The Red Gospel ( fr. L'Évangile rouge ) is a composition (cycle of songs) by Ivan Vyshnegradsky for bass-baritone and two pianos on the verses of Vasily Knyazev .
| Red Gospel | |
|---|---|
| for bass baritone and two pianos | |
| Composer | Ivan Vyshnegradsky |
| Key | in C minor |
| The writing | op. eight |
| Time and place of composition | 1918 - 1920 , Petrograd |
| First performance | September 1, 1983 , Berlin |
| First publication | not published |
| Duration | 12 minutes |
History
The Red Gospel was written by Vyshnegradsky in November - December 1918 and 1919 . in Petrograd, to the verses of their collection of the same name by the revolutionary poet Vasily Knyazev as a result of his inspiration with the enthusiasm of the February revolution . The 12th song of the cycle was written in 1920 . The first version (op. 8a) was written for bass-baritone and piano in semitones, however, the author wrote in a remark:
"The singer's part in this work allows for some quarter-tone intonations in places that are more expressive and consistent with the text than ordinary halftone intones."
Thus, Vyshnegradsky wrote the halftone and quarter-tone versions in one line, enclosing the quarter-tone notation in brackets over ordinary notes:
"A singer can choose one version or another in any of the 13 songs."
In 1937 , the second version (op. 8b) was written for bass-baritone and two pianos in quartetons , which was subsequently edited by the composer in 1963 and 1979 . The premiere of the Red Gospel was held on September 1, 1983 in Berlin , performed by Boris Carmeli and pianists Alois and Bernard Kontarski.
Contents
The composition consists of 13 songs:
- Spell (Who is behind the red globe ...)
- Nervous fingers are tearing white chest ...
- Come and drink ...
- How to live? The struggle for the world to come ...
- When the world comes blissful ...
- If you want to live to stay after the storm of the world ...
- See clearly, so that the enemy is insolent to see ...
- Gay, cowardly slave tribe! ..
- People, heed the words of the prophet ...
- Gay, you blind born ...
- Do not give mercy to the enemy ...
- What are you bothering me the difference of faith? ..
- Conclusion (Come to me all the hungry ...)