Eduard Artemiev is a famous Soviet and Russian composer, holder of the title of People's Artist of Russia. He created music for star films that have received worldwide fame. Artemiev has worked with directors such as Andrei Tarkovsky, Andrei Konchalovsky, Nikita Mikhalkov and many others.
Biography of Eduard Artemiev
Eduard Nikolaevich Artemyev was born on November 30, 1937 in Novosibirsk, where his parents, Muscovites, were passing through work. The composer's father and mother, Nikolai Vasilievich Artemyev and Nina Alekseevna Artemyeva, were forced to move very often due to the peculiarities of their work. Therefore, at the age of seven, the boy was sent to Moscow to his uncle, Nikolai Demyanov, a famous professor of the Moscow Conservatory and a talented choir conductor.
It was in the performance of Nikolai Demyanov that little Eduard heard Scriabin's compositions and began to admire the musical works. In my uncle's house there was a huge library with popular world music, it was she who brought up the talented composer. From childhood, Edward preferred the works of Stravinsky, Bellini, Debussy, Donizetti, Puccini.
The young man composed his first musical masterpieces while studying at the Moscow Choir School under the direction of Merab Partskhaladze. In 1955, the young composer finished his studies and entered the Conservatory named after. Tchaikovsky in Moscow. At the Conservatory, Artemyev studied for 5 years at the composer faculty, these years have left an unforgettable imprint on the musical development of the talented composer.
Career. Electronic instrumental music period
After graduating from the conservatory in 1960, Eduard Artemiev met the engineer Murzin, the creator of one of the world's first musical synthesizers. At the suggestion of an engineer, the composer began researching the synthesis of sound and electronic music. Eduard's attention was drawn to the ANS electronic synthesizer with photocells, a masterpiece of the engineer, after which a new direction "electronic music" appeared in music.
In parallel, he worked as a programmer at a research institute, and experimented in the studio of the Museum. A. Scriabin in the period from 1961 to 1963. During this period, the composer often wrote articles describing the benefits of electric music. His notes on electronic music are distinguished by a deep knowledge and understanding of a new musical direction.
In 1966, Eduard Artemiev began his professional career in the first electronic music production studio created in the USSR. During this period he created the unsurpassed, famous work "Mosaic", which received prizes at many European music festivals.
Until 1970, Artemiev worked in the avant-garde style. During this period of the composer's work, the following works were created:
- one-part concert for viola,
- suite for female orchestra and choir "Lubki",
- music to the pantomime "For Dead Souls",
- symphonic suite "Round Dances",
- cantata "Free Songs",
- oratorio on the verses of A. Tvardovsky "I was killed near Rzhev".
Eduard's earlier electronic compositions were created at the time of active study of the ANS device, part of them were devoted to demonstrating the unrealistic capabilities of this unsurpassed instrument. These are compositions: "Etude", "Star Nocturne", "In Space" and "Twelve Views on the World of Sound: Variation in One Timbre". The latter was especially appreciated by experts; this unique composition has left an indelible imprint on the world of electric music.
In the 70s, Artemyev composed the following works: the poem "Man by the Fire", the symphony "Pilgrims", the symphony for violin "Seven Gates to the World of Satori", the rock composition "Mirage", the cantata "Ritual", the cycle "Warmth of the Earth", poems for soprano and synthesizer "White Dove", "Summer", "Vision".
The musical works of Eduard Artemiev, unusual for that time, spread throughout the world. In 1989, Bourges hosted the Electromusic Festival, at which Artemiev's composition "Three Views on the Revolution" was presented. The composition made a huge splash.
An article about Artemiev appeared in the Diario de Lisboa newspaper with the words "His music is powerful, perfect, unique." In 1990, the Electro-Shocker Records company released for the first time a disc entitled "Musical Offering" with well-known and cult works of all composers who worked at ANS. The disc was dedicated to the memory of the engineer E. Murzin, it included two of Artemiev's most famous works "Twelve Views on the World of Sound" and "Mosaic".
In parallel with his work, from 1964 to 1985, Eduard Artemiev taught instrumental music at the Institute of Culture. Eduard Nikolaevich was interested in the musical education of young people and held numerous master classes, read informative lectures.
Artemiev's music in cinema
In the 1960s, filmmakers showed great interest in the composer's work in electronic music. The first such music was used as an accompaniment to a movie about space. The debut film for the composer was the fantastic film "A Dream Towards".
Eduard Artemiev wrote all the soundtracks for the film "Arena". And it was with this film that the composer's close cooperation with the cinema began. He was the first to widely use electronic sound in films. Musical compositions for films by Andrei Tarkovsky were recorded on CD in 1990 in Holland. The court also included the composition "Dedication to A. Tarkovsky".
Personal life of Eduard Artemiev
Eduard Artemiev is married to Isolde Artemyeva, a teacher at the School at the Moscow State Conservatory named after P. I. Tchaikovsky, also a talented musician. According to Artemyev, he is happily married. The couple have a son, also a composer and media artist, who works today in the genre of experimental electric music.
