Askold Murov
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Askold Fedorovich Murov, Russian composer and teacher, was born 5 February,
1928 in Engels (Pokrovsk) in the Saratov region on the Volga River, He died
7 June, 1996 in Novosibirsk (Siberia). He graduated from the Novosibirsk
State Civil Engineering Academy (1946-51), receiving also a musical
education in choral conducting at the Novosibirsk State Conservatory in
1962 under the guidance of Matvey Akimovich Gozenpud, and was a
member of the faculty there from 1961 to 1996, becoming a full professor
in 1983. In 1990 he was made a Russian State Laureate.
From 1965 to 1970, and again from 1984 until his death, Murov
headed the Association of Siberian Composers. From 1968 thru 1972 he
was also the secretary of its national counterpart. He received many
awards, including State Laureate in 1990. His activities as head of the
Siberian composers organization was exceptionally important. He advocated creativity,
organized festivals of Siberian music, and was an active
participant in the musical life of Novosibirsk and the whole Siberian region.
He served as the adjudicator in seven international competitions. He
excelled as a teacher, with his students becoming a distinctive school of
composers. The Novosibirsk Music College where he studied was renamed
the Askold Murov Music College in March, 2002.
Dmitry Shostakovich once said, “Askold Murov’s music arouses
your admiration by its profound emotional character and high professionalism.”
His music is both deep and versatile, showing a conceptual and
philosophical bent of mind, and a desire to deal with the burning problems
of his time through music. He composed in a wide variety of genres, but is
especially notable for being the first major Siberian symphonist, having
written eleven symphonies from 1961 to 1991.
Murov is survived by his widow, Alla Fedorovna Murova, herself an
excellent musician. We are indebted for the information on this page to Lada Pylneva, Professor of Music Theory at the
Novosibirsk Conservatory, and member of the Research Center of Siberian Music Culture. Her doctoral thesis in 2000 was on the music of Askold Murov.
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Novosibirsk |
Works
11 symphonies (1961, 1963-64, 1967-68, 1971, 1973, 1978, 1981, 1986, 1987, 1987, 1991).
From Siberian Folk Poetry, song cycle, 1963.**
Musical comedy, The Clever Things, 1965.
Oratorio, The Century's Insomnia, 1966.
Songs of a Village Balman, 1968. A cycle of five a cappella choruses.*
Kantati (Russian Portraits), 1975. A cantata in six parts based on the strike of the Russian aristocrats in
December, 1825, with lyrics from a selection of the best 19th c. Russian poets.*
Three Songs for Baritone Solo, 1975.*
Blokiana (chamber composition), 1975.
Schubertiana (orchestral transcription of Einsamkeit), 1977.
Two Motets, 1977.*
Siberian Wedding Songs, 1980. A cantata in seven parts for SATB chorus.*
Five Ritual Songs, 1982. A cantata in five parts for solo voices and orchestra of Russian folk instruments.
Concerto for flute, oboe and orchestra (of Russian folk instruments), 1982.
Opera, The Great Schemer, 1983-1986.
Three Ancient Romances, 1990. For Baritone or Mezzo-Soprano.
Spiritual Concert (suite), 1989-1991.
The Ascension Cathedral, concerto for orchestra of Russian folk instruments, 1990.
Psalm 66, 1992.*
In the Name of Life, poem for string orchestra, 1995.
Other instrumental compositions, books, articles, etc.
** published by Cantus Quercus Press
* possible future publication of Cantus Quercus Press
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