S. Prokofiev cantata "Alexander Nevsky"
The historical theme occupied a special and important place in the works of the Soviet composer Sergei Sergeyevich Prokofiev. Among his works on a similar theme cantata "Alexander Nevsky", written for the choir, mezzo-soprano and orchestra, stands out. In it, the composer continues the traditions leading from the operas "Ruslan and Ludmila"M. Glinka and"Prince Igor"A. Borodin.
History of creation
The famous Soviet director Sergei Eisenstein in 1938 turned to Prokofiev with the proposal to write music for his new film dedicated to Alexander Nevsky. It showed the heroic feat of the Russian prince and his squad, who fought against the Teutonic knights of the Crusaders. The composer gladly accepted this proposal, especially since Sergey Sergeyevich himself had long been an admirer of Eisenstein's directorial talent and it was more pleasant for him to work with such a person. To fulfill the order, Prokofiev even went to Hollywood to get acquainted with all the nuances of the musical design of films. There he met with famous film directors: Mamoulian and Disney, and was also able to gain experience and expand his understanding of the possibilities of sound cinema. By the way, this is not the first such work by Prokofiev, because earlier he had already composed music for the film "Lieutenant Kizhe."
Returning to Russia, the composer immediately set to work, and he constantly consulted and worked closely with Eisenstein. Usually the director showed Prokofiev a small piece of footage so that he composed music for him. But sometimes Sergey Sergeevich already composed the musical part in advance, and Eisenstein then built the visual line, adjusting to the music. Often, Prokofiev had to spend whole days in the studio at Potylikh, where the shooting took place to take part in the process himself. Thanks to such close cooperation, the work proceeded fairly quickly. The texts of the cantata were entrusted to the poet Vladimir Lugovsky, but some of them were composed by the composer himself.
The theme of the work required a thorough study of all materials related to this event, as well as acquaintance with the music of Ancient Russia and the Catholic hymns of the Middle Ages. Sergey Sergeevich decided to act innovatively and present the musical version not in the form in which it could have been during the time of the Ice Slaughter, but in the modern one. The same was true of the Russian song. Prokofiev did not go into details as this music sounded 700 years ago, but he modernized it.
In summer Sergey Sergeyevich went to rest in the North Caucasus, but he continued to work on the score of "Alexander Nevsky" there, returning to the capital in the autumn, he successfully completed the musical part. Already on December 1, 1938, the premiere of the film with the genius music of Prokofiev took place, which immediately won the love of the public. The composer was very inspired by this success and decided to compose a cantata based on the musical part of the movie. The next few months he worked hard on the work. The composer himself confessed that in reality everything turned out to be not so simple as it might seem at first glance. Prokofiev noted that it was easier for him to compose a new work than to invent bundles. Some parts of the score remained unchanged - this is the introduction, "Song of Alexander Nevsky" and "Russian People Stand Up," but he had to significantly refine the remaining parts, and delete some of the fragments, such as music for the duel of the prince with the Teutonic Master.
And the score itself required orchestration, since the former version was completely unsuitable for performance in the concert hall and was designed to create experimental effects. In addition, the entire score, consisting of separate episodes, had to be combined and subordinated to the laws of the vocal-symphonic cycle. In total, the cantata includes seven different parts, and each of them got its name.
Interesting Facts:
- Cantata is a vocal-instrumental composition consisting of separate numbers, parts. All of them are related by meaning. The word cantata is derived from the Italian "cantara" and means to sing.
- During a visit to Hollywood, Prokofiev received a very good offer from the largest American company to create film music, he was promised a salary of $ 10,000 dollars a month. However, the composer refused such a generous offer, citing the heavy workload in Moscow. In fact, he did not want to leave his family and homeland.
- While working on the music for the film, Prokofiev paid attention to all the details, including some kind of sound engineering work. He noticed how this or that sound directed exactly into the microphone would be colored with timbre. So, a strong direct sound could traumatize the film and produce a rather sharp timbre. Then he had the idea to use this feature to record music that characterizes the enemy camp. This timbre is the best suited for the image of the Crusaders. For this, the composer asked the musicians to play fanfare themes very close to the microphone.
- Creating a cinema music, the composer had to make experiments of the "inverted" orchestration in order to find original effects.
Content
It is difficult to imagine another such significant work in classical music, born of film music. The whole structure of the cantata is designed in the seven-part form with the strict logic of the internal parts. Researchers note the presence in the work of the features of a sonata form. And Prokofiev does it quite subtly, avoiding clear patterns of the sonata cycle, comparing and developing two conflicting images. In general, the principles of cinema, with its rapid assembly development, had a great influence on the cantata. In addition, Prokofiev widely applies the principle of sound writing and in his music the caw of a crow, military signals, the neigh of horses, the crackling of ice are clearly heard.
