Simovich, Roman

views updated

Simovich, Roman

Simovich, Roman, outstanding Ukrainian composer; b. Sniatin, Feb. 28, 1901; d. Lwów, July 30, 1984. He studied piano and composition with Novak at the Prague Cons. (1933–36). He taught at the Lisenko Institutes in Drogobych and Stanislav (1936–4) and at the Lwów Cons. (from 1944), where he became a prof. in 1963. He was made an Honored Artist of the Ukraine in 1954. His compositions were firmly rooted in the history and lore of the western Ukraine.

Works

DRAMATIC: Ballet : Sopilka Dovbusha (1948). ORCH.: 7 syms. (Gutsulska, 1945; Lemkovsk, 1947; Springtime, 1951; Heroic, 1954; Celestial, 1955; 1965; 1972); 3 suites; 6 symphonic poems; 4 overtures: Carnival (1936), Youth (1958), Ceremonial (1966), and Bombastic (1967); Flute Concerto (1953); Piano Concerto (1971). CHAMBER: 2 piano trios (1929, 1935); 2 string quartets (1929, 1950); solo piano pieces. VOCAL: 4 vocal symphonic poems: The Shawl (1933), The Word (1946), In the Carpathians (1949), and The Flowers of Happiness and Freedom (1959).

Bibliography

A. Tereshchenko, R. S. (Kiev, 1973).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire