Oleksandr Ivanovych Nekrasov (December 16, 1946, Krasny Kut, Saratov region, Russia) is a Ukrainian composer, scholar, teacher, music critic and public figure. Member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine (1979), the National All-Ukrainian Music Union (1992), the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine (2005); Associate Professor (1991), Honored Artist of Ukraine (1995), Professor (1996); awarded the medal (1970).
O. Nekrasov was born on December 16, 1946 in Russia in Krasny Kut, Saratov region. Initially, he received his professional education as an accordionist in Volyn at the Lutsk Music College (1963-1966, classes of A. N. Bidnyak and V. A. Korol). He received his higher education as a concert performer, teacher and conductor at the Mykola Lysenko Lviv Conservatory, Department of Folk Instruments (1966-1971, classes of M. Remarenko and H. Kazakov). From 1966 he worked as a teacher, and from 1970 to 1973 - as a director of the Turia Children's Music School, which was founded with his participation in Volyn. In 1973-1977, he received his second higher education at the Lviv Conservatory, but at the Faculty of Composition (class of Professor R. Simovych). Since 1977, he has been working at the Prokofiev Donetsk State Music Academy, where he rose from a lecturer to a professor of the Department of Music Theory and Composition. In 1996-2007, he was the Dean of the Faculty of Performance. Since 2000, he has been a professor at the Department of Composition and Modern Music Technologies.
Creative activity
О. Nekrasov is the author of music of various genres for symphony orchestra and orchestras of folk instruments, choral and instrumental works (for piano, harp, accordion, domra), vocal cycles, romances and songs to the words of the Azerbaijani national poet Nabi Khazri, Ukrainian poets V. Gay, P. Makh, M. Rybalka, M. Syngaevsky, Y. Strutsiuk, P. Tychyna, I. Chernetsky, V. Ladyzhets, and music for children and youth.
The composer's music is often performed in Ukraine, and has been heard and recognized in Italy, Canada, Latvia, Poland, Russia, and other countries. His works have long been in the repertoire of many leading performers (choirs, instrumentalists and singers), successfully performed in concerts of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine, during choral assemblies and competitions, and repeatedly included in the programs of creative reports of masters of arts from different regions of Ukraine in Kyiv. Well-known artistic groups presented the artist's music during many international music festivals "Kyiv Music Fest", several republican festivals of the Kyiv organization of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine "Musical Premieres of the Season", in the programs of the Riga Dimd festival (Latvia), Internationales Chorfestivel in Germany, Chorolympiade in Austria, choir festivals "Golden-Domed Kyiv", "South Palmira" (Odesa), "Organum" (Sumy), the festival of spiritual chants "From Christmas to Christmas" (Dnipro), the Festival of Slavic Piano Music (Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region). Melitopol, Zaporizhzhia region), the All-Ukrainian "Singing Cathedral on the Holy Mountains" (Sviatohirsk, Donetsk region), in the programs of international choral competitions named after Lesya Ukrainka (Lutsk, Volyn region), the international choral competition named after Lutsk, Volyn region), the international competition of piano students "Forum International Pedagogique de Musique" (France, Paris), the All-Russian competition of pianists within the framework of the Sixth All-Russian Conference-Festival of Students' Creativity "Youth of the Big Volga" (Russia, Cheboksary), and various festivals of children's choral creativity.
During their participation in international competitions of contemporary music in Ireland, Italy, Germany, Russia, Hungary, France and in the All-Ukrainian International Competitions of Nekrasov's music, numerous Ukrainian performers were awarded the highest competition honors. A striking example is the Kyiv Chamber Choir "Khreshchatyk" (founded by L. Bukhonska), which performed Nekrasov's works in three international competitions of contemporary music in Western Europe (Ireland, Sligo, 1994, first prize; Germany, Daupfetal, I Mendelssohn-Bartholdy Competition, 1996, first prize; Hungary, Debrecen, XVII Bartók Competition, 1996, third prize). Among children's artistic groups, the choir "Shining" of the Nizhyn Children's Music School (directed by S. Holub) became a regular performer of Nekrasov's music, which also repeatedly presented his works in international competitions (1999, VII International Festival of Children's Choral Creativity "Kyiv Region Sings", Grand Prix; International Competition-Festival named after G. Struve "Arteki Dawns", 2002 and 2004 - first place and the Festival Cup, 2006 - Grand Prix "Avdiyevsky Cup").
