My Blake/3

My Blake автор Dmitri Nikolaevich Smirnov

My Blake

By Dmitri Nikolaevich Smirnov

Part 1: In Russia

Part 2: In England

Blake set to music by Dmitri N. Smirnov

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Blake set to music by Dmitri N. Smirnov

Works written in Russia:

1. The Crystal Cabinet, for violin and piano (or celesta), Op. 27g, 1979/2010, 4 min. Inspired by William Blake’s poem of the same title. 1st performance: 23 May 2014, Council Chamber, Deptford Town Hall, London, Natasha Sachsenmeier, violin & Alissa Firsova, piano. Publ: Meladina Press, St Albans, England.

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=iCvJHLs1NZY

This music was reused in the following compositions: Hermitage. The Art of the Ancient Rome, – TV score for orchestra, Op.27d, 1979 Piano Quintet, Op. 72 (2nd movement), 1992 The Magic Box, for piano, Op.77 (Nos. 45 and 50), 1993 Well Tempered Piano, Op. 125 (Nos. 7 & 13), 2000

2. The Seasons, for voice, flute, viola and harp, Op.28, 1979, 22 min. Texts: four poems by William Blake from Poetical Sketches. 4 movements: 1. To Spring, 2. To Summer, 3. To Autumn, 4. To Winter. The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance: 10 March 1980, Union of Composers, Moscow. Lydia Davydova, soprano, Irina Lozben, flute, Mikhail Bezruky, viola, Olga Ortenberg, harp, Sergei Skripka, conductor. Publ: G. Schirmer, New York, 1991. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=7AcctgOkIYA&t=498s

3. First Symphony “The Seasons”, in for movements, for full symphony orchestra (without singing), Op. 30, 1980, 26 min. Based on the vocal cycle The Seasons, op. 28. Content: 1. To Spring, 2. To Summer, 3. To Autumn, 4. To Winter. 1st performance: 8 October 1981, Philharmonic Hall, Riga, Latvian State Symphony Orchestra, Vassily Sinaisky, conductor. Publ: Sovetsky Kompozitor, Moscow (score), Boosey & Hawkes, London. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=niVW8fPT9Mo&t=632s

4. Fearful Symmetry, Six Poems by William Blake, for voice and organ, Op. 32, 1981/2003, 18 min. 1. To Apollo (an excerpt from Imitation of Spencer), 2. To the Muses (Poetical Sketches), 3. Morning, 4. Day (Notebook), 5. The Sick Rose, 6. The Tyger (Songs of Experience). The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance: 10 March 1986, Moscow, Union of Composers, Lydia Davydova, soprano, and Ekaterina Prochakova, organ.

Publ: Meladina Press.

Here is another version of the same work:

5. Fearful Symmetry, Six Poems by William Blake, for voice and piano, Op. 32a, 1981/2003, 18 min. 1. To Apollo (an excerpt from Imitation of Spencer), 2. To the Muses (Poetical Sketches), 3. Morning, 4. Day (Notebook), 5. The Sick Rose, 6. The Tyger (Songs of Experience). 1st performance (partly): 29 November 2011, December Evening, Moscow, Pushkin Museum, Joan Rogers , soprano, Andrew West, piano. Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=JY63PrEwMgk

6. Ballade, for alto saxophone and piano, Op. 35, 1982, 8 min. Based on the setting of Blake’s poem To the Muses, Op. 32, No. 2. 1st performance: 14 April 1982, Moscow, Union of Composers, Lev Mikhailov, saxophone and Mikhail Muntian, piano. Publ: Sovetsky Kompozitor, Meladina Press. Disc (LP): Melodia C1020849 004, USSR

CD: amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B01I1UBA86/ref=dm_ws_sp_ps_dp

7. Tiriel: Prologue to the Opera, for full symphony orchestra, Op. 41a, 1983, 11 min. Associated with Blake’s dramatic poem of the same name and A Cradle Song (from a draft Notebook). 1st performance: 30 October 1984, Bolshoi Hall of Moscow Conservatoire, State Symphony Orchestra of Ministry of Culture, Gennadi Rozhdestvenski, conductor. Publ: Meladina Press. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=XQZeBA6B8gg&t=1This music was rearranged for some different combinations:

