Persimfans

Persimfans (also PERSIMFANS ) was a 1922-1932 existent, loose conductor- orchestra in the Soviet Union. The acronym is derived from the Russian name " Perwy Simfonitscheski Ansambl " ( German: " First Symphonic Ensemble" ) from.

In 1922 in Moscow as an experiment in angewandtem musical collectivism an orchestra without a conductor ( which was rejected as absolutist rule symbol ) was founded. The abbreviation " Persimfans " the orchestra soon gained international notoriety. As the driving force acted Lev Zeitlin, a professor of violin at the Conservatory in Moscow.

The orchestra 's repertoire included not only classical, but also contemporary works. Questions of tempo, dynamics, rubato, etc. were first discussed in a smaller circle. However, before performances each highly extensive sample work was needed. At concerts, the orchestra grouped circular to allow intense eye contact with each other.

The orchestra played mainly in barracks, workers and local factories. Occasionally though also guest conductors were invited (eg Otto Klemperer ), but were asked after some time to listen to the orchestra from the Saale from. The French composer Darius Milhaud expressed appreciation for a concert of the orchestra, said, however: " A conductor could have achieved the same goal, just a little faster."

Sergei Prokofiev also played the beginning of 1928 on his first visit home after years in exile, two concerts with Persimfans, including his Piano Concerto No. 3. He reported: "The orchestra was excellently with the non- simple program from and accompanied as in a conductor difficulties prepared the ritardando or accelerando longing places ... So much the better the complicated jobs were handled - this is where everyone felt as a soloist and. played exactly ". A little later, on 2 April 1928, the orchestra took over the premiere of the 10th Symphony by Nikolai Myaskovsky. The composer was, however - due to obvious problems of coordination - excited little of it.

1932 was finally due to the dissolution of the ensemble, partly as a result of disagreements of the musicians, and partly by the fact that the dominant state ideology had long since turned away from the ideal of leaderless collective.