Since 1980, the composer has given more than 20 recitals (in Kyiv, Donetsk, and Volyn) and more than 100 meetings with music fans and students. Twice he became the winner of competitions of Ukrainian composers for the best song (1985, 1987). His music became the basis for several full-length author's programs of the Ukrainian Radio and Television and regional television and radio companies, a number of his works were published, recorded in the funds of the Ukrainian Radio and Donetsk Regional State Television and Radio Company, and purchased by the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine.
The scientific, methodological and pedagogical experience of O. Nekrasov is reflected in his scientific and methodological works - curricula for music academies of Ukraine and articles on music pedagogy and methods of working with creative youth. In addition, by order of the Ministry of Culture and Tourism of Ukraine, he created a number of compositions, including those published in collections of pedagogical repertoire, which are introduced into the educational process in the editions of leading Ukrainian teachers. The composer's music is widely used in the process of artistic, musical and aesthetic education of young people. It is no coincidence that in different cities of Ukraine, the first performers of the composer's music were often artistic groups of music schools.
As one of the founders of the Donetsk School of Composition, since the opening of the Faculty of Composition at the Donetsk Music Academy, O. Nekrasov has trained a number of talented composers. His graduate, A. Pachevska, is a prolific composer of songs that have been included in the repertoire of L. Vaikule, A. Malinin, A. Pugacheva, L. Uspenskaya and others. A pupil of A. Nekrasov, S. Veshkin became a diploma winner of the "Young Ukraine" competition for young composers in Prokofiev's homeland, and I. Andrianov became a diploma winner of the international competition for composers "Gradus ad parnassum" and a member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine. S. Tikhonova is the head of the postgraduate assistantship at the Prokofiev Donetsk Music Academy. A graduate of O. Nekrasov, member of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine O. Skrypnyk, who became a laureate of the Republican Prizes named after M. Ostrovsky and L. Revutsky, as well as the International Ivanna and Marian Kots Composition Competition, Honored Artist of Ukraine, Professor, Candidate of Art History, first Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, and later Rector of the Donetsk Prokofiev Music Academy, has particularly high creative achievements.
Nekrasov's activity is marked by his repeated election to the governing bodies of the National Union of Composers of Ukraine and the Donetsk Composers' Organization, participation in the jury of music competitions and festivals, appointments as chairman of state commissions during graduation exams and as an expert of the State Inspectorate of the Ministry of Education of Ukraine for certification and accreditation of music educational institutions. In 2000-2006, he was the director of the Solovyanenko International Competition for Young Vocalists "Nightingale Fair" held in Donetsk. O. Nekrasov did a lot for the culture of Ukraine, especially Donetsk region, as a journalist and public correspondent (music reviewer) of the regional newspaper "Donetsk". Numerous of his articles and music-critical materials were published in the all-Union magazine "Soviet Music", the republican magazines "Music" and "Ukrainian Culture", the newspaper "Culture and Life", and regional periodicals.
Numerous scientific publications analyze and evaluate Nekrasov's work, his music is included in the curricula of music schools, and along with the works of other famous contemporary composers, it has already become the basis for several dissertations by musicologists in Ukraine. Nekrasov's versatile activities were recognized by the Prokofiev Regional Prize (Donetsk, 1992), the honorary title of Honored Artist of Ukraine (1995), honorary diplomas, certificates and letters of thanks from state and public institutions, and music schools.
List of works
Orchestral music
For symphony orchestra
"Caspian Fantasy" - 1985.
"Sister of the Sun", oriental novel (suite) - 1984.
"Solemn Overture" - 1977; second edition - 1979.
For orchestras of folk instruments:
"Hutsul Rhapsody on Songs by Ukrainian Composers", for orchestra of folk instruments - 1980.
"Illustrations to Folk Tales", suite for orchestra of folk instruments - 1982.
"Three Hutsul Tapestries", suite for pipe band. 1993.
Choral music
Original choral works
"Oh You, Bread Fields", words by V. Lahoda, for mixed a cappella choir. 1985.
"Lilacs", words by V. Rudenko, for mixed a cappella choir - 2007.
"Glory to the Resurrection of Christ", words by Y. Strutsiuk, for mixed a cappella choir - 1998.
Choral works on themes of Ukrainian folk songs:
Two folklore improvisations on the themes of humorous Ukrainian folk songs ("The Wedding of the Fly", "The Crane Got Bored"), for mixed a cappella choir. 1994.