8. Tiriel, for baritone saxophone and piano, Op. 41b, 1983, 9 min. 1st performance: 25 April 1984, Union of Composers, Moscow, Margarita Shaposhnikova and Sergey Solodovnik. Publ. Sovetsky Kompozitor (score), Meladina Press. CD: Proyecto MOCKBA, Edita Icaria, ICD128 (Spain) Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=UcdY-o4afts

8a. Tiriel, for cello and piano, Op. 41c, 1983, 9 min. 1st performance: 5 March 1987, Kishinev, Ivan Monigetti and Yuri Lisitchenko.

Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=k7-wKWPDAAk&t=38s

8b. Tiriel, for solo piano, Op. 41d, 1983, 9 min. Publ: Meladina Press.

9. Dance of the Nightingale, from opera Tiriel, for solo piccolo flute, Op 43 g, 1984, 2 min. Publ: Meladina Press.

10. “Introduction” to Songs of Innocence (Piping down the valleys wild) from opera Tiriel. Duet for low soprano and baritone with piano, Op. 41i, 1984/2011, 2 min. The text includes parallel Russian translation by the composer. 1st performance: 29 November 2011, Pushkin’s Museum, Moscow; Joan Rogers, soprano, and Roderick Williams, baritone, Andrew West, piano. Publ: Meladina Press.

11. Dance, from opera Tiriel, for cello and piano, Op.41j, 1984/2017, 3 min. 33 sec. Publ: Meladina Press.

12. Tiriel, аn opera in 3 acts (9 scenes) with Prologue, for seven singers, male chorus, dancers, and full symphony orchectra, Op. 41, 1983-5. 110 min. Libretto by Dmitri N. Smirnov after William Blake, in English, or Russian (transl. by D. N. Smirnov), or German (transl. by Paul Estergházy). To the text of Blake’s poem Tiriel were added 5 more of his poems: Introduction (Songs of Innocence), The Tyger (Songs of Experience), The Divine Image (Songs of Innocence), A Divine Image (Songs of Experience), A Cradle Song (Notebook). Premiere (in German): 28 January 1989, Stattheater, Freiburg, Germany, Siegfried Shoenbohm, director, Gerhard Markson, conductor. Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov%3ATiriel+Scene

13. String Quartet No. 2, Op. 42, 1985, 14 min. The 2nd movement is a meditation on Blake’s A Cradle Song (from a draft Notebook).

Publ: Meladina Press.

CD: amazon.co.uk/dp/B00069I6Q0/sr=8-1/qid=1501323304/ref

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=PiIKnXNe-wM

14. Thel (The Lamentations of Thel): Prologue to the Opera, for chamber ensemble of 16 players and choir (optional), Op.45a, 1985, 10 min. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes.

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=W0m0OSUsrts

15. Thel (The Lamentations of Thel), chamber opera in four scenes with Prologue, for 4 singers, chamber chorus, and ensemble of 16 players Op. 45, 1986, 52 min. Libretto by Dmitri N. Smirnov after William Blake’s The Book of Thel, in English, or Russian (transl. by D. N. Smirnov). Premiere: 9 June 1989, Almeida Theatre, London, by Théâtre de Complicité, Annabel Arden, director, Jeremy Arden, conductor. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov%3A+Thel

16. Songs of Love and Madness, in four movements, for voice and chamber ensemble of 6 players (clarinet, celesta, harp, violin, viola and cello), Op. 49, 1987, 20 min. Texts by William Blake from Poetic Sketches: 1. The Golden Cage (How Sweet I roam’d...), 2. Despair (My sinks and fine array...), 3. Love and Harmony, 4. Mad Song. The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance: November 1990, Huddersfield Festival, Margaret Field, soprano, Ensemble Chameleon, Andrew Ball, celesta/conductor). Publ: Hans Sikorski, Hamburg.

