Lev Zhurbin
Encyclopedia
Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin is a composer
, violist
, and arranger
. Ljova is the author of over 70 original compositions for classical, jazz
, and folk music
ensembles. He has also contributed musical scores to numerous short and feature films.
Ljova immigrated to the United States
in 1990 and currently lives in New York City
. He is the son of one of Russia's foremost composers, Alexander Zhurbin
, and the poet/lyricist/writer Irena Ginzburg.
Ljova's arrangements and performances on the viola
were featured on Sony Classical recording with Yo-Yo Ma
, "Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon," and with Dawn Upshaw
and the Andalucian Dogs on the Deutsche Grammophon recording "Ayre", featuring the music of Luciano Berio
and Osvaldo Golijov
. Both recordings were nominated for the Grammy Awards in 2005. His arrangements of music by Kayhan Kalhor
can be heard on the "Silent City" album, by Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider. Ljova's composition, "Middle Village", was licensed for Francis Ford Coppola
's film, "Youth Without Youth", in a special version with Kálmán Balogh
on cymbalom.
As an arranger, Ljova has frequently collaborated Yo-Yo Ma
's Silk Road Project
Ensemble and the Kronos Quartet
, Brooklyn Rider, Gustavo Santaolalla
and Bajofondo
, Alondra de la Parra
and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Brooklyn Philharmonic
and Alan Pierson
the chamber orchestra The Knights
and many others.
Ljova released his debut solo CD, Vjola: World on Four Strings, in July 2006. The debut album of his ensemble, Ljova and the Kontraband, featuring Frank London
, William Schimmel
and other special guests, was released on September 28, 2008 on Kapustnik Records. Most recently, Ljova began performing on the famiola, a 6-string violin/viola/cello hybrid made by Eric Aceto.
Ljova is married to Inna Barmash, an attorney and musician. They have two sons, Benjamin (born 2009) and Yosif (born 2011).
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, violist
Violist
-Notable violists:A* Julia Rebekka Adler * Sir Hugh Allen , conductor* Kris Allen * Johann Andreas Amon * Paul Angerer , composer* Steven Ansell * Atar Arad * Cecil Aronowitz...
, and arranger
Arranger
In investment banking, an arranger is a provider of funds in the syndication of a debt. They are entitled to syndicate the loan or bond issue, and may be referred to as the "lead underwriter". This is because this entity bears the risk of being able to sell the underlying securities/debt or the...
. Ljova is the author of over 70 original compositions for classical, jazz
Jazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
, and folk music
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
ensembles. He has also contributed musical scores to numerous short and feature films.
Ljova immigrated to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1990 and currently lives in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He is the son of one of Russia's foremost composers, Alexander Zhurbin
Alexander Zhurbin
Alexander Zhurbin is one of the most important Russian composers of his generation. His music is widely performed all over the former Soviet Union, East Europe and West Europe, Canada and the United States. He composes in a wide range of forms and styles: from symphonies to pop music, from chamber...
, and the poet/lyricist/writer Irena Ginzburg.
Ljova's arrangements and performances on the viola
Viola
The viola is a bowed string instrument. It is the middle voice of the violin family, between the violin and the cello.- Form :The viola is similar in material and construction to the violin. A full-size viola's body is between and longer than the body of a full-size violin , with an average...
were featured on Sony Classical recording with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, virtuoso, and orchestral composer. He has received multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011...
, "Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon," and with Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw
Dawn Upshaw is an American soprano described as "one of the most consequential performers of our time" by the Los Angeles Times. The recipient of several Grammy Awards and Edison Prize-winning discs, Upshaw is at home both in opera and art song, and in repertoire from Baroque to contemporary...
and the Andalucian Dogs on the Deutsche Grammophon recording "Ayre", featuring the music of Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
and Osvaldo Golijov
Osvaldo Golijov
Osvaldo Noé Golijov is a Grammy award–winning composer of classical music.-Biography:Osvaldo Golijov was born in and grew up in La Plata, Argentina, in a Jewish family that had emigrated to Argentina in the 1920s from Romania and Russia.Golijov has developed a rich musical language, the result of...
. Both recordings were nominated for the Grammy Awards in 2005. His arrangements of music by Kayhan Kalhor
Kayhan Kalhor
Kayhan Kalhor , born 24 November 1963, is an Iranian kamancheh player, composer and master of classical Kurdish and Persian music.-Youth and studies:...
can be heard on the "Silent City" album, by Kalhor and Brooklyn Rider. Ljova's composition, "Middle Village", was licensed for Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is an American film director, producer and screenwriter. He is widely acclaimed as one of Hollywood's most innovative and influential film directors...
's film, "Youth Without Youth", in a special version with Kálmán Balogh
Kálmán Balogh
Kálmán Balogh is one of the foremost Hungarian cimbalom players, descending from a famous dynasty of Hungarian Gypsy musicians. His virtuosity is matched only by his understanding and respect of his heritage. A graduate of Franz Liszt Academy of Music of Budapest, he has completed many successful...
on cymbalom.
