Anton Arensky facts for kids
Anton Stepanovich Arensky (Russian: Анто́н Степа́нович Аре́нский; July 12, 1861 – February 25, 1906) was a Russian composer. He wrote Romantic classical music. Arensky was also a talented pianist and a music professor.
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Biography
Anton Arensky was born in Velikiy Novgorod, Russia. His family loved music and had a good life. Anton showed musical talent very early. By the age of nine, he had already written several songs and piano pieces.
In 1879, he moved to Saint Petersburg with his parents. There, he studied music composition at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory. His teacher was the famous composer Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
After finishing his studies in 1882, Arensky became a professor. He taught at the Moscow Conservatory. Some of his students became very famous composers themselves. These included Alexander Scriabin, Sergei Rachmaninoff, and Alexander Gretchaninov.
In 1895, Arensky went back to Saint Petersburg. He became the director of the Imperial Choir. This was a very important job. He retired from this position in 1901. He received a good pension, which meant he had enough money to live comfortably. He then spent his time playing piano, conducting music, and composing.
Arensky died at the age of 44. He passed away from tuberculosis in a sanatorium in Perkjärvi. This area was then part of the Russian-controlled Grand Duchy of Finland. He was buried in the Tikhvin Cemetery.
A glacier in Antarctica was named after him. It is called the Arensky Glacier.
Music
The great composer Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky had the biggest influence on Arensky's music. Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov once said that Tchaikovsky influenced Arensky a lot.
For a long time, people didn't pay much attention to Arensky's music. They thought he didn't have a unique style. However, in recent years, many of his pieces have been recorded. This means more people can now listen to and enjoy his music.
One of his most popular works is the Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky. This piece is for string orchestra. It is based on one of Tchaikovsky's Songs for Children.
Arensky was especially good at writing chamber music. This is music for a small group of instruments. He wrote two string quartets, two piano trios, and a piano quintet.
Selected works
Opera
- Сон на Волге (Dream on the Volga), Op. 16 (1888). It was first performed in Moscow in 1891.
- Рафаэль (Raphael), Op. 37 (1894). This opera premiered in Moscow in 1894.
- Наль и Дамаянти (Nal and Damayanti), Op. 47 (1903). This opera is based on an Indian story. It was first performed in Moscow in 1904.
Ballet
- Egyptian Nights (1900). This ballet was originally for the Imperial Ballet in St. Petersburg.
- It was later revived by Mikhail Fokine in 1908.
- Fokine also revived it as Cléopâtre for the Ballets Russes in Paris in 1909.
Orchestral
- Concerto for Piano and Orchestra in F minor, Op. 2 (1881)
- Symphony No. 1 in B minor, Op. 4 (1883)
- Suite No. 1 in G minor, Op. 7 (1885)
- Intermezzo in G minor, Op. 13 (1882)
- Symphony No. 2 in A major, Op. 22 (1889)
- Suite No. 2 'Silhouettes', Op. 23 (1892)
- Suite No. 3 'Variations in C major', Op. 33 (1894)
- Variations on a Theme of Tchaikovsky, Op. 35a, for string orchestra (1894)
- Fantasia on Themes of Ryabinin, Op. 48, for piano and orchestra (1899)
- Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op. 54 (1891)
- Pamyati Suvorova (To the Memory of Suvorov, 1900)
Chamber
- String Quartet No. 1 in G major, Op. 11 (1888)
- Serenade, Op. 30, No. 2, for violin and piano
- Piano Trio No. 1 in D minor, Op. 32 (1894)
- String Quartet No. 2 in A minor, Op. 35 (1894)
- Piano Quintet in D major, Op. 51 (1900)
- Two Pieces, Op. 12, for cello and piano
- Four Pieces, Op. 56, for cello and piano
- Piano Trio No. 2 in F minor, Op. 73 (1905)
Piano
- Suite for Two Pianos No. 1 in F major, Op. 15 (1888)
- Suite for Two Pianos No. 2, Op. 23, "Silhouettes" (1892)
- Four Morceaux, Op. 25 (1893)
- Six Essais sur des rythmes oubliés, Op. 28 (around 1893)
- Suite for Two Pianos No. 3 in C major, Op. 33, "Variations" (published 1894)
- 24 Morceaux caractéristiques, Op. 36 (1894)
- Four Etudes, Op. 41 (1896)
- Three Morceaux, Op. 42 (1898)
- Six Caprices, Op. 43 (1898)
- Près de la mer, six esquisses (sketches), Op. 52 (1901)
- Six Pieces, Op. 53 (1901)
- Suite for Two Pianos No. 4, Op. 62 (1903)
- Twelve Preludes, Op. 63 (1903)
- Twelve Pieces for Piano four hands, Op. 66 (1903)
- Arabesques (suite), Op. 67 (1903)
- Twelve Etudes, Op. 74 (1905)
Choral
- Cantata for the Tenth Anniversary of the Sacred Coronation of Their Imperial Highnesses, Op. 25 (1893)
- The Fountain of Bakhchisarai, Op. 46, cantata
- The Diver, Op. 61, cantata
Solo vocal
- Romances (4), for voice and piano, Op. 17
- Three Vocal Quartets, Op. 57, with cello accompaniment
Arrangements of Arensky's music
- Tempo di Valse from the Concerto for Violin and Orchestra in A minor, Op.54, arranged for violin and piano by Jascha Heifetz
See also
In Spanish: Antón Arenski para niños
