Samuel Yakovlevich Pokrass ( 1897 , Kiev - 1939 , New York ) - the eldest of the Pokrass brothers , a Soviet and American composer, pop pianist .
| Samuel Pokrass Samuel pokrass | |
|---|---|
| Birth name | Samuel Yakovlevich Pokrass |
| Date of Birth | 1897 |
| Place of Birth | Kiev , Russian Empire |
| Date of death | September 15, 1939 |
| Place of death | New York , USA |
| A country | |
| Professions | composer , pianist |
| Instruments | |
Content
Biography
Born into a Jewish family. From early childhood, he studied the violin , at the age of 10 he was admitted to the Kiev Music College in the class of violin and piano. At the age of 16 he was known as a virtuoso accompanist, was fond of pop music, wrote poetry; Then he entered the Petrograd Conservatory in piano , which he graduated in 1917 .
His romances such as “Days by days are rolling” (Art. P. German ) and “Two Roses” (poems by D'Actilus or, perhaps, the same German [1] ) continue to be performed by contemporary vocalists. The performance of his romances by pop celebrities who performed in the best concert halls brought him great fame.
Civil War
After graduating from the conservatory, he returned to Kiev, where he was a great success as a variety pianist and virtuoso accompanist with his romances. After the occupation of Kiev by the Red Army in 1920 , by order of the command, together with the poet P. Grigoriev, he created several military songs, of which the march “The Red Army is Stronger ” was world famous. In 1923 he moved to Moscow. On December 18, 1923 he debuted with a song about the music hall in the just opened music hall of Aquarium. The song turned into the emblem of the theater.
Emigration
In February 1924 he traveled to Berlin , from 1927 to 1928 in Paris , then to the United States , where he directs a little jazz, writes dance music, including for Hollywood films. The film with his music “Three Musketeers” became widely known in the USSR , as it went to the Soviet box office after the war as “trophy” (exported from Germany ). Samuel Pokrass became the most sought-after composer of Hollywood. He died in 1939, at the peak of popularity, from poisoning by poor-quality food in a restaurant (there is a version that he was poisoned, but this is not confirmed anywhere).
Some works
- The Red Army is all stronger (words by P. Grigoriev (Gorinstein) ).
- At the crossroads (words and music by S. Pokrass).
- And the flowers came to life (words of S. Shumsky).
- I am alone again, my dreams died down (words by S. Shumsky).
- Remember the quiet neglected garden (words of P. Herman ).
- The sunset went out (words of P. German ).
- Do not kiss, do not spoil (words of P. German ).
- Days by days are rolling (words by P. German ).
Sources
- ↑ Shadows of the Past: Ancient romances. For voice and guitar / Comp. A.P. Pavlinov, T.P. Orlova. - SPb .: Composer, 2007.
Literature
- Shilov A.V. From the history of the first Soviet songs (1917-24). - M., 1963.
- Sohor A. How Soviet music began. // Musical life . - 1967. - No. 2.
Links
- Samuel Pokrass on the Internet Movie Database .
- Romance of Samuel Pokrassa “Two Roses” sings by Julia Polyanskaya (2009)
- d / f “Life in the rhythm of the march. The Saga of Pokrassy " ( RTR , 2008)