Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

October 20, 1883 in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia

Death

:

April 21, 1951 in Staraya Ruza, Russia

Period

:

Modern

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Vocal

 

Alexander Krein was a Russian composer and violinist who was born on December 13, 1883, in Nizhny Novgorod, Russia. He was born into a family of musicians, and his father, Abram Krein, was a well-known cellist and composer. Alexander and his siblings, Grigory and Joseph, were all musically gifted and received their early musical training from their father. At the age of 10, Alexander began studying the violin with the renowned violinist Leopold Auer at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. He later studied composition with Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov and Anatoly Lyadov. In 1902, he graduated from the conservatory with a degree in violin performance. After graduation, Krein began his career as a violinist, performing with various orchestras and ensembles in Russia and Europe. He also began composing music, and his early works were influenced by the Russian folk music that he had grown up with. In 1910, he joined the Society for Jewish Folk Music, which was founded by his brother Grigory and other Jewish composers in St. Petersburg. The society aimed to promote Jewish music and culture, and Krein became one of its most prominent members. Krein's music was characterized by its use of Jewish melodies and rhythms, as well as its incorporation of elements of Russian and Eastern European folk music. His compositions included chamber music, orchestral works, and operas. Some of his most famous works include the String Quartet No. 1, the Suite for Violin and Piano, and the opera "The Jewish Tambourine." During World War I, Krein served in the Russian army as a violinist in a military band. After the war, he continued to perform and compose music, but his career was interrupted by the Russian Revolution and the subsequent establishment of the Soviet Union. Krein, who was Jewish, faced discrimination and persecution under the Soviet regime, and many of his works were banned or censored. In 1922, Krein and his family emigrated to Berlin, where he continued to compose and perform music. He also became involved in the Berlin Jewish community and worked to promote Jewish culture and music. In 1933, with the rise of the Nazi regime in Germany, Krein and his family were forced to flee again, this time to Paris. In Paris, Krein continued to compose and perform music, but he faced financial difficulties and struggled to make a living. He also faced discrimination as a Jewish refugee, and his music was not widely performed or recognized. Despite these challenges, Krein continued to compose music until his death in Paris on March 18, 1951. Today, Krein is recognized as one of the most important Jewish composers of the 20th century. His music, which combines elements of Jewish, Russian, and Eastern European folk music, has been performed and recorded by many musicians and ensembles around the world. His legacy continues to inspire and influence musicians and composers today.

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