Tikhon Khrennikov: Stalin's favorite, Prokofiev's admirer and founder of a musical dynasty

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

this is the first quote that comes to mind for the grandson of the famous composer Tikhon Khrennikov. These words accurately characterize his famous grandfather and full namesake. Stalin's favorite, Prokofiev's admirer and founder of the musical dynasty wrote "a musical portrait of the twentieth century."

Tikhon Khrennikov wrote dozens of melodies for Soviet cinema. Many of them can be called folk hits. For example, the famous "Once upon a time" from the tape "The Hussar Ballad" or "That the Heart is So Troubled" from the movie "Loyal Friends". Poems to his music were written by poets: Victor Gusev, Alexander Gladkov, Yakov Khaletsky. The song "Moscow Windows" is especially popular and beloved. Its first performer was Leonid Utyosov. Music by Khrennikov and poems by Mikhail Matusovsky are the hallmark of the capital. His work is often called: a musical portrait of the XX century.

In the winter of 1948, Tikhon Khrennikov was summoned to the Central Committee and informed that he had been appointed to lead the Union of Composers. This is how he recalled this moment: - so he stood at the helm of a music machine for 43 years.

- said music critic Yaroslav Timofeev.

And also Tikhon Khrennikov is the author of major orchestral works. During the Soviet period, he wrote a lot for musical theater. Opera "Mother" in four acts based on the work of the same name by Maxim Gorky is one of the most serious works of the composer. This production was especially dear to him. To create a musical performance and combine revolutionary pathos with the secrets of the human soul in it is his idea. Khrennikov's list of creative victories includes the following ballets: Love for Love, The Captain's Daughter, the operetta One Hundred Devils and One Girl, suites, symphonies and concerts.

Friends and relatives recall that Khrennikov was a kind, cheerful, sociable person. And the composer came from a large family. He was the tenth child. Parents invested all their money in the education of their children. The youngest showed a talent for music at a young age. At the age of 13, Tikhon Khrennikov composed the first etude, and then began to write waltzes, marches and plays. The teenager called his favorite composers: Tchaikovsky, Bach and Prokofiev, a curious incident is associated with the last name.

In 1936 Khrennikov graduated from the Conservatory. At that time, he already had a name in musical circles. The popular young composer chose a symphony of his own composition for his thesis. But he failed to get an "excellent" from Sergei Prokofiev. Prokofiev gave an "A" and dashed the graduate's hopes for a red diploma. The composer, whom Khrennikov idolized, did not find anything new in his symphony. And the blue Khrennikov refused to receive it at all. Later, the academic council revised the decision of the graduation committee and the blue cover was replaced with a flawless red one.

- commented pianist Yevgeny Kissin.

This year, Tikhon Khrennikov could have turned 105 years old. His surname is still used in concert halls. Now the great-grandson is entering the scene. Tikhon Khrennikov Jr. He is one of his last students. And he was the only one among the descendants of the maestro to continue the musical dynasty. At concerts, Tikhon Khrennikov Jr. plays the works of Khrennikov Sr. He often brings original scores with him. Composer's notes in the margins. The handwritten sheet music is very inspiring for the orchestra and conductors.

He is the full namesake of the famous composer and the continuer of the musical tradition. But such a responsibility does not bother the young man. On the contrary, it gives strength. The great-grandson remembers the lessons of his great-grandfather. When I was just a child, they analyzed piano sonatas together. Tikhon Khrennikov Sr. taught to think over the connecting parts and to be attentive to the composer's intention. By the way, he always called his great-grandfather by name. And he took the family name precisely at his instruction.

- recalled the grandson in an interview.

Tikhon Khrennikov Jr. is not only a pianist, but also a composer. Not infrequently in the second part of concerts in memory of the grandfather he plays his own works. The audience favorably accepts his work. The young man speaks modestly about himself and is more willing to give interviews about his great-grandfather, perhaps because he remembers his words well: "Never be very upset about defeats and do not be overjoyed at your victories."