Baritone : Vladimir Matorin Conductor : Gennady Cherkasov Choir Directors : Klavdyi Ptitza & Lyumilla Ermakova Iosif Andriasov - "To the Mother-Earth," Cantata for Baritone Solo, Four Trombones, Two (or more) Harps, and Mixed Choir, Op. 25 The music of "To the Mother-Earth" is connected with the traditions of Russian epic music. What comes to mind is the folk music such as bylina (Russian epic), songs of glory, as well as some classical compositions: the first song of Bayan from "Ruslan and Lyudmila" by Mikhail Glinka ("Dela davno minuvshikh dnej"), the slow movement of the Second Symphony by Alexander Borodin, "About Olden Times" by Anatoly Lyadov, - to name a few. The second source of the composition is Armenian and Russian church music. The brilliant sonority of the Trombones (Brass instruments) invokes the music of Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Alexander Scriabin. Therefore, in "To the Mother-Earth," one can say about the amalgamation of secular and sacred, Armenian and Russian musical traditions. Iosif Andriasov showed himself as a great master of orchestration and a composer who understood the choral style. excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) Copyright 2010. Video by Arshak Andriasov
Trumpet - Timofei Dokshizer Conductor - Gennady Cherkasov Orchestra - Symphony Orchestra of the USSR All-State Radio Iosif Andriasov - Trumpet Concerto, Op. 14 for Trumpet & Symphony Orchestra Iosif Andriasov composed the Concerto for Trumpet and Symphony Orchestra in 1960, while in his second year (fourth semester) at the Moscow Conservatory, Moscow, USSR. He wrote the Concerto amazingly fast, in one week, and then worked on refining this composition. The world premiere of the Concerto was given by the Symphony Orchestra of the USSR All-State Radio and Television under Maestro Vladimir Yesipov, with soloist Yuri Usov, in 1962, at the Grand Concert Hall of the Moscow Conservatory. The Author's transcription of the Concerto for Trumpet and Piano was published by "Muzyka" International publishing house, Moscow, in 1969. In the 1970s, Timofey Dokshitzer (trumpet), one of the most outstanding trumpet virtuosi of the XXth century, recorded the Concerto for the "Melodya" label, with the Symphony Orchestra of the USSR All-State Radio under Maestro Gennady Cherkasov. In the annotation to this recording, Alexander Medvedev, musicologist, emphasized "the magnificent polyphonic effects, extraordinary orchestral colors." This recording was broadcast in the USSR, Europe, and the United States (Radio station WQXR, New York City). The Concerto has been performed by many soloists in the former USSR, Germany, and in the USA. excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010. Video Made by Arshak Andriasov (Son of Iosif Andriasov)
Oboe - Alexander Zayontz Conductor - Gennady Cherkasov Iosif Andriasov - Musical Sketch for Oboe, Vibraphone, and String Orchestra, Opus 5, G minor Iosif Andriasov composed the Musical Sketch for Oboe, Vibraphone, and String Orchestra in 1970. It was premiered by the musicians of the USSR All-State Radio and Television Orchestra in Moscow, USSR, conducted by Konstantin Kremetz. This composition was broadcast at the "Yunost'" radio station as the "head-piece" to a program. In the 1970s, Iosif Andriasov, perceptible and sensible to new musical ideas, styles and manners of his time, became interested, as many composers of his generation, in the novelties of contemporary Western avant-garde music. His idea was not only to master the new techniques, but, while applying them, fuse different styles and techniques into one composition. It reflected the main idea of culture in the 1960s - the beginning of 1970s, namely, the idea of pluralism. During these years, the problem of pluralism was actively discussed in Soviet society, including the musical circles. In the Musical Sketch for Oboe, Vibraphone, and String Orchestra, Iosif Andriasov brought together folk-style tonal melody, aleatory, and micropolyphony. From the Book "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" By Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010. Video Done by Arshak Andriasov (Son of Iosif Andriasov)
Flutist - Tigran Arakelyan Pianist - Arshak Andriasov Iosif Andriasov - Musical Sketch, Op. 4 for Flute & String Orchestra In 1955, when he was 22 years old, Iosif Andriasov wrote a Piece for Flute and Piano. It was dedicated to Ruben Tarasovich Gadziev, a flutist, and relative of the composer. Mr. Andriasov said that he heard this music in his dream. I. Andriasov, in one of his conversations with Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova), written down by her in brief, said that this music is "the music from other spheres. It is serene, rich (abundant), deeply dense. The icy mountains of the planets... reflection of the mountain peaks... yellow sun." In the 1960's, Mr. Andriasov arranged this piece for Flute and String Orchestra and gave it a new title: Musical Sketch for Flute and String Orchestra. - excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010.