"Songs from Volyn", a choral cycle of four folklore suites:
Folklore Suite No. 1 on themes of Ukrainian children's folk songs, for women's a cappella choir. 1990.
Folklore Suite No. 2 on themes of Ukrainian folk songs about love, for mixed a cappella choir. 1990.
Folklore Suite No. 3 on the themes of Ukrainian ritual folk songs, for women's a cappella choir - 1992.
Folklore Suite No. 4 on the themes of Ukrainian folk songs, for mixed a cappella choir. 1992.
"A young woman got drunk", an improvisation on the theme of a humorous Ukrainian folk song, for mixed choir accompanied by piano. 1991.
Chamber and instrumental music
For piano, wind and percussion quintet:
"Ukrainian Scherzo". 1986.
For piano:
"Eight Preludes" - 1991.
"Hutsul Suite" (tapestries) - 1985.
"Two Fantastic Sketches" - 1986.
Two illustrations to folk tales ("Dead and Living Water", "The Sorceress"). 1982.
"Two Preludes." - 1973.
"Two Preludes." - 1981.
"Two Preludes" - 1991.
Variations "Mirror Structures" - 1977.
"Elegy" - 1998.
"Improvisation" - 1995.
"Carpathian Suite" - 1978.
"Three Dedications to Sergei Prokofiev" - 1992.
For harp and piano:
"Call and Introduction of Boyan." 1988.
For domra and piano:
"Variations." 1985.
"Hutsul Circle" - 1994.
"Elegy" - 1986.
For accordion:
"Scherzo" - 1987.
"Four Etudes" - 1987.
Chamber and vocal music
Cyclic works
"Battle", words by M. Stelmakh, vocal cycle, for soprano. 1976.
Two fables by Ivan Krylov ("The Swan, the Crayfish and the Pike", "The Wolf and the Fox"), for soprano. 1973.
"People and Songs", a vocal cycle, for tenor - 1977; second edition - 1980.
Two poems by Nabi Khazri ("When You Speak", "A Mother's Hands"), for tenor or soprano - 1977; second edition - 2009.
Two poems by Nabi Khazri ("Insomnia", "The Top Cloud"), for tenor. 1980.
Two poems by Nabi Khazri ("Flowers would bloom", "Mountains are proud"), for baritone. 1981.
Solos:
"Do you know how the linden tree rustles...", words by P. Tychyna, for soprano or tenor.
"I Went to the Well", words by P. Mach, for soprano. 1990.
"The Voice of Childhood", words by V. Gay, for high voice. 1986.
"I'm Going into the Mists", words by P. Mach, for baritone. 1986.
"The Parable of the Indian Summer", words by Y. Strutsiuk, for soprano. 1973.
"You are with me", lyrics by Y. Strutsiuk, for baritone - 1984.
"Quiet Ballad", words by M. Syngaevsky, for soprano. 1974.
"May Dews", lyrics by V. Rudych, for baritone - 1987.
Compositions on themes of Ukrainian folk songs:
"I was on Kupala", an arrangement of a Ukrainian folk song, for soprano. 1992.
Improvisation on the theme of a humorous Ukrainian folk song "A young woman got drunk", for soprano - 1991.
Songs (more than 30) to the words of O. Bohachuk, S. Druzhynovych, A. Zemlyansky, H. Kalyuzhna, E. Kryzhevych, V. Lahoda, Y. Maltsev, P. Makh, H. Pasko, M. Rybalka, Y. Strutsiuk, and I. Chernetsky.
Music for children
Choral pieces
"The Sun Has Already Set in the Sea", words by L. Ukrainka, for a cappella choir - 1977.
"Goats", a folklore diptych on the themes of children's Ukrainian folk songs from Podillia, for a cappella choir - 1993.
"Kozunya-Lyubunya", a free arrangement of a Ukrainian folk song, for a cappella choir - 1994.
"On a green hill", words by L. Ukrainka, for choir or vocal ensemble accompanied by piano. 1980.
Works for piano and vocal pieces based on the words of H. Boyko, T. Volhina, V. Ladyzhets, H. Pasko.
Arrangements of music for children by other authors
D. Kabalevsky "Children's Album", Op. 39 (24 pieces for piano). Arranged for violin and piano. Edited by A. Karavatsky for violin. 2004.