17. The Seven Angels of William Blake, in eight movements, for solo piano, Op. 50, 1988, 23 min. Inspired by Blake’s poem “Vala, or Four Zoas”. Content: 1. Prelude (Angel), 2. Lucifer, the morning star, 3. Moloch, the executioner, 4. Elohim creating Adam, Adam creating Elochim, 5. Shaddai’s anger, 6. Pahad’s fear, 7. Jehovah appealing to Eternity, 8. Jesus, the Lamb. 1st performance: 23 November 1989, Glasgow University, Susan Bradshaw. Publ: Kompozitor, Moscow (score), Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov+7+Angels+of+Blake

18. The Moonlight Story, (Blake Pictures I – the first part of an imaginary ballet), for the chamber ensemble of 6 players (piccolo, bass clarinet, violin, viola, cello and double bass), Op. 51, 1988, 14 min. After the Blake’s picture Malevolence. 1st performance: 8 June 1989, Almeida Theatre, London, Nash Ensemble, Lionel Friend (conductor). Publ: Meladina Press. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=LBAqnaxDpYM

19. First Violin Concerto, for violin and string orchestra, Op. 54, 1990, 20 min.A meditation on the Blake’s picture Jacob’s Dream. 1st performance: 10 October 1993, St Andrew's Hall, Norwich, Andreas Seidel, violin, Leipzig Chamber Orchestra, George Moosdorf, conductor. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press.

20. From Evening to Morning, in two movements, for mixed chorus, Op. 55, 1990, 12 min. A setting of two Blake’s poems from Poetical Sketches: 1. To the Evening Star, 2. To Morning. The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. Publ: Meladina Press.

21. Jacob’s Ladder (Blake Pictures II – the first part of an imaginary ballet), for chamber ensemble of 16 players, Op. 58, 1990, 14 min, After Blake’s picture Jacob’s Dream. 1st performance: 17 April 1991, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, London Sinfonietta, Gennadi Rozhdestvenski, conductor. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes (score), Meladina Press.

22. A Song of Liberty, an oratorio in nine movements, for four singers, chorus and orchestra, Op. 59, 1991, 42 min. A setting of a complete text of A Song of Liberty from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell. Content: I. The Eternal Female groans (Introduction), II. Albion’s coast, the American meadows (Passacaglia) III. Shadows of Prophecy (Soprano Aria), IV. France, Spain, Rome (Canon),V.The new born terror (Fantasia I), VI. The fire (Chorale), VII. Londoner, Jew, African (Quartet), VIII. The fiery limbs (Battle of Liberty, Fantasia II), IX. Priests of the Raven (Final Chorus). The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance: 30 January 1993, Leeds Town Hall, Leeds Festival Chorus, BBC Philharmonic, Jerzy Maksymiuk, conductor. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press.

Works written in England:=

23. Three Blake’s Songs, for voice and chamber ensemble of five players (2 clarinets, viola, cello and double bass), Op. 61, 1991-2, 14 min. Content: 1. Silent, Silent Night (Notebook), 2. The Tyger (Songs of Experience), 3. To See a World in a Grain of Sand (Auguries of Innocence, Pickering Manuscript). The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance (No. 1): 20 July 1991, Cheltenham Festival, Mary Wiegold, soprano, Composers’ Ensemble, John Woolrich, conductor; (Nos.2-3): 13 May 1992, Dartington Hall, Mary Wiegold, soprano, Composers Ensemble, Charles Peebles, conductor. Publ: Meladina Press.

24. Four Blake’s Songs, for soprano and string quartet, Op. 61a, 1991-2/2010, 16 min. Content: 1. To See a World in a Grain of Sand (Auguries of Innocence, Pickering Manuscript), 2. A Divine Image (Songs of Experience), 3. Silent, Silent Night (Notebook), 4. The Tyger (Songs of Experience). The texts include parallel Russian translations by the composer. 1st performance: 29 November 2011, Pushkin’s Museum, Moscow, December Evenings, Joan Rogers soprano, Doric Quartet. Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=_QlyCO_tTPM&list

