7 pieces of music inspired by Russian literature

2024 Author: Richard Flannagan | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-15 23:55

There are frequent cases when writers, after listening to genius music, sat down to write their masterpieces. Famous musicians also draw inspiration from literature and create, under its influence, absolutely stunning symphonies and operas, musicals, ballets and songs. And Russian literature gives the desire to create today. The echoes of famous works can be heard not only in the works of Shostakovich or Tchaikovsky, but also in the songs of Zemfira, Mick Jagger, Bob Dylan and others.

"I loved you", Zemfira

The song of the Russian rock singer "I fell in love with you" actually recreates the poem "Anna Akhmatova" by Marina Tsvetaeva in a new interpretation. True, in this case, Zemfira confesses her love to the very creator of the poem. The whole rhythm and mood of this song is about Tsvetaeva and for Tsvetaeva.

Where Have All the Flowers Gone? By Pete Seeger

This song was very popular during the Vietnam War, becoming a symbol of the youth protest movement. It was written by Pete Seeger, an American singer and songwriter. He inspired him to write "Where did all the flowers disappear?" "Quiet Don" by Mikhail Sholokhov. In particular, the lullaby "Deck-Duda", the words of which he even copied into his notebook. And a little later, the words sounded over the world: "Where have all the flowers disappeared?" They became a call to think about the consequences that war entails. Pete Seeger dreamed of meeting Mikhail Sholokhov and even sent him the notes of the composition "Where did all the flowers disappear?" before his tour in the USSR in 1964. For unknown reasons, the meeting between the writer and the composer never took place.

Album Blood On The Tracks, Bob Dylan

The American performer was known as a great lover of literature, and the works of Anton Chekhov, whom the musician called his favorite writer, inspired Bob Dylan to create a whole album. Even the title of the album is the words of one of the heroes of the story "The Steppe: The Story of a Trip".

Sympathy for the Devil, Rolling Stones

Mick Jagger and Keith Richards drew inspiration for their composition from Mikhail Bulgakov's novel The Master and Margarita. The image of the devil made the greatest impression on them, and therefore in their song the Rolling Stones, on his behalf, offer listeners to go on a journey during which the most terrible and bloody moments of world history will come to life - from the crucifixion of Jesus Christ to the murder of the royal family. By the way, after the release of this song, the Rolling Stones members began to be suspected of promoting Satanism, however, they recalled other compositions of the group, where the devil was mentioned.

Apres Moi, Regina Spector

The famous American singer, songwriter, one of whom was nominated for a Grammy in 2013, was born in the Soviet Union. Her composition Apres Moi contains poems by Boris Pasternak in Russian. It is to him that the ballad is dedicated, which became one of the hits of the performer.

Banga, Patti Smith

The American singer and poet is called the godmother of punk rock. She loved Russian literature and, even in her youth, called Vladimir Mayakovsky one of her favorite poets. But her album Banga is not about one of the poems or poems of the "mouthpiece of the revolution", but about the works of Mikhail Bulgakov. Banga is an ode to pets, inspired by the dog from The Master and Margarita, who has been waiting for Pontius Pilate to come to heaven for centuries. In the song there is a mention of one more hero of Bulgakov - Sharikov from "Heart of a Dog".

Lolita, Skye Ferreira

The American singer wrote a song, the very name of which speaks for itself. At the same time, the performer was inspired not by the famous film by Stanley Kubrick, but by the novel by Vladimir Nabokov. She is impressed by the main character, first of all, with her rebellious spirit.

Creative people can find inspiration in everything that surrounds them. For example, for photographer Neil Kramer, the inspiration for a series of images was a very unusual and not very pleasant situation. The photographer was quarantined during the pandemic along with his mother and ex-wife. Three of us in a kopeck piece.