My Musical Life [Paperback]

Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov (Author), Carl Van Vechten (Editor)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1990

Nikolay Andreyevich Rimsky-Korsakov was probably one of the most significant composers in Russia in the 19th century. Largely self taught - he trained as a naval officer - he is best known for three orchestra works: "Sheherazade", the "Spanish Capriccio" and "Russian Easter". He has influenced subsequent generations of composers, and his own pupils included Glazunov, Stravinsky and Prokofiev. This is an account of the growth of a Russian national musical idiom that followed the pioneer work of Glinka, and culminated in the ballets of Stravinsky. As a member of "The Five" - the foremost young composers of his generation - Rimsky presents us with a unique insight into the daily lives and work of Balakirev (their implacable leader), Cesar Cui, Modest Mussorgsky and Alexander Borodin. There are imtimate portraits of these and other colleagues, including Tchaikovsky, Rubinstein, Glazunov, and Liadov. The lively musical scene in Petersburg is also evoked. A major part of the book describes Rimsky-Korsakov's own musical career, from unpromising amateur beginnings to final unofficial ascendancy as the father of Russian music.

Editorial Reviews

Language Notes

Text: English, Russian (translation) --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 536 pages
• Publisher: Faber & Faber (March 1990)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0571142451
• ISBN-13: 978-0571142453
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,256,904 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Russian Music Is Alive & Well, June 11, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: My Musical Life (Hardcover)

In this book, Rimsky-Korsakov gives the inside story of his life and those of his fellow musicians. The book itself is very readable and very interesting for anybody interested in the history of music to read. There are many interesting references to musical works, pupils, and fellow composers such as Tchaikovsky and Stravinsky. This book is an excellent account of a composer's life and legend. Recommended if you can find it!

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The master in his very own words, July 20, 1999

By 

"conquistador69" - See all my reviews

This review is from: My Musical Life (Paperback)

It is almost never that a CD of music of Rimsky-Korsakov or any of the Russian five does not quotes a line or two from this autobiography.In it the composer himself tells about his life,works,and also about those that were fortunate enough to be close to him.He speaks of every aspect of his life with specific details....I wish to tell you more,but I would really like for you to read the book...

5 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great music, inconsequential text, January 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: My Musical Life (Hardcover)

Rimsky-Korsakov's reallife personality exhibited signs of a clear split. His outward manner was dry, didactic, taciturn, argumentative, fussy and straight-laced. But to those who knew him more personally--his family, his friends, and those who saw his actions, rather than his words-- the man who emerged was kind, thoughtful, generous, colorful, provocative, and uncoventional in the extreme.

Unfortunately, My Musical Life carefully maintains the public persona with which Rimsky-Korsakov walled off his private thoughts. You'll look in vein for what led this one-time career naval officer to write several operas which cast the Tsar and his court as buffoons and lackeys, causing his work to be banned; or for any analysis of either his music or its generation. This musical life is a series of dull, faded pictures; dull not because of images whose meaning has been lost to cultural changes, but because the pictures are deliberately bland reminiscences of a man who did not care to extend his confidence to strangers.