25. Four Studies after The Book of Job (Job’s Studies), for solo clarinet/narrator, Op. 62, 1991, 13 min. After Blake’s illustrations to The Book of Job. Texts from the Bible: 1. There was a Man in the Land of Uz (Ch.1:1-2), 2. The fire is fallen from Heaven (Ch.1:16), 3. Let the day perish wherein I was born (Ch. 3:3) 4. Then the Lord answered Job out of the whirlwind (Ch. 38:1-2). 1st performance: 25 October 1991, Ohio State University, Bruce Curlette. Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=dmitri+n.+smirnov+job%27s+studies+

26. Abel (Blake Pictures III – the third part of an imaginary ballet), for clarinet, violin, cello and piano, Op. 65, 1991, 14 min. After Blake’s picture The Body of Abel Found by Adam and Eve. 1st performance: 24 June 1992, St Magnus Cathedral, Orkney, Ensemble Chameleon. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press. Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=15LSiMHx8gw&feature

27. The River of Life (Blake Pictures IV – the fourth part of an imaginary ballet), for chamber ensemble of 16 players, Op. 66, 1992, 13 min. After Blake’s picture The River of Life. 1st performance: 8 November 1992, Queen Elisabeth Hall, London, London Sinfonietta, Oliver Knussen, conductor. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press.

28. Blake’s Pictures, an imaginary ballet in four scenes, Opp. 51, 58, 65 & 66, 1988-92, 60 min. Content: 1. The Moonlight Story, 2. Jacob’s Ladder, 3. Abel, 4. The River of Life. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press.

29. Diptych (Los & Enitharmon), for solo organ. Op. 70, 1992/2002, 12 min. Inspired by the Blake’s poem Vala, or Four Zoas. 1st performance: 25 September 1992, Dom Cathedral, Riga, Friedemann Herz. Publ: Meladina Press.

30. Piano Quintet, in three movements, for piano, violin, viola, cello and double bass, Op. 72, 1992, 20 min. The second movement was influenced by the Blake’s poem The Crystal Cabinet (see Op.27g). 1st performance: 23 January 1993, RNCM, Manchester, Music Group of Manchester. CD: amazon.co.uk/Maxwell-Davies-Quartet-Dmitry-Smirnov/dp/B003YCI224 Rec. (1st mov.): youtube.com/watch?v=x3znmZqtctI

31. The Guardians of Space (The Seven Angels of William Blake), for large orchestra, Op. 79, 1994, 30 min. Inspired by Blake’s poem Vala, or Four Zoas. Orchestral version of The Seven Angels of William Blake, Op. 50. Content: 1. Prelude (Angel), 2. Lucifer, the morning star, 3. Moloch, the executioner, 4. Elohim creating Adam, Adam creating Elochim, 5. Shaddai’s anger, 6. Pahad’s fear, 7. Jehovah appealing to Eternity, 8. Jesus, the Lamb. Publ: Meladina Press.

32. The Lamb, for counter-tenor and six viols, Op. 83, 1995, 6 min. A setting of Blake’s The Lamb (Songs of Innocence). The text includes parallel Russian translation by the composer. 1st performance: 2 May 1995, Purcell Room, London, Michael Chance, counter tenor, Fretwork. Publ: Boosey & Hawkes, Meladina Press.

33. Miss Gittipin’s Talk, for solo soprano, Op. 98, 1997, 4 min. A setting of the episode from Blake’s An Island on the Moon. Publ: Meladina Press.

34. A Cradle Song, for soprano and piano, Op. 126, 2001, 7 min. A setting of A Cradle Song (Songs of Innocence). Publ: Meladina Press.

