Otar Taktakishvili

Otar Vasilevich Taktakishvili (Georgian ოთარ ვასილის ძე თაქთაქიშვილი; born July 27, 1924 in Tbilisi, † 21 February 1989 ) was a Georgian composer.

Life

Taktakishvili began his musical studies in 1938 at the Music School in Tbilisi. In 1942 he moved to the local Conservatory to study composition until 1947. Already during his studies, he set out as a composer. In 1947, he went first to the Staatskapelle of the Georgian SSR, where he then worked until 1952 as a conductor and as a director until 1956. Meanwhile Taktakishvili had established itself not only as a Georgian national composer, but also as an important Soviet composer. In 1959 he was appointed as a lecturer to the conservatory in Tbilisi and was its director from 1962 to 1965. In 1966 he became a professor. Taktakishvili took post in true Georgian and Soviet Composers' Union. From 1965 to 1984 he was a Georgian minister of culture. Again and again he came mainly as a conductor of his own works internationally in appearance. Taktakishvili received numerous decorations and awards; he was, inter alia, three-time National Award winner and recipient of the Order of Lenin.

Style

Basis of Taktakischwilis work is the Georgian folk music, to which he inspired in melodic structure, harmony and rhythm. Sometimes even folk music instruments are imitated. Taktakishvili moves in the context of a modal colored tonality, which is characterized by abrupt change of key. His early works are characterized in places by great pathos and follow the guidelines of socialist realism. Your musical language is very traditional and moves mainly on the ground of music of the 19th century. His other hand composed from the mid-1970s works seem introverted and harmonious free, but remain clearly tonal. Especially in his later works also neoclassical features can be recognized. During his lifetime, he had great success; his opera " Mindia " was, for example, as one of the most important Georgian operas. He was hailed as Georgian national composer and had an international reputation. Today his music is, however, largely unknown.

Works

• Orchestral works Symphony No.1 in A minor, "Youth" (1949 )
• Symphony No.2 in C minor (1953, rev., 1988)
• Sinfonietta for chamber orchestra (1982 )
• Symphonic poems ( among other things " The Mziri ", 1956)
• Orchestral Suites

• Piano Concerto No.1 in C Minor (1950 )
• Piano Concerto No.2 " mountain ways " (1973)
• Piano Concerto No.3 in F major "Youth" (1973 )
• Piano Concerto No.4 in D minor (1983 )
• Concertino in C major for violin and small orchestra (1956 )
• Violin Concerto No.1 in F minor (1976 )
• Violin Concerto No.2 for Violin and Chamber Orchestra (1987 )
• Cello Concerto No.1 in D minor (1947 )
• Cello Concerto No.2 in D major (1977 )
• Trumpet Concerto (1954 )

• " Mindia " (1959 /60)
• "Three stories ", operatic triptych (1967, rev., 1972)
• "The Abduction of the Moon" ( 1974-76 )
• " Mususi " ( The Womanizer ) (1977 /78 rev. 1980 as " The Engagement " )
• " First love " (1979 /80)

• " The living abode ", oratorio (1963 )
• " On Rustaveli tracks", oratorio (1964 )
• " Nikoloz Baratashvili ", oratorio (1970 )
• " Gurian songs ," Cantata for 8 male voices, chorus and orchestra (1971 )
• " Mingrelian songs ," Suite for Tenor, 8 male voices and chamber orchestra (1972 )
• "With the lyre of Akaki ," Suite for soloists, chorus, flute, harp and percussion (1983 )
• Anthem of the Georgian SSR (1945 )
• Orchestral song cycles
• Songs

• Piano Quintet (1986 /87)
• String Quartet in C minor (1984 )
• Piano Trio ( 1987)
• Cello Sonata (1985 )
• Flute Sonata in C major (1968 )

• Piano Sonata (1985 )
• Toccata (1961 )
• "Imitation of Georgian folk instruments " Suite ( 1973)
• Smaller pieces
• Pieces for Children