prokofiev in 1921, drawn henri matisse
sergei prokofiev graduated saint petersburg conservatory in 1914, having acquired reputation avant-garde composer. biographer israel nestyev asserts second piano concerto of 1913 prokofiev s ticket of admission highest circles of russian modernism .
when first world war broke out in august 1914, prokofiev avoided military service, possibly because son of widow. during war years continued compose; in may 1918, in period of upheaval following october revolution , beginning of civil war, prokofiev obtained permission bolshevik government travel abroad, , left america. biographers have maintained did not flee country ; rather embarked on concert tour, extended when became convinced career prospects better served in america , western europe. remained in america until march 1922; stayed briefly in small german town of ettal before moving paris in october 1923.
rather treating prokofiev fugitive or exile, moscow government chose consider him general ambassador soviet culture, , composer returned compliment registering in france citizen of soviet union, new state formed on 20 december 1922 russia , states of former russian empire. prokofiev expressed support political developments in still considered homeland, , keen resume contacts there. accorded vip status when paid first visit soviet union in 1927, recital tour. further trips followed, , in 1930 prokofiev took flat in moscow, although paris remained principal home. during period of rapprochement consciously sought simplify musical language form believed consistent official soviet concept of art.
growth of film music
in first years of silent film era, 1890s, films accompanied live music, improvised, provided piano or pump organ. in 20th century, larger cinemas began use orchestras, accompany film out-of-copyright classical pieces or, increasingly, original compositions. score 1916 classic birth of nation, compiled joseph carl breil various classical works , original writing, landmark in film music, , inspired notable composers of day provide scores silent films. among these americans victor herbert , mortimer wilson, france darius milhaud , arthur honegger, , germans gottfried huppertz , edmund meisel.
in 1927 developments in sound technology brought arrival of talking pictures . in these, accompanying music recorded on disc, separately film images, within 2 years movietone system enabled sound captured on film itself. music aligned film s on-screen action—the so-called diegetic approach. pioneers of method germans friedrich hollaender , karol rathaus, provided music blue angel (1930) , murderer dimitri karamazov (1931) respectively. time in soviet union, young dimitri shostakovich had begun prolific career composer of film sound-tracks, new babylon in 1929 , alone in 1931.
when planning proposed film lieutenant kijé in 1932, belgoskino studios of leningrad asked expatriate prokofiev write accompanying music. in respects prokofiev surprising choice; @ stage better known abroad in soviet union, , had acquired reputation dissonance. moreover, ballet le pas d acier had fared badly @ moscow s bolshoi theatre in 1929. composer s first response refuse commission; member of production team recalled prokofiev categorically rejected proposal. time scheduled far future, had never written music film , didn t know kind of sauce put on it. but, attracted story, prokofiev changed mind , accepted, seeing first venture film music opportunity demonstrate ability appeal mass soviet audience.
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