Composer Eshpai Andrey Yakovlevich: biography, personal life, creativity

The largest Soviet and Russian composer Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich took place in several musical spheres. He successfully worked in academic genres, reached heights in film and theater, and became known to the whole people as the author of famous songs.

Childhood and family

May 15, 1925 in the family of the Soviet composer was born a boy - Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose biography was originally associated with music. His father was a famous composer who collected and processed national Mari songs, taught at the Moscow Conservatory, and the child from childhood constantly heard music in the house. The boy's mother, Valentina Nikolaevna Togaeva, also came from a musical family, her uncle was the composer Anatoly Togaev. She has worked all her life as a teacher of Russian language and literature, she was a great lover and collector of folk songs of different peoples. Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose family was very musical, absorbed the creative spirit with the mother's milk.

When Andrei was 3 years old, the family moved to Moscow. Here parents received education. My mother attended the Pedagogical Institute, my father attended the postgraduate course at the Moscow Conservatory. Oldest son Valentine began to teach the piano. The instrument was of great interest to little Andrei, but for systematic studies he lacked assiduity.

Every summer the family left the city to mother's uncle Anatoly Togaev at the Mariinsky Posad on the Volga. Andrei Yakovlevich loved this place very much and considered it his second homeland, coming there throughout his life. Eshpai Andrey Yakovlevich, whose family was from these places, sang the Mari lands all his life. Toghaev's house was "impregnated with music", Eshpay said, he was visited by many composers, pianists, conductors, improvised concerts, home performances in which Yakov Eshpai played various instruments. The creative environment in the family, the vast expanses of the Volga, the universal love for the folk musical heritage - all this Andrew has absorbed since childhood, and this has shaped his tastes and inclinations.

Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose biography was predetermined from birth, went to study at the Seven-Year Music Sem. The Gnessins. His first teacher, Valery Vladimirovna Listova, knew the future composer from the age of four, she was able to view in it a rare composer's talent, in the development of which she invested a lot of strength and soul. He also studied with three Gnessin sisters, and all the teachers noted the extraordinary musicality and absolute hearing of the little Eshpai.

Military years

In 1941 the school graduated from the great musician Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich. The war prevented him immediately to continue his education. When the German attack was announced, Andrei wanted to go to the front, but he was not taken because of his small age. Father and brother left as volunteers, and he had to go to evacuation to Mariinsky Posad, where he studied at the secondary school.

In 1943, Andrei, without losing hope of getting to the front, enters the Orenburg machine-gun school for a course of military translators. In 1944, sent to the zone of military operations, becomes regimental commander.

Ended the war Eshpai May 9 in Berlin, but still continued to serve in the army until 1946. For receiving secret information during the interrogation of the prisoners, Andrei Yakovlevich was awarded the Order of the Red Star and four combat medals. His father also went through the whole war, and his brother disappeared in 1941 in battles near Leningrad.

The theme of the war has always remained close and dear to Eshpai, he will repeatedly return to it in his work.

Acquisition of skill

After the war, Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose biography returned to his circles, enters the music school of the Moscow Conservatoire for composers and pianists. And then he goes to the conservatory, which ends in 1953 on the class of composition and piano. In 1956, he also graduated from the postgraduate course in A. Khachaturian's class.

Even while studying Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose nationality was his father by the Marian, begins to collect and process folk songs, turning them into instrumental miniatures. But at this time he creates and three-dimensional works: Symphonic dances for Mari themes, Sonatina for piano. At this time there is another theme - the Hungarian. He writes "Hungarian tunes". Eshpai will return to her more than once.

In 1952, Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai joined the Union of Composers, becoming his youngest member.

Academic music

Andrey Yakovlevich Eshpai worked hard in the field of academic music and tried himself in a variety of genres. He wrote 9 symphonies, 18 concerts for various instruments with orchestra, cantata, three ballets, the most famous of which is "Angara", two operettas, as well as plays, choruses, chamber works. Eshpai's contribution to the development of music is invaluable, he combined national motives with the most modern solutions. By his Masters the composer calls M. Ravel, I. Stravinsky, K. Orff, P.I. Tchaikovsky, Bartok, Khachaturian, Bach.

The national theme is one of the most important for Eshpai. The Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Symphonies were the result of a rethinking of the Russian and Mari folklore musical heritage.

