Ivan Dzerzhinsky

Ivan Ivanovich Dzerzhinsky ( _ru. Иван Иванович Дзержинский) (April 9, 1909–January 18, 1978) was a Russian composer. He is notable in that the work for which he best known, his opera "Quiet Flows the Don" ("Timhiy Don"), was more successful for its political potential than for any musical distinction.McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

Born in Tambov, Dzerzhinsky had an extended formal background in music. He studied piano with Boleslav Yavorsky at the First Music Tekhnikum in Moscow between 1925 and 1929. Afterwards he spent 1930-31 at the Gnesin School as a composition student of Mikhail Gnesin. Two years at the Leningrad Central Music Tekhnikum followed. There he studied composition first with Gavriil Nikolayevich Popov, then with Pyotr Borisovich Ryazanov. He then proceeded to the the Leningrad Conservatory for two years of study with Boris Asafiev.McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

Unlike Ryazanov and Asafiev, who were considered progressive in their musical outlook, Dzerzhinsky from the outset wrote works that were considered traditional. His First Piano Concerto, early songs and piano pieces were influenced by Grieg, Rachmaninoff and early Ravel.In the early 1930's he was influenced by Shostakovich's music, particular in his Second Piano Concerto, which he wrote in 1934. (This piece was criticized officially much later.)McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

Dzerzhinsky consulted Shostakovich while composing the opera "Quiet Flows the Don" to a libretto adapted by Dzerzhinsky's brother, Leonid, from the Sholokhov novel And Quiet Flows the Don. This opera was premiered at the Leningrad Malïy Opera Theater in October 1935. Stalin saw the work on January 17, 1936 and immediately recognized its propaganda value. Its subject was heroic and patriotic; it glorified the spirit of the Don Cossacks, whose support would become necessary in the event of war (a war that, incidentally, seemed increasingly inevitable); and its music was both lyrical and immediately appealing. Within weeks "Quiet Flows the Don" was proclaimed a model of socialist realism in music and won Dzerzhinsky a Stalin Prize (Ironically, Stalin saw Shostakovich's opera "Lady Macbeth of the Mtsensk District" at the same theater nine days after attending "Quiet Flows the Don". His disapproval of Shostakovich's opera set the stage for its composer's official denunciation, which lasted until Shostakovich wrote his Fifth Symphony.)McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

Due at least in part to official praise, "Quiet Flows the Don" proved wildly successful, reaching its 200th performance in May 1938. However, its undistinguished musical style—lyrical and folkloric in style but not based on any true folk songs—possessed little potential for future development. Dzerzhinsky wrote his next opera, "Virgin Soil Upturned" ("Podnyataya tselina"), in 1937. Also based on a Sholokhov novel, it is tauter dramatically and is similar in musical style to its predecessor. Nevertheless, it failed to repeat the success of "Quiet Flows the Don"—nor did any of Dzerzhinsky's subsequent operas.McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

From 1936 Dzerzhinsky held important administrative positions in the Union of Soviet Composers as well as in party politics. In 1948 he was appointed to the central committee of the union. At various times after 1946, he acted as a deputy to the Leningrad City Soviet.McAllister, "New Grove", 5:797.]

References

*McAllister, Rita, ed. Stanley Sadie, "Dzerzhinsky, Ivan [Ivanovich] ," "The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians" (London: MacMillian, 1980), 20 vols. ISBN 0-333-23111-2.

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