1st Violin - Victor Romasevich 2nd Violin - Philip Santos Viola - Yun Jie Liu Cello - Lawrence Granger Iosif Andriasov - "Spring," Op. 32 for Two Violins, Viola, and Cello Iosif Andriasov composed the "Spring" for String Quartet, Opus 32, in 1994. Its premiere took place on January 21, 1996, with Victor Romasevich and Jeremy Constant - violins; Gina Feinauer - viola, and Barbara Andres - cello, at the concert of the Sierra chamber music society, at the Lesher Theater of the Regional Center for the Arts, Walnut Creek, CA. The "Spring" is based on an ancient Armenian peasant lyrical folk song "Garun a" ("Spring"). The Armenian composer Soghomon Soghomonyan (Komitas Vardapet) put down the melody of this song on paper in the beginning of the XXth century. Iosif Andriasov always treasured his Armenian heritage. By taking the Armenian folk song, Mr. Andriasov paid homage to his roots. excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010. Video Made by Arshak Andriasov (Son of Iosif Andriasov)
Conductor: Gennady Cherkasov Recorded in the beginning of the 1970's Iosif Andriasov: Musical Sketch (Material used in his Third Symphony, Op. 31) Iosif Andriasov began to work on his Third Symphony in the middle of the 1960s, while simultaneously while working on his Second Symphony. Mr. Andriasov completed his Second Symphony in 1971 and continued to work on his Third Symphony, with interruptions, until the end of his life. I. Andriasov composed the main theme of the Third Symphony in 1967. He played it to his friends - composers Alfred Schnittke, Nektarios (Otar) Chargeishvili, Boris Tobis, and to others. The music made a powerful impression on them. Mr. Andriasov composed the secondary theme (or the theme of an episode) of the Third Symphony during a spiritual test spanning six days. He had to compose (and did) 126 measures of music (two measures on the first day, four measures on the second day, eight measures on the third day, sixteen measures on the fourth day, thirty two measures on the fifth day, and sixty four measures on the sixth day, - adding the measures in a mathematical progression). excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010. Video Made by Arshak Andriasov (Son of Iosif Andriasov)
Text : Vladimir Lazarev & Russian Folk Mezzo-Soprano : Galina Borisova Tenor : Lev Kuznetsov Choir Directors : Klavdyi Ptitza & Ludmila Ermakova Conductor : Gennady Cherkasov Orchestra : Big Symphony Orchestra & Big Choir of the All-State Radio and Television, Moscow, USSR Second Symphony for Soloists, Mixed Choir, and Symphony Orchestra, Opus 26 Iosif Andriasov wrote his Second Symphony for soloists (Mezzo-Soprano and Tenor), Mixed Choir, and Symphony Orchestra in 1971, poetry by Vladimir Lazarev and folk poetry as well. Mr. Andriasov dedicated his Second Symphony to his parents: Arshak Osipovich Andriasov and Maria Fyodorovna Bedjanova-Andriasova. Initially, the Second Symphony was titled "Children and a Thousand Cranes." It was premiered on April 15, 1973, by the USSR Radio Symphony Orchestra under Maestro Gennady Cherkasov, and was later numerously performed and broadcast. In 1974, Mr. Andriasov received the first prize for his Second Symphony at the Soviet composers' competition in Budapest, Hungary, to represent Soviet music at the USSR National Celebration Concert. On October 22, 1974, the Second Symphony, together with the Fifth Symphony by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and the Third Piano Concerto by Sergei Prokofiev, was performed at this Special Gala Concert by the Big Symphony Orchestra and Choir of the USSR All-State Radio and Television under Maestro Gennady Cherkasov, choir directors: Klavdyi Ptitza and Lyudmila Ermakova. This concert was broadcast for the member countries of O. I. R. T. (Eastern and Central Europe) and Finland. The Second Symphony was internationally acclaimed as one of the most significant compositions of our time (articles were written in the press of the Soviet Union, Germany, Japan, Armenia, and other countries). Since its first version, the Second Symphony underwent fundamental changes. excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) Copyright 2010. Video Made by Arshak Andriasov
Conductor : Gennady Cherkasov Orchestra : Big Symphony Orchestra of the All-State Radio and Television, Moscow, USSR Iosif Andriasov - First Symphony, Op. 12 for Full Symphony Orchestra Iosif Andriasov composed his First Symphony in 1960, while he was in his second year at the Moscow Conservatory, Moscow, USSR. The First Symphony is dedicated to Evgeny Kirillovich Golubev, his Moscow Conservatory composition Professor. In 1961, the Student Orchestra of the Moscow Conservatory, under Maestro Mikhail Terian, performed the First Symphony during one of the Orchestra's studies. The musicians from the orchestra were astonished by the power and originality of the young composer's talent (this information was passed on to me by Leonid Mironovich, flutist of this Orchestra). Evgeny Kirillovich Golubev praised Iosif Andriasov because even though he heard his own First Symphony performed live for the first time, he did not lose his head, but kept on improving the music, correcting the misprints in the performing parts, and conveying his remarks to the musicians. excerpt from "Essays on the Music of Iosif Andriasov" by Marta Andriasova (Marina Kudryashova) (Wife of Iosif Andriasov) Copyright 2010. Video Made by Arshak Andriasov (Son of Iosif Andriasov)