Tolia Nikiprowetzky
Encyclopedia
Tolia Nikiprowetzky was a French composer
and musicologist of Russian birth. His compositions include four opera
s (Les Noces d'Ombre, La Fête et les masques, Le Sourire de l'Autre and La Veuve du Héros); a symphony
(Symphony Logos 5); concerto
s for saxophone
, piano
, cello
, and trumpet
; a piece for wind quintet and string orchestra; two large religious works (Numinis Sacra and Ode Funèbre); a few cantata
s; several pieces for solo piano
; and numerous chamber works
among others. Some of his works experimented with serialism
, electronic music
, and reflected his interest in African music.
Born in Feodosiya, Nikiprowetzky immigrated with his parents to France in 1923 where they settled in Marseilles. He began his musical studies at the Marseilles Conservatory but left there in 1937 to enter the Conservatoire de Paris
where he was a student of Simone Plé-Caussade
and Louis Laloy. After World War II he pursued further studies privately with René Leibowitz
. From 1950-1955 he worked as musical director of the Moroccan Radio, then in Paris for the overseas radio service. He also ran a few nightclubs in Paris where he died in 1997.
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...
and musicologist of Russian birth. His compositions include four opera
Opera
Opera is an art form in which singers and musicians perform a dramatic work combining text and musical score, usually in a theatrical setting. Opera incorporates many of the elements of spoken theatre, such as acting, scenery, and costumes and sometimes includes dance...
s (Les Noces d'Ombre, La Fête et les masques, Le Sourire de l'Autre and La Veuve du Héros); a symphony
Symphony
A symphony is an extended musical composition in Western classical music, scored almost always for orchestra. A symphony usually contains at least one movement or episode composed according to the sonata principle...
(Symphony Logos 5); concerto
Concerto
A concerto is a musical work usually composed in three parts or movements, in which one solo instrument is accompanied by an orchestra.The etymology is uncertain, but the word seems to have originated from the conjunction of the two Latin words...
s for saxophone
Saxophone
The saxophone is a conical-bore transposing musical instrument that is a member of the woodwind family. Saxophones are usually made of brass and played with a single-reed mouthpiece similar to that of the clarinet. The saxophone was invented by the Belgian instrument maker Adolphe Sax in 1846...
, piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
, cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and trumpet
Trumpet
The trumpet is the musical instrument with the highest register in the brass family. Trumpets are among the oldest musical instruments, dating back to at least 1500 BCE. They are played by blowing air through closed lips, producing a "buzzing" sound which starts a standing wave vibration in the air...
; a piece for wind quintet and string orchestra; two large religious works (Numinis Sacra and Ode Funèbre); a few cantata
Cantata
A cantata is a vocal composition with an instrumental accompaniment, typically in several movements, often involving a choir....
s; several pieces for solo piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
; and numerous chamber works
Chamber music
Chamber music is a form of classical music, written for a small group of instruments which traditionally could be accommodated in a palace chamber. Most broadly, it includes any art music that is performed by a small number of performers with one performer to a part...
among others. Some of his works experimented with serialism
Serialism
In music, serialism is a method or technique of composition that uses a series of values to manipulate different musical elements. Serialism began primarily with Arnold Schoenberg's twelve-tone technique, though his contemporaries were also working to establish serialism as one example of...
, electronic music
Electronic music
Electronic music is music that employs electronic musical instruments and electronic music technology in its production. In general a distinction can be made between sound produced using electromechanical means and that produced using electronic technology. Examples of electromechanical sound...
, and reflected his interest in African music.
Born in Feodosiya, Nikiprowetzky immigrated with his parents to France in 1923 where they settled in Marseilles. He began his musical studies at the Marseilles Conservatory but left there in 1937 to enter the Conservatoire de Paris
Conservatoire de Paris
The Conservatoire de Paris is a college of music and dance founded in 1795, now situated in the avenue Jean Jaurès in the 19th arrondissement of Paris, France...
where he was a student of Simone Plé-Caussade
Simone Plé-Caussade
Simone Plé-Caussade was a French music pedagogue, composer and pianist. She wrote mainly works for solo piano and organ in addition to choral works, songs, chamber music, and sacred music...
and Louis Laloy. After World War II he pursued further studies privately with René Leibowitz
René Leibowitz
René Leibowitz was a French composer, conductor, music theorist and teacher born in Warsaw, Poland.-Career:...
. From 1950-1955 he worked as musical director of the Moroccan Radio, then in Paris for the overseas radio service. He also ran a few nightclubs in Paris where he died in 1997.