Role

:

Composer

Country

:

Russia

Birth

:

May, 1893 in St. Petersburg, Russia

Death

:

September 29, 1979 in Paris, France

 

Ivan Wyschnegradsky was a Russian-born composer who is best known for his contributions to microtonal music. Born on May 29, 1893, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Wyschnegradsky was the son of a prominent mathematician and a pianist. His mother was his first music teacher, and he began composing at a young age. Wyschnegradsky's family moved to Moscow when he was a child, and he continued his music education there. He studied piano with Alexander Goldenweiser and composition with Nikolai Zhilyayev at the Moscow Conservatory. He also studied music theory with Mikhail Gnesin and Sergei Taneyev. In 1914, Wyschnegradsky moved to Paris to continue his studies. He studied composition with Vincent d'Indy and Charles-Marie Widor at the Schola Cantorum de Paris. He also studied music theory with Charles Koechlin and Albert Roussel. During World War I, Wyschnegradsky served in the Russian army. After the war, he returned to Paris and began to develop his own unique style of music. He was particularly interested in microtonal music, which uses intervals smaller than the traditional half-step used in Western music. Wyschnegradsky's first major work was his Symphony No. 1, which he composed in 1923. The symphony was written in a microtonal tuning system that Wyschnegradsky developed himself. The work was premiered in Paris in 1924 and was well-received by critics. In the years that followed, Wyschnegradsky continued to compose in his microtonal tuning system. He wrote a number of works for various ensembles, including string quartets, piano pieces, and vocal music. He also wrote several more symphonies, including Symphony No. 2, which was premiered in 1937. Wyschnegradsky's music was not widely performed during his lifetime, but he continued to compose and teach. He taught music theory and composition at the Paris Conservatory from 1946 to 1966. He also continued to develop his microtonal tuning system, which he called the "ultrachromatic" system. Wyschnegradsky's music began to receive more attention in the years after his death. In 1979, a group of musicians formed the Association Ivan Wyschnegradsky to promote his music and his tuning system. The association has since organized concerts and recordings of Wyschnegradsky's music. Today, Wyschnegradsky is recognized as one of the pioneers of microtonal music. His music is known for its complex harmonies and unusual tuning systems. Some of his most notable works include his Symphony No. 1, his String Quartet No. 3, and his Prelude and Fugue in Microtonal Tuning. In conclusion, Ivan Wyschnegradsky was a Russian-born composer who made significant contributions to microtonal music. He developed his own unique tuning system and wrote a number of works for various ensembles. Although his music was not widely performed during his lifetime, he is now recognized as one of the pioneers of microtonal music.

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