"Russia under the Mongol yoke" - the first part of the cantata. Researchers note that it is the most concise and undeveloped of all. This is a kind of introduction to the whole cycle. Music very vividly conveys the desert space, creating a sorrowful mood. Prokofiev very subtly managed to emphasize the feeling of time and emptiness using a combination of very high and very low sounds, sounding in unison. A wild alien Mongolian theme is held along with the sad tunes of wide breathing.
"Song of Alexander Nevsky" - the second part, which is very significant. It symbolizes the "Theme of Rus", expressing its invincible power. The choir performs a melody very close to Russian epics. However, this tune Prokofiev transformed, giving it a dynamic and adding energy. A special epic warehouse gives the sound of harps, imitating a bust of harp.
"Song of Alexander Nevsky" - listen
"Crusaders in Pskov" - the third part, imbued with an atmosphere of horror and grief. The extreme parts of this episode convey the enemy images, and the middle - the deep suffering of the defeated people. In this part, Prokofiev applies the theme of the Catholic chorale, performed by the choir in Latin. The harsh, dissonant sound only enhances the effect of this topic and highlights the middle episode to which the Russian chant returns, only in it the popular lament is transmitted. It is in this episode that two warring camps collide for the first time.
"Arise, Russian people!" - the fourth part of the cantata. This chorus is performed in the genre of the heroic warehouse squad song. Only in the middle of the choir does a lyrical and epic theme appear "In Russia, my motherland will not happen to the enemy," sounding smoothly and lightly.
"Arise, Russian people!" - listen
"Battle on the Ice" - The fifth picture, which is central and most ambitious in the cantata. It is in this issue that two forces collide, two opposing images. At the beginning of this part is shown the winter landscape on Lake Peipsi, the silence of which is broken only by the sinister crows of the crows. In the distance, the familiar signal of the Crusaders is already heard, speaking of the imminent approach of enemies. The episode of the Teutonic Knights' jumps is very vividly shown, which was called the "Pig's Hope" (due to the peculiarity of their construction). Very precisely, Prokofiev managed to pick up an alien sound to show the enemies, he himself called him not very pleasant for the ear of the Russian man. The fifth episode ends with the topic “In Russia, Motherland, Do Not Happen to the Enemy,” acquiring a tender “dawn” sound.
"Dead Field" - the sixth part. This is a real solo aria that bears the features of the national crying. The strict sustained tune, depth and sincere feelings characterize this music. The composer wanted to convey in this part the grief of the Motherland itself about the fallen heroes, it is not by chance that she is embodied in the image of a girl (bride) mourning brave heroes who until the last defend their land.
"Alexander's entrance to Pskov" - the seventh part, which is the final chorus. In this episode, the victorious Rus is glorified, and the bright themes from the second, fourth and fifth parts also pass. In general, this chorus is of a hymn character due to its solemn sound and four-part presentation.
"Alexander's entrance to Pskov" - listen
Music from the cantata of Sergei Prokofiev is also reflected in the films of other directors:
- Matthew's Gospel (1964)
- Garden of Delights (1970)
- Don Giovanni (1970)
- Love and Death (1975)
- Winstanley (1975)
- I was the master of the castle (1989)
- Stalin (1992)
- Children of the Revolution (1996)
- Kiss J.V. (1997)
- Anna Karenina (1997)
- The Departed (2015)
In addition, cantata music can be found in the animated series "The Simpsons" (2016), the computer video game LittleBigPlanet, the television series "Monty Python's Flying Circus" (1972).
The cantata "Alexander Nevsky" has a close relationship with the traditions of Russian classics. This is the general orientation of the entire plot, national themes, the use of sound-recording tools that paint landscapes. A special role has been given to the images of nature, because they are literally marked in all the scenes - this is also a sad picture of a ruined country, a frosty morning before the battle, gloomy outlines in the “Dead Field”. The author has done a lot of work on the score, because it is distinguished by a special ingenuity and a bright orchestral palette. The composer boldly uses new tricks, attracts additional timbres. The choral part has been worked out in detail, in which an amazing variety of timbre gradations can be noted. Separately, it is worth noting the sense of modernity that is inherent in the Alexander Nevsky cantata. All the images of the XIII century, shown in the work, Prokofiev reproduced through the prism of the events of the late thirties. "The past in the future" - it is with these words that one can characterize what is shown in the cantata, because the composer very sensitively predicted in it the victory of his people over the fascist invaders. He showed the courage of the Russian people in a cruel and just struggle against foreign enemies, sowing terror and suffering in their native land. This is a real victory of humanity over cruelty.
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