As an arranger, Ljova has frequently collaborated Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma is an American cellist, virtuoso, and orchestral composer. He has received multiple Grammy Awards, the National Medal of Arts in 2001 and the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2011...
's Silk Road Project
Silk Road Project
Silk Road Project, Inc. is a not-for-profit organization, initiated by acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma in 1998, promoting collaboration among artists and institutions, promoting multicultural artistic exchange, and studying the ebb and flow of ideas among different cultures along the Silk Road. The...
Ensemble and the Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet is a string quartet founded by violinist David Harrington in 1973 in Seattle, Washington. Since 1978, the quartet has been based in San Francisco, California. The longest-running combination of performers had Harrington and John Sherba on violin, Hank Dutt on viola, and Joan...
, Brooklyn Rider, Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Santaolalla
Gustavo Alfredo Santaolalla is an Argentine musician, film composer and producer. He has won two Academy Awards for Best Original Score in two consecutive years, for Brokeback Mountain in 2005 and Babel in 2006.-Life and career:...
and Bajofondo
Bajofondo
Bajofondo is a "Río de la Plata" based music band consisting of eight musicians from Argentina and Uruguay. The band, which refers to itself as a "collective of composers, singers and artists", was formerly called "Bajofondo Tango Club", but shortened the name to "Bajofondo" after they felt their...
, Alondra de la Parra
Alondra de la Parra
Alondra de la Parra is a Mexican American conductor. She is also the founder and artistic director of the New York-based Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, an orchestra that promotes young soloists and composers from the Americas....
and the Philharmonic Orchestra of the Americas, Brooklyn Philharmonic
Brooklyn Philharmonic
The Brooklyn Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra, commonly known as the Brooklyn Philharmonic, is an American orchestra based in the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City...
and Alan Pierson
Alan Pierson
Alan Pierson is an American conductor. He is the conductor of Alarm Will Sound, Crash Ensemble, and the Brooklyn Philharmonic....
the chamber orchestra The Knights
The Knights (orchestra)
The Knights are a New York-based orchestra. While music students in the late 1990s, brothers Eric and Colin Jacobsen began regular informal chamber music readings at their home, inviting friends with a shared enthusiasm for the discovery and performance of new and historical music...
and many others.
Ljova released his debut solo CD, Vjola: World on Four Strings, in July 2006. The debut album of his ensemble, Ljova and the Kontraband, featuring Frank London
Frank London
Frank London is a New York City-based trumpeter, bandleader, and composer active in klezmer and world music. He also plays various other wind instruments and keyboards, and occasionally sings backup vocals. With The Klezmatics, he won a Grammy award in Contemporary World Music for "Wonder Wheel...
, William Schimmel
William Schimmel
William Schimmel is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the accordion, and the philosophy of "Musical Reality"...
and other special guests, was released on September 28, 2008 on Kapustnik Records. Most recently, Ljova began performing on the famiola, a 6-string violin/viola/cello hybrid made by Eric Aceto.
Ljova is married to Inna Barmash, an attorney and musician. They have two sons, Benjamin (born 2009) and Yosif (born 2011).
Discography
as leader:- 2011 – Lost in Kino (Kapustnik Records)
- 2008 – Mnemosyne with Ljova and the Kontraband, guests Frank LondonFrank LondonFrank London is a New York City-based trumpeter, bandleader, and composer active in klezmer and world music. He also plays various other wind instruments and keyboards, and occasionally sings backup vocals. With The Klezmatics, he won a Grammy award in Contemporary World Music for "Wonder Wheel...
, Uli Geissendoerfer, William SchimmelWilliam SchimmelWilliam Schimmel is one of the principal architects in the resurgence of the accordion, and the philosophy of "Musical Reality"...
, Alon YavnaiAlon YavnaiAlon Yavnai is an Israel-born jazz pianist.-Biography:Born in Israel, Yavnai began playing piano at the age of four. He has professionally accompanied singers since the age of thirteen. He graduated from the Thelma Yalin High School for Arts and subsequently the Givatayim Conservatory, both in...
and other (Kapustnik Records) - 2006 – Vjola: World on Four Strings (Kapustnik Records) - reissued in 2011.
External links
- Ljova's Official Website
- Ljova and the Kontraband, Ljova's performing ensemble.
- He Still Plays Weddings - A Musical Polymath’s Quirky Career, Ljova's profile in the New York Times
- Review of Ljova's debut solo CD in New York Times
- Ljova's page on CCMixter, where you can download raw files of Ljova's performances for remixing.
- Ljova's father, Alexander Zhurbin
- The Kronos Quartet
- The Silk Road Project
- Inna Barmash, Ljova Zhurbin