The theme of the war was reflected in the works of Eshpai: The Second Symphony "Praise the Light", The Fifth Symphony "Military", Requiem. They are filled with emotions and memories of the composer.

Philosophical-lyric works are the trademark of Eshpai. The third symphony is dedicated to the memory of the father, she conveys the entire power of love, respect and the author's yearning for the native person.

The largest works

The most significant works of Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai are the First and Second Symphonies, his program compositions, which are filled with the joy of life, deep philosophical experiences connected with the search and finding the meaning of life.

"Songs of mountain and meadow mari" - another significant composition of the composer, it is written in memory of his father and combines the cantilena nature of folk songs with lyrical and dramatic motifs.

A bright composition of the composer is the cantata "Lenin with us" on verses by V. Mayakovsky. In it, the author conveys the people's sincere faith in a better future.

Eshpai's creativity is very powerful, and all his works are appreciated by listeners and critics.

Song creativity

Song creation is another musical facet, without which a complete portrait of the composer is impossible. Outstanding talent is manifested in everything, and an example is Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich. His songs were very popular. At the same time, all compositions are distinguished by high taste, original melody and numerous musical finds. If there are folk composers, then one of them, of course, is Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich. Songs "Muscovites", "Song of the Motherland", "Two Shores", "I told you the wrong words" and many others - it's a classic of the Soviet variety art. In total, Eshpai wrote about 100 songs and romances. The master never went down to the pattern and boring decisions, every work is a musical find of the author.

Working in a movie

Another delightful side of the talent of Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai is the writing of music for the cinema. In total, he wrote soundtracks for about 60 films. He was friends and fruitfully cooperated with the best directors - A. Saltykov, E. Tashkov, V. Levin, V. Zhilin. Eshpai's music is the full-fledged character of the film. The composer creates complex, contemporary music that accurately conveys the director's plan. Working in film brings him to many outstanding poets of his time. This is E. Evtushenko, G. Pozhenyan, L. Derbenev, R. Rozhestvensky. With them, he writes songs for films, which have become hits for many years. His works in jazz processing became the basis for the repertoire of the ensemble of O. Lungstrom.

Theatrical music

Andrey Yakovlevich Eshpai also works productively in the theater. He writes the musical "To Love is forbidden". In total, he writes music for 20 theatrical productions, collaborating with the best theaters in the country. Among his most notable works are music for performances: "You are twenty-two, old men" and "Dangerous age" in Lenkom, "The theory of improbability" and "The wizards live side by side" in the theater. Ermolova, "Ordinary Miracle" in the theater of satire.

Awards

Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose biography is covered with a confession, received many well-deserved awards for his life. In addition to military medals and orders, he was awarded the Order of the Red Worker's Banner, Lenin, "For Service to the Fatherland", Friendship, "The Sign of Honor", he is the Lenin Prize laureate, is a People's Artist of Russia.

Andrei Yakovlevich cooperates with various educational and public organizations. He is a member of the Musical Council of UNESCO, an academician of the Russian Academy of Cinematography, an honorary member of the F. Liszt Society. The composer has a lot of letters, thanks and commemorative signs of various festivals, competitions, foreign governments.

Private life

There are single-minded men even among representatives of the creative intelligentsia, and one of them is Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich. The composer's wife is pianist Alexandra Mikhailovna, who worked for many years as head of the piano department of the publishing house "Composer". She was the only woman in the life of a musician. A reliable back and strong family are very important for every person. The lucky man in this sense was Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose wife gave him two sons. The eldest son Valentin works as a research fellow at the Institute of Cinema. The youngest Andrei is a famous film director. Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai, whose personal life was the subject of interest of a huge number of fans, was always a caring father. But he did not babysit. The head of the family brought them up with his own example, instilling love for the Motherland, business, family.

Andrei Yakovlevich Eshpai called himself a happy man, whose personal life was not publicized. His son Andrey brought a daughter-in-law to the house - a well-known actress Yevgeny Simonov. Granddaughter decided to continue the family dynasty and became a pianist.

November 8, 2015, the world flew tragic news - died Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich. The funeral brought together a huge number of people, because the composer was very fond of, he was friends with many famous people. The composer was held with great honors. Eshpai Andrei Yakovlevich, whose funeral was held at the Novodevichy Cemetery, will remain forever in the history of Russian music.