Edison Denisov: biography, wife and creativity

Outstanding composer Edison Denisov represented the avant-garde movement in Russian music of the 20th century. His way to music was not quite typical, but a bright gift allowed him to reach incredible heights in creativity. His life path is of interest as an example of love for his work and selfless service to Art.

Childhood

April 6, 1929 in the family of the Tomsk engineer appeared boy, who was named Edison (Denisov). The child's biography began quite typical for that time, and nothing, except for the unusual name, foreshadowed, it seemed, an outstanding fate. Edison's parents were far from music: his father was a radio physicist involved in setting up television in Tomsk, and his mother was a phthisiatrician. Their son, up to a certain age, was no different from other children, he studied well at school, achieved special achievements in the study of mathematics and physics, and gave him a good foreign language. The family lived very modestly, in the hostel, where Edison's main meeting with the music took place. Their neighbor played the mandolin, which captivated the boy with its sound, and so began his new life.

Way to music

From the age of 15 Edison Denisov starts taking lessons on playing the mandolin from a neighbor, then tries to play the clarinet and uses the tutorial to master the guitar. He increasingly sees his future in music, but at the age of 16 there is little opportunity to begin his education. He comes to the general music education courses at the secondary school, where he receives the basics of musical literacy, overcoming significant difficulties. He did not have a tool, so I had to study in the evenings in the kindergarten. While Denisov does not feel himself to make music his profession. Therefore, at the end of the school, he goes to Tomsk State University for Mehmat. His success in mathematics was quite convincing, Denisov approached a professor who scientifically proved the connection between mathematics and creativity and culture. But music does not let go of Edison, and he enters the music school at the piano department in parallel. At this time, he discovers the ability to write music and immerses himself in this activity.

Blessing of Shostakovich

His future path begins with simple, imitative works. But in the period from 1947 to 1949 he wrote a series of preludes for the piano, in college he began to evaluate very highly. And to get reliable information about the level of his talent, Edison Denisov decided to send some of his opuses to Shostakovich for a review. The great composer, surprisingly, not only gets acquainted with the student's compositions, but also writes quite a laudatory response, he encourages the student and says that he has a clear compositional talent that needs to be developed. This inspires the young musician, and with even greater zeal he begins to write.

It is interesting that Shostakovich will once again play a role in the life of Denisov. In 1956 he will give him a recommendation for joining the Union of Composers.

Years of study

On the advice of Shostakovich, Denisov decides to enter the conservatory, it did not happen to him from the first time, but he achieves his and falls into the class of Vissarion Yakovlevich Shebalin, who was a powerful composer and gifted teacher. During his studies, Denisov shows great diligence and an outstanding musical gift. His final works - the first act of the opera Ivan the Soldier, a symphony for the orchestra and a cycle of nocturnes - received the highest assessment of the examination committee. Having graduated from the conservatory with honors, Denisov goes to graduate school, seeking the highest qualification in his profession.

Music life

At the beginning of the journey, composer Edison Denisov is strongly influenced by Shostakovich, whom he managed to make friends with during his studies at the conservatory. He also studies the works of I. Stravinsky, K. Debussia, B. Bartók and other composers, trying to discover their secret of creativity. Since the beginning of the sixties, Denisov's own style has developed. The first work, reflecting the emergence of an original composer, was the cantata "The Sun of the Incas". The avant-garde sound of the piece immediately attracted the attention of not only the musicians, but also the authorities. Public performance of the cantata was attempted to be banned, and only the efforts of G. Rozhdestvensky and the Leningrad Philharmonic allowed the audience to get acquainted with the work of Denisov. And a year later the cantata is heard in France and Germany, which brings the composer international fame and cause for even greater dislike on the part of the Soviet authorities.

Since 1959 Denisov has been teaching instrumentation in the conservatory and later a composition, many of his composers studied in his classes. In 1979, Denisov's works were subjected to the most severe criticism from T. Khrennikov, and the composer was blacklisted, which greatly complicated his life.

Since the mid-80s, the biography of Edison Denisov has changed, the authorities are becoming more favorable to him, he is even appointed one of the leaders of the Union of Composers, he actively works in film and theater, writes major works.

In 1990 he with a group of like-minded people recreates the Association of Contemporary Music, which existed in the early 20th century. The group included the leading composers of the time: D. Smirnov, E. Firsova, V. Tarnopolsky and others. Denisov expounded his experience and reflections in his book "Contemporary Music and the Problems of the Evolution of Composite Technique".

Until the 1990s, Denisov's life was not easy, he was not allowed to work, he was persecuted. And only perestroika gave him the opportunity to calmly cooperate with foreign colleagues, earning performances and master classes. Since the mid-90s he travels around the world, works in France, he is invited to the jury of the most prestigious festivals and competitions. Premiere of Edison Denisov's new works with great success abroad: "Requiem", "Foam days", concert for viola.

A special musical look

The genre variety of Edison Denisov's heritage is quite large. He tries himself in opera (the famous "Foam Days" has earned him world fame), and in ballet (writes Confession), and in work on major works (oratorio "The Life and Death of Jesus Christ", opera-oratorio "Raising Lazarus "), Writes concerts for a variety of instruments and symphonies. He is also engaged in reconstruction and orchestration. Edison Denisov deservedly received the title of avant-gardist, he always conducted searches in the form of a musical work, boldly combining the principles of sonority, serialism, aleatory and developing the ideas of French impressionism.

Social and musical activity

Denisov Edison Vasilyevich was not only an outstanding musician, but also an interesting person. He was president of the Association of Contemporary Music, which is called to find a new beauty. The organization arranges concerts of Russian composers abroad, and also engages in educational activities, presenting the works of foreign composers to the domestic public. The composer himself actively propagandized the new Russian art, lectured in many European music schools. He also dealt with like-minded music festivals. In the last years of his life he worked in Paris at the IRKAM Institute, which is studying and searching for new acoustic capabilities. AFM continues to exist and work fruitfully after the demise of Edison Vasilyevich, his comrades remember him and continue the work he started.

Major achievements and achievements

Edison Denisov is not very spoiled by official recognition in Russia. He became People's Artist of the Russian Federation in 1995 and received no more awards at home. In France, he was awarded the title of Honorary Citizen of Paris, and for his services to the culture of France and the world Edison Denisov was awarded the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Private life

Creative people often find it difficult to arrange a personal life. But, of course, there are exceptions, such as Edison Denisov. Wife for the composer, he said, should be a friend and a quiet harbor. Therefore, he chose women to create a family from his environment. The first wife - musicologist Galina Grigorieva - gave birth to a musician son and daughter and experienced with him difficult years of formation.

The second wife of Edison Denisova - Ekaterina Kuprovskaya-Denisova - also a musicologist, was younger than the composer for 37 years. She also gave him two children and was with him until the very end. After the death of her husband, she published a book "My husband - Edison Denisov" and began to deal with his artistic heritage.

The composer's life ended on November 24, 1996 in Paris, after two years of serious illness.