TATIANA MAKUSHINA (soprano)
THE COMPOSER at the Pianoforte
Over the golden fields
Like an angel of God serene
The Dreary Steppe (Op. 5, No. i) My Homeland (Op. 1, No. 4) The Flower (Op. 93, No. 3) Death
Snowflakes (Op. 47, No. i) Snowdrop (Op. 47, No. 9) Rain (Op. 66, No. 2)
, Rainbow (Op. 66, No. 3)
Unlike most of the better-known Russian composers, Gretchaninov was the son of poor-indeed, semi-illiterate
-parents and he had a hard struggle against both poverty and paternal opposition to his musical career. Born in 1864, he studied in Moscow under Kashkin, Arensky and Taneiev (1881-1890), and in St. Petersburg under Rimsky-Korsakov (1890-1893). It will be observed from these dates that Gretchaninov was late in maturing.
The best known of all his songs, ' The Dreary Steppe ', was one of his earliest ; but he was nearly thirty when he wrote it. He has composed music of all types, but he is known principally for his songs and ehurch music.
Tatiana Makushina , who since 1922 has given many such Gretchaninov recitals, accompanied by the composer, is singing a thoroughly representative selection from his work.
One of Gretchaninov's most striking traits is his love of children. He has composed a great deal of music for or about them. Thus, ' Snowflakes ' and ' The Snowdrop ' come from a cycle of ' Songs from the World of Childhood ', and ' Rain ' and ' The Rainbow ' are from a set of Six Children's Songs '.