Role

:

Composer  

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

November 25, 1856 in Vladimir-na-Klaz'me, Russia

Death

:

June 19, 1915 in Dyatkovo, Russia

Period

:

Romantic

Genre

:

Chamber

 

 

Choral

 

 

Concerto

 

 

Keyboard

 

 

Symphony

 

 

Vocal

 

Sergei Taneyev was a Russian composer, pianist, and teacher who lived from 1856 to 1915. He was born into a wealthy family in Vladimir, Russia, and showed an early aptitude for music. His mother was a pianist and his father was a lawyer who also played the cello. Taneyev began studying piano with his mother at a young age and later studied with Nikolai Rubinstein, one of the most prominent pianists and teachers of the time. In addition to his piano studies, Taneyev also showed an interest in composition. He began composing at the age of 13 and continued to write music throughout his life. He studied composition with Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, who became a close friend and mentor. Tchaikovsky recognized Taneyev's talent and encouraged him to pursue a career in music. Taneyev's early compositions were influenced by the Romantic style of Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers of the time. He wrote several works for piano, including a piano concerto and a set of variations on a theme by Tchaikovsky. He also wrote chamber music, including a string quartet and a piano trio. In 1875, Taneyev entered the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied composition with Tchaikovsky and piano with Nikolai Zverev. He quickly became one of the most talented students at the conservatory and was awarded several prizes for his compositions. He also became friends with several other prominent musicians, including Sergei Rachmaninoff and Alexander Scriabin. After graduating from the conservatory in 1878, Taneyev began a successful career as a pianist and composer. He performed throughout Russia and Europe, and his compositions were well-received by audiences and critics alike. He also became a respected teacher, first at the Moscow Conservatory and later at the St. Petersburg Conservatory. Taneyev's compositions from this period include several works for orchestra, including a symphony and a suite for orchestra. He also wrote several chamber music works, including a string quintet and a piano quartet. His music continued to be influenced by the Romantic style of Tchaikovsky and other Russian composers, but he also began to incorporate elements of classical and Baroque music into his compositions. In the 1890s, Taneyev became interested in the music of Johann Sebastian Bach and began to study and transcribe his works. He also began to incorporate elements of Bach's music into his own compositions. This period of Taneyev's career is often referred to as his "Bach period." During this time, Taneyev wrote several works for choir and orchestra, including a cantata based on the text of the St. John Passion. He also wrote several works for solo piano, including a set of preludes and fugues that were inspired by Bach's Well-Tempered Clavier. Taneyev's later compositions continued to be influenced by Bach, but he also began to incorporate elements of Russian folk music into his works. He wrote several works for choir and orchestra that were based on Russian folk songs, as well as several works for solo piano that were inspired by Russian folk music. Taneyev's most famous work is his opera "Oresteia," which he began writing in 1887 and completed in 1894. The opera is based on the ancient Greek tragedy by Aeschylus and tells the story of the House of Atreus. The opera was well-received by audiences and critics and is considered one of the greatest Russian operas of the 19th century. In addition to his compositions, Taneyev was also a respected teacher.

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