Kabalevsky, Dmitry (Borisovich) (
b St Petersburg, 1904;
d Moscow, 1987). Russ. composer and pianist. Worked as pf. teacher and silent-cinema pianist 1922–5. His pf. conc. 1929 won him fame in Soviet Union. In 1932, when Union of Soviet Composers was formed, he helped to organize Moscow branch, thereafter holding various administrative posts and writing many articles on Soviet mus. and composers. His output in the next 5 years was prolific, incl. 3 syms., the 3rd of which was a requiem for Lenin. Ass. prof. of comp., Moscow Cons. from 1932, prof. from 1939. During World War II he wrote numerous patriotic works, having joined Communist party in 1940. His post-war works reflected the official policy of ‘Socialist realism’. His works comp. specially for young musicians are regarded as of particular significance. The West knows his instr. works better than his operas and operettas which are perf. in Russia. Prin. works:OPERAS:
The Craftsman of Clamecy (known in West as
Colas Breugnon) (1936–8, rev. 1953, 1969);
Into the Fire (
Before Moscow) (1942);
The Taras Family (incorporating much of
Into the Fire) (1947, 2nd version 1950, 3rd version 1967);
Nikita Vershinin (1954–5);
Spring Sings (1957);
In the Magic Forest (1958);
The Sisters (1967).ORCH. AND CHORAL: syms.: No.1 in C♯ minor (1932), No.2 in C minor (1934), No.3 in B♭ minor (
Requiem with ch.) (1933), No.4 in C minor (1954);
The Comedians, suite (1940);
Suite for Jazz Orch. (1940);
Parade of Youth with ch. (1941);
The Mighty Homeland, 2 soloists and ch. (1941–2);
The People's Avengers, suite for ch. and orch. (1942); Suite,
Romeo and Juliet (1956);
Song of Morning, Spring, and Peace, children's ch. (1957–8);
Leninists, 3 ch. and orch. (1958–9);
Spring, sym.-poem (1960);
Requiem, mez., bar., double ch., and orch. (1962);
Of the Homeland, children's ch. and orch. (1965);
Letter to the 30th Century, oratorio (1972).CONCERTOS: pf., No.1 in A minor (1928), No.2 in G minor (1935), No.3 in D major (1952),
Rhapsody for pf. and orch. (1963); vn. conc. in C major (1948); vc. conc. No.1 in G minor (1948–9), No.2 in C major (1964).CHAMBER MUSIC: str. qts. No.1 in A minor (1928), No.2 in G minor (1945); vc. sonata (1962).PIANO: sonata No.1 in F major (1927), No.2 in E♭ major (1945), No.3 in F major (1946);
4 Preludes (1927–8);
30 Children's Pieces (1938–9);
24 Preludes (1943–4).SONGS:
3 Poems of A. Blok (1927–8);
8 Songs for children's ch. (1932);
7 Merry Songs (English nursery-rhymes) (1944–5);
10 Shakespeare Sonnets (1953–5);
5 Romances (1963–4).
Also th. and film mus.
