Shyko Beniaminovych Aranov (Shika, Shike Aranovych; 23 April 1905, Tatarbunary, Akkerman district, Bessarabia province - 28 November 1969, Chisinau) was a Ukrainian and Moldovan composer and conductor, Honoured Artist of the Moldavian SSR (1950), People's Artist of the Moldavian SSR (1953).
Brief life story
In 1913-1919, he studied at a real school in Kilia.
In 1927, he graduated from the Uniria Conservatory in Chisinau, majoring in French horn.
Until 1930, he served in the Romanian army.
From 1930 to 1935, he studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Drama in Bucharest, trumpet and composition. At the same time, he led orchestras in Bucharest cinemas.
In 1940, he returned to Chisinau. He played in a pop orchestra led by clarinetist Charles Breitburd. After a while, the band was renamed the Moldovan State Jazz Orchestra (Moldderzhjaz), and Aranov became its artistic director.
During the Second World War, the orchestra was evacuated to Tashkent and Kokand, and from 1942 performed for soldiers at the fronts, and was invited to perform in the Kremlin several times. In 1944, the band returned to Moldova. Due to constant criticism from the patriotic authorities, the band was disbanded in 1945.
In 1947-1956, he worked as the musical director of the state ensemble of Moldovan folk dance "Zhok" - the winner of the Fourth World Festival of Youth and Students in Bucharest in 1953.
In 1956-1963, and 1967-1969, he worked as the artistic director of the Bucuria Jazz Orchestra.
In 1964-1966, he led the orchestra of the Moldovan Television and Radio Committee.
Eugene Doga, David Fedov, and Oleg Negrutse began their careers in the orchestra under his direction.
He is considered the founder of Moldovan orchestral pop music.
A little bit of his creative work
Composed:
8 suites,
12 fantasies for pop orchestra,
music for choreographic scenes,
to the films Liana (1955) and Moldavian Tunes (1955) - together with Vasile Zahorsky,
is the author of more than two hundred jazz compositions,
a large number of pop songs in the Moldovan language,
numerous arrangements of Jewish, Moldovan and Russian folk songs.
