David Chernomordikov

David Aaronovich Chernomordikov was a Russian composer, pianist, writer, diplomat, and music critic. Born in Baku, he began his piano studies at the age of 13. From 1887 to 1890, he studied in Paris at the musical boarding school of Charles Gounod. Upon his return to Russia, he entered and successfully graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in the composition class of Professor N. F. Soloviev.

Active in the political sphere, Chernomordikov joined the Bolshevik wing of the RSDLP in 1905 and participated in the revolution of that year. As a critic, he wrote for various periodicals and contributed to the Brockhaus and Efron Jewish Encyclopedia. He was a key figure in the preservation of Jewish heritage, serving as one of the initiators and later chairman of the Society of Jewish Folk Music, which sought to study and develop Jewish spiritual and secular music in Russia.

After the October Revolution, he held significant administrative and educational posts. He founded the Baku Union of Musicians, taught at the Vladikavkaz Conservatory, and later moved to Moscow. In 1923, he became the first chairman of the Russian Association of Proletarian Musicians (RAPM) and edited the journal "Musical Nov'". He also served as a diplomat in Greece and held directorships at the Moscow Operetta Theater and the Moscow Philharmonic.

As a composer, Chernomordikov is known for his revolutionary works, including the labor anthem "Forward" and "Battle March". His classical output includes a symphony, an overture, the poem-cantata "Northern Legend", a string quartet, choruses, and piano pieces. He died in Moscow on January 31, 1947.

Connections

This figure has 1 connection in the art history graph.