Russian & Soviet Composers - Part 3

[Jim Faston]

Does anyone know the dates of the Russian-born composer Sergei Barsukov please?

He was born in 1923--I don't know if he is still living.

Jim

[Timtin]

Yes, that was my first thought too.
The problem is that in that very year, he was in Pittsburgh
aged about 23-30! Articles in the local press at the time prove
it beyond any doubt whatsoever. In fact, 1923 was the year he
moved from Russia to America.
A search of Google and elsewhere gives his birth year variously
as 1908, 1912, 1918 and 1923. I believe that all of these dates are
wrong, and that he may have been born in 1900 or earlier. He was
a pupil of Busoni in Italy and finished his training with Busoni aged
just 14, before WW1.
No year for his death is given anywhere, but if he was born ca.1900
it's highly unlikely that he's still living.
Apologies if my seemingly straightforward question is far more
difficult to answer than it appears!

[thalbergmad]

Good old Tim, he never gives up.

You would want him on your side in the trenches.

Thal

[Jim Faston]

Yes, that was my first thought too.
The problem is that in that very year, he was in Pittsburgh
aged about 23-30! Articles in the local press at the time prove
it beyond any doubt whatsoever. In fact, 1923 was the year he
moved from Russia to America.
A search of Google and elsewhere gives his birth year variously
as 1908, 1912, 1918 and 1923. I believe that all of these dates are
wrong, and that he may have been born in 1900 or earlier. He was
a pupil of Busoni in Italy and finished his training with Busoni aged
just 14, before WW1.
No year for his death is given anywhere, but if he was born ca.1900
it's highly unlikely that he's still living.
Apologies if my seemingly straightforward question is far more
difficult to answer than it appears!

Two different entries in Worldcat give 1923 as DOB--that was the source of my information.

[Timtin]

Here are a couple of references which totally torpedo
the 'facts' given about Barsukov elsewhere on the internet,
reference books, record sleeves etc.
http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1923-7 ... -16-07.pdf
and
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 220,628060
The misinformation about the guy is really quite extraordinary,
hence my original question, to try to establish the truth.

(As for never givng up Thal - yep, you're right - I'm like a dog with
a bone. That sometimes gets on folks' nerves - sorry about that!)

[isokani]

Barsuk = badger in Russian.

[Jim Faston]

Here are a couple of references which totally torpedo
the 'facts' given about Barsukov elsewhere on the internet,
reference books, record sleeves etc.
http://mtr.arcade-museum.com/MTR-1923-7 ... -16-07.pdf
and
http://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1 ... 220,628060
The misinformation about the guy is really quite extraordinary,
hence my original question, to try to establish the truth.

(As for never givng up Thal - yep, you're right - I'm like a dog with
a bone. That sometimes gets on folks' nerves - sorry about that!)

What a confusing mess-- The San Jose Mercury News from May 22, 1993 says:

... the justifiably obscure Russian emigre Sergei Barsukov (1898-1984). Early this month, the symphony complied, performing Barsukov's "Mediterranean Suite.

(The viewable snipet from a pay to view article.)

[Timtin]

Jim - many thanks for solving this mystery once and for all!
It's just what I was hoping for, and vindicates my original
theory about his true date of birth being 1900 or before.

[pianojay]

Mossolov's "Four Newspaper Announcements": http://www.mediafire.com/view/?2e4qce1r3l9vbou

[mballan]

Yury Mikhailovich Yatsevich Born 1901 Poltava: died ?. Graduated in 1934 from Moscow Conservatoire, where he studied with Shebalin. In 1937 completed post-grad work at the same conservatoire, and then joined the faculty, remaining there until 1941. He later became editor-in-chief of the publishing house, Muzgiz.
Students include: Akhmetov and Murtazin. Wrote 6 symphonies, 2 violin concertos, Piano Trio, 2 string quartets, Quintet, Violin Sonata, vocal works, and a number of piano works piano works including 6 sonatas.

Alfor posted the 3rd and 6th piano sonatas plus the suite 'Garland of Leaves' on his thread - here is Yatsevich's first sonata [I hope to post Nos. 2 & 5 shortly].

Malcolm

Piano Sonata No. 1 (1932)

Yatsevich Y - Piano Sonata No. 1.pdf