Fueled by revolutionary transformations, the composer wrote The Cantata, taking for her words from many well-known political sources: the books of Lenin, the Communist Manifesto and the Constitution itself.
Sergei Prokofiev is one of the great composers who skillfully reflects the spirit of his time and his native people, despite all the barriers and prohibitions. His works are saturated with power, a kind of harmony. The name of the great conductor, pianist and composer named the symphony orchestra, concert hall, music academy. Museum-apartment of this great man can be visited in the capital of Russia.