Stainov, Petko

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Stainov, Petko

Stainov, Petko, Bulgarian composer; b. Kazanluk, Dec. 1, 1896; d. Sofia, June 25, 1977. Despite an almost complete loss of sight at age 5, he learned to play piano by ear. He studied composition with Wolf and piano with E. Müunch in Braunschweig and Berlin (1920–24). Returning to Sofia, he taught piano at the Inst. for the Blind (1927–41); then was director of the National Opera (1941–14) and of the Inst. for Music of the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (from 1948).

Works

ORCH.: Thracian Dances (1925–26); Legend, symphonic poem (1927; Sofia, Jan. 1, 1928); Balkan, overture (1936); 2 syms. (1945, 1948); Youth Concert Overture (1952). VOCAL: Numerous choruses and choral ballads.

Bibliography.: V. Krastev, P. S.(Sofia, 1957).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire