“Let the Songs Sound!”

On the creative discussion of the Upper Volga composers.

Yesterday a creative discussion was held at the Gorky Conservatory on the results of the 14th plenum of the board of the Upper Volga organisation of the Union of Composers of the RSFSR. On the presidium of the meeting were I. Z. Borisova, secretary of the Gorky regional committee of the CPSU; L. V. Sokolov, head of the culture department of the regional committee; V. V. Shepeleva, deputy head of the regional culture department; V. I. Kazenin, secretary of the board of the Union of Composers of the RSFSR; and I. V. Eliseev.

Opening the discussion, the chairman of the board of the Upper Volga composers’ organisation, A. A. Nesterov, noted the relative youth of songs of the new genre in the work of members of the Upper Volga organisation. To strengthen composers’ attention to song, the 14th plenum was devoted entirely to it. \nThe main report was given by the musicologist N. M. Blagovidova. \nIn the three concerts of the plenum 68 works were performed, created in different years from the 1950s to the 1970s, which is only a small part of the enormous body of songs and arrangements of folk melodies. The composers of the Upper Volga strive to keep pace with the times. They have created not a few choral songs about the Motherland, the Party and Lenin. Of these, the plenum heard: “Glory to the Fatherland!” by A. Nesterov to words by S. Mikhalkov, “The Light of Lenin’s Truth” by B. Blagovidov to words by L. Sheinin, “Song of the Party Card” by G. Komrakov to words by S. Smirnov, “Fatherland” by S. Strazov to words by A. Prokofiev, and “I Love You, Motherland” by V. Vladimirov to words by I. Fyodorov. \nThe people of Gorky pay very serious attention to the theme of the Great Patriotic War. It is enough to recall such successes as “Thank You, Soldier!” by A. Nesterov to words by M. Marash, “The Eternal Flame” by G. Komrakov to words by V. Ryabtsev, or “Sunsets, Sunsets” by A. Burdov to words by V. Shamshurin. \nThe same theme is well represented in works for the young. They are known and loved by schoolchildren: “The Gavroche of Sormovo” and “Father’s Song” by I. Rosenstein, “Boys and Girls” and “Pioneer Marching Song” by B. Getselev, “Tell Us, Young Sailor” by L. Sivukhin. Every year at the pioneer spring festival children’s choirs sing songs by Gorky authors with success and love. This is gratifying.

A large place in the work of the Gorky composers is occupied by works about their native land and fellow countrymen. There are successes here. Popular are A. Burdov’s beautiful song to words by Yu. Andrianov, “On the River Vetluga”, interesting is the cycle by A. Nesterov to poems by Gorky poets, “Nizhny Novgorod Land”, and his lively “Tea” to words by B. Pilnyak.

The work of the Upper Volga composers relies on the best folk traditions, and this is good, but one would like more freshness of colour, harmony, intonation and so on. In a song the poetic text plays a very serious role. To revive the poets’ initiative in this matter, it may be worth involving them in meetings with listeners together with composers. Following the example of Moscow, television evenings of Gorky poets could be arranged, showing songs set to their texts. In the life of the Upper Volga composers’ works an alliance with performers has played a large and fruitful role for many years. Not only at the plenum and in authors’ concerts but constantly, with greater responsibility, many artists and creative collectives perform them: the Boys’ Choir Chapel and the chamber choir of the Choral Society, whose artistic director for both is Honoured Art Worker of the RSFSR L. Sivukhin; the Russian folk choir of the Palace of Culture of the Automobile Plant, artistic director Honoured Worker of Culture of the RSFSR A. Levakov; and soloists of the Pushkin Opera and Ballet Theatre, People’s Artist of the RSFSR A. Pravilov and L. Korzhakova, among others.

The philharmonic symphony orchestra has repeatedly performed works of the Gorky composers with great success far beyond their native city: in Tyumen, Moldavia, Leningrad and Karelia. Incidentally, amateur artists also take the mission of promoting the work of their fellow countrymen very seriously; this is characteristic of the people’s choir of the Automobile Plant and of the people’s studio of the A. M. Sverdlov House of Culture, led by V. Shirokov.

Among the participants of the present plenum were two VIAs (vocal-instrumental ensembles): “Zerkalo”, led by N. Shabelskaya, and “Vdokhnovenie”, led by A. Shishkin. In this connection the question of professional culture was raised: the loudness of the sound often does not correspond to the character of the works being performed.

The role of the press, radio and television is important. However, we would like the radio recordings made long ago to be updated.

The questions raised at the plenum are topical. Its results will prove useful in the further development of such an important genre. Guests from Chuvashia, Tatarstan, Mordovia, Karelia and Moscow spoke in the debate. All noted great satisfaction, but critical remarks were also unanimously expressed. The concert programmes should have been drawn up more strictly. In creative terms, almost all authors should actively avoid hackneyed intonations, seek fresh, original colours, choose texts more strictly and achieve an organic fusion of music with them. The question of the contemporary character of songs was discussed especially keenly. On this subject the Moscow composer, a former Gorky resident, P. Aedonitsky, spoke interestingly. Concrete proposals for further work were made by A. Burdov, I. Rosenstein and A. Sytov. A high assessment of the work of the plenum on the creative work of the Upper Volga composers was given by V. I. Kazenin, secretary of the Union of Composers of the RSFSR.

V. Blinova.

In the photos: groups of Gorky and Moscow composers, left to right: B. Getselev, G. Zarinin, P. Aedonitsky, A. Nesterov, V. Kazenin, conductor I. Gusman. Opening of the plenum — B. Blagovidov’s song “The Light of Lenin’s Truth” is performed.

Photo by V. Shokhin.