35. Innocence of Experience, for tape, Op. 132, 2001, 27 min. A setting of ten Blake’s poems from Songs of Innocence and of Experience: 1. Introduction, 2. The Lamb, 3. Laughing Song, 4. Infant Joy, 5. A Dream, 6. The Divina Image, 7. The Clod & the Pebble, 8. The Sick Rose, 9. The Fly, 10. The Tyger. Reading by Alissa Firsova (English). Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=smirnov%3A+Innocence+of+Experience

36. Proverbs of Hell, 1st Notebook, seven short songs for voice and piano, Op. 151, 2006-07, 10 min. A setting of the Proverbs of Hell from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Introduction, 1. The Little Flower, 2. The Busy Bee, 3. An Eagle, 4. The Clock, 5. Pestilence, 6. Black & White, 7. Eternity. Publ: Meladina Press. 1st performance (Nos. 3 & 7): 29 November 2011, December Evening, Moscow, Pushkin Museum, Joan Rogers , soprano, Andrew West, piano. Publ: Meladina Music, CreateSpace for Amazon, USA.

Rec.: youtube.com/watch?v=eL3Qy9nRsZ4

37. Inferno (String Quartet No. 8), in 17 episodes, for two violins, viola and cello, Op. 152, 15 min. After Blake’s illustrations of Dante’s Divine Comedy. 1st performance: 4 November 2008 Rodewald Concert Society, in partnership with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. St George's Concert Hall, Lime Street, Liverpool, Dante String Quartet

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov%3A+Inferno

38. Blake-Sonata (Piano Sonata No. 6), in two movements, Op. 157, 2008, 17 min. 1st performance: 20 November 2008, Deptford Hall, Goldsmiths College, London, Alissa Firsova, piano. Publ: Meladina Music, CreateSpace for Amazon, USA. CD: Russian Émigrés, Vivat 109.

Score: amazon.co.uk/Blake-Sonata-Piano-sonata-Meladina-x/dp/1543034438

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov%3A+Blake-Sonata+

CD: amazon.co.uk/d/Digital-Music/Russian-Émigrés-Alissa-Firsova/B012P0O9GI

39. Visionary Heads, five pieces for piano, Op. 172, 2013, 12 min. After Blake’s pencil drawings: 1. Blake's Instructor, 2. The Man Who Built the Pyramids, 3. Corinna, 4. Cancer Constellation, 5. Owen Glendower. 1st performance: 29 March 2014, St Saviour’s Church, St Albans, Alissa Firsova, piano. Publ: Meladina Press.

Rec.: youtube.com/results?search_query=Dmitri+N.+Smirnov%3A+Visionary+Heads

40. Proverbs of Hell, 2nd Notebook, five short songs for voice and piano, Op. 185, 2015-16, 6 min. A setting of the Proverbs of Hell from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Introduction, 1. Learn, teach, enjoy, 2. The Cart and the Plough, 3. The Palace of Wisdom, 4. Prudence and Incapacity, 5. The Worm and the Plough.

Score: Meladina Music, CreateSpace for Amazon, USA.

41. Proverbs of Hell, 3rd Notebook, four short songs for voice and piano, Op. 186, 2016, 5 min. A setting of the Proverbs of Hell from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Introduction, 1. Dip him in the river, 2. A fool sees not, 3. He whose face, 4. No bird soars too high.

Score: Meladina Music, CreateSpace for Amazon, USA.

42. Blake Intermezzo, for string septet, Op. 190, 2017. 1st performance: (played as the 2nd movement of Bach’s Brandenburg Concerto No.3) 28 Nov 2017, Akhundov House, Tbilisi, The Soloists of the Georgian Symphony Orchestra Publ: SMP Press, USA

Score: sheetmusicplus.com/title/blake-intermezzo-for-strings-digital-sheet-music/20697390

Rec: youtube.com/watch?v=V3Dt0W3zW64&t=15s

43. Blake Intermezzo, for double bass and piano, Op. 190a, 2017.

Score: sheetmusicplus.com/title/blake-intermezzo-for-double-bass-and-piano-digital-sheet-music/20697393

Rec: youtube.com/watch?v=M7ASeCeGFgI&t=103s

44. Proverbs of Hell, 4th Notebook, four short songs for voice and piano, Op. 191, 2017, 5 min. A setting of the Proverbs of Hell from Blake’s The Marriage of Heaven and Hell: Introduction, 1. All Wholsome Food... 2. In a Year of Dearth... 3. Revenges not Injuries... 4. The most sublime act... Publ: Meladina Music, CreateSpace for Amazon, USA.