German Germanovich Galynin (Russian: Ге́рман Германо́вич Галы́нин; ISO-9: Gérman Germanóvič Galýnin; 30 March 1922, in Tula, Russia – 18 June 1966, in Moscow) was a Russian composer, student, and continuer of the Shostakovich and Myaskovsky line in Soviet classic music.
Raised in an orphanage, he taught himself to play several folk instruments and the piano. In 1941, after Operation Barbarossa began and when he was already a student at Moscow Conservatory, he joined the army as a volunteer, there directing various grass-roots performances, and writing songs and music to dramas. In 1943–50 (1945–50, according to other sources) he resumed his studies at the Moscow Conservatory under Dmitri Shostakovich and Nikolay Myaskovsky (in composition) and Igor Sposobin (in music theory). Inasmuch as in 1948 Shostakovich was accused of "formalism" in music, the same tendencies were detected in the works of his pupils, particularly Galynin. Tikhon Khrennikov criticized Galynin's First Piano Concerto in particular, although later (in 1957) he denied such an assessment. Nevertheless, the composer was awarded the Stalin Prize in 1951 for his "Epic Poem" (1950).
Despite falling seriously ill with schizophrenia in 1951 and in consequence spending a considerable part of his life in hospitals and psychiatric clinics, Galynin remained an active composer. His work is a bright phenomenon in Soviet classical music though still underestimated, unfortunately, in his homeland and largely overlooked in the West. Within the well-developed system of public Children's Music Schools in Russia and the former Soviet republics Galynin is most gratefully remembered for his short and easy pieces of music composed for beginners, some of them being variations of popular folk melodies. "The composer’s bright and original talent was a union of melodic generosity, picturesque harmonies, a sense of modern colouring, and elegance of classical form", the Encyclopedia of Music (Moscow, 1973) wrote of him.
Galynin died in Moscow in 1966.
Galynin was based on Russian tradition and especially on his teacher Shostakovich. Influences from Sergei Prokofiev can also be identified. The basic attitude of his music, which remains within the framework of the expanded tonality, is neoclassical. What is also characteristic is a concise rhythm and an often slightly ironic tone. Galynin's works from his conservatory period are already characterized by elegance and unusual compositional maturity. His later works have a higher level of dissonance and often a rather dark mood. However, his productivity decreased probably due to illness. Galynin is largely ignored today; only his first piano concerto enjoys a certain level of fame.
In the well-developed system of public children's music schools in Russia and the former Soviet republics, Galynin is best known for his short, easy pieces composed for beginners, some of them based on popular folk melodies.
* * * * * *
The image before the music is Painterly-Musical construction (1923) by Mikhail Matyushin, chosen by C. M for this video.
There is no copyright infringement intended. if you wish this recording to be removed, it can be done, please just let us know and the video will be removed.
