Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt
Encyclopedia
Alexandra Zheleznova-Armfelt was a Swedish-Russian composer.
Born Alexandra Armfelt into a Swedish noble family, grand-daughter of baron Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt
, she received a broad education as a child and started to compose at an early age. Her first work was published in 1894.
She was a member of the circle surrounding Anton Rubinstein
and Mily Balakirev
.
In 1895, she married Vladimir Zheleznov, a St. Petersburg-born officer of Ural Cossack descent.
She stayed with her husband as he was posted in the Ural District in 1896–1897 and developed an interest in Russian folk music, and together with her husband published a collection of Cossack
songs in 1899.
Her most productive period was 1903–1914, based in St. Petersburg, during which she published a number of romances for cello, violin and piano.
During World War I and the Russian Revolution, she lost her husband and her sons. After 1917, she became a pianist in the cinema and gave piano lessons.
Her daughter Xenia , and grandson Vsevolod Osechkin , restored and published much of the composer's legacy.
Born Alexandra Armfelt into a Swedish noble family, grand-daughter of baron Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt
Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt
Count Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt was a Finnish and Swedish courtier and diplomat. In Finland, he is considered one of the great Finnish statesmen. Born in Tarvasjoki, Finland, he was the great grandson of Charles XII of Sweden's general, Carl Gustaf Armfeldt...
, she received a broad education as a child and started to compose at an early age. Her first work was published in 1894.
She was a member of the circle surrounding Anton Rubinstein
Anton Rubinstein
Anton Grigorevich Rubinstein was a Russian-Jewish pianist, composer and conductor. As a pianist he was regarded as a rival of Franz Liszt, and he ranks amongst the great keyboard virtuosos...
and Mily Balakirev
Mily Balakirev
Mily Alexeyevich Balakirev ,Russia was still using old style dates in the 19th century, and information sources used in the article sometimes report dates as old style rather than new style. Dates in the article are taken verbatim from the source and therefore are in the same style as the source...
.
In 1895, she married Vladimir Zheleznov, a St. Petersburg-born officer of Ural Cossack descent.
She stayed with her husband as he was posted in the Ural District in 1896–1897 and developed an interest in Russian folk music, and together with her husband published a collection of Cossack
Cossack
Cossacks are a group of predominantly East Slavic people who originally were members of democratic, semi-military communities in what is today Ukraine and Southern Russia inhabiting sparsely populated areas and islands in the lower Dnieper and Don basins and who played an important role in the...
songs in 1899.
Her most productive period was 1903–1914, based in St. Petersburg, during which she published a number of romances for cello, violin and piano.
During World War I and the Russian Revolution, she lost her husband and her sons. After 1917, she became a pianist in the cinema and gave piano lessons.
Her daughter Xenia , and grandson Vsevolod Osechkin , restored and published much of the composer's legacy.