Borodin's music ... excites a feeling of strength, vivacity, light; it has a mighty breath, scope, breadth, space; it has a harmonious healthy feeling of life, joy from the consciousness that you live.
B. Asafiev

A. Borodin is one of the remarkable representatives of Russian culture of the second half of the 19th century: a brilliant composer, an outstanding chemist, an active public figure, a teacher, a conductor, a music critic, he also showed an outstanding literary talent. However, Borodin entered the history of world culture primarily as a composer. He created not so many works, but they are distinguished by the depth and richness of content, variety of genres, classical harmony of forms. Most of them are connected with the Russian epic, with the story of the heroic deeds of the people. Borodin also has pages of heartfelt, sincere lyrics, jokes and gentle humor are not alien to him. The composer's musical style is characterized by a wide scope of narration, melodiousness (Borodin had the ability to compose in a folk song style), colorful harmonies, and active dynamic aspiration. Continuing the traditions of M Glinka, in particular his opera "Ruslan and Lyudmila", Borodin created the Russian epic symphony, and also approved the type of Russian epic opera.

Borodin was born from the unofficial marriage of Prince L. Gedianov and the Russian bourgeois A. Antonova. He received his surname and patronymic from the courtyard man Gedianov - Porfiry Ivanovich Borodin, whose son he was recorded.

Thanks to the mind and energy of his mother, the boy received an excellent education at home and already in childhood he showed versatile abilities. His music was especially attractive. He learned to play the flute, piano, cello, listened with interest to symphonic works, studied classical musical literature on his own, replaying all the symphonies of L. Beethoven, I. Haydn, F. Mendelssohn with his friend Misha Shchiglev. He also showed a talent for composing early. His first experiments were the polka "Helene" for piano, the Flute Concerto, the Trio for two violins and cello on themes from the opera "Robert the Devil" by J. Meyerbeer (1847). In the same years, Borodin developed a passion for chemistry. Telling V. Stasov about his friendship with Sasha Borodin, M. Shchiglev recalled that “not only his own room, but almost the whole apartment was filled with jars, retorts and all sorts of chemical drugs. Everywhere on the windows stood jars with a variety of crystalline solutions. Relatives noted that since childhood, Sasha was always busy with something.

In 1850, Borodin successfully passed the exam for the Medico-Surgical (since 1881 Military Medical) Academy in St. Petersburg and enthusiastically devoted himself to medicine, natural science, and especially chemistry. Communication with the outstanding advanced Russian scientist N. Zinin, who brilliantly taught a course in chemistry at the academy, conducted individual practical classes in the laboratory and saw his successor in the talented young man, had a great influence on the formation of Borodin's personality. Sasha was also fond of literature, he especially loved the works of A. Pushkin, M. Lermontov, N. Gogol, the works of V. Belinsky, read philosophical articles in magazines. Free time from the academy was devoted to music. Borodin often attended musical meetings, where romances by A. Gurilev, A. Varlamov, K. Vilboa, Russian folk songs, arias from then fashionable Italian operas were performed; he constantly visited the quartet evenings with the amateur musician I. Gavrushkevich, often participating as a cellist in the performance of chamber instrumental music. In the same years, he became acquainted with the works of Glinka. Brilliant, deeply national music captured and captivated the young man, and since then he has become a loyal admirer and follower of the great composer. All this encourages him to be creative. Borodin works a lot on his own to master the composer’s technique, writes vocal compositions in the spirit of urban everyday romance (“What are you early, dawn”; “Listen, girlfriends, to my song”; “The beautiful maiden fell out of love”), as well as several trios for two violins and cello (including on the theme of the Russian folk song “How did I upset you”), the string Quintet, etc. In his instrumental works of this time, the influence of samples of Western European music, in particular Mendelssohn, is still noticeable. In 1856, Borodin passed his final exams with flying colours, and in order to pass the compulsory medical practice he was seconded as a medical intern to the Second Military Land Hospital; in 1858 he successfully defended his dissertation for the degree of doctor of medicine, and a year later he was sent abroad by the academy for scientific improvement.

Borodin settled in Heidelberg, where by that time many young Russian scientists of various specialties had gathered, among whom were D. Mendeleev, I. Sechenov, E. Junge, A. Maikov, S. Eshevsky and others, who became Borodin's friends and made up the so-called " Heidelberg Circle. Gathering together, they discussed not only scientific problems, but also issues of socio-political life, news of literature and art; Kolokol and Sovremennik were read here, the ideas of A. Herzen, N. Chernyshevsky, V. Belinsky, N. Dobrolyubov were heard here.

Borodin is intensively engaged in science. During 3 years of his stay abroad, he performed 8 original chemical works, which brought him wide popularity. He uses every opportunity to travel around Europe. The young scientist got acquainted with the life and culture of the peoples of Germany, Italy, France and Switzerland. But music has always accompanied him. He still enthusiastically played music in home circles and did not miss the opportunity to attend symphony concerts, opera houses, thus becoming acquainted with many works by contemporary Western European composers - K. M. Weber, R. Wagner, F. Liszt, G. Berlioz . In 1861, in Heidelberg, Borodin met his future wife, a talented pianist and connoisseur of Russian folk songs E. Protopopova, who passionately promoted the music of F. Chopin, R. Schumann. New musical impressions stimulate Borodin's creativity, help him realize himself as a Russian composer. He persistently searches for his own ways, his images and musical expressive means in music, composing chamber-instrumental ensembles. In the best of them - the piano Quintet in C minor (1862) - one can already feel both epic power and melodiousness, and a bright national color. This work, as it were, sums up the previous artistic development of Borodin.

In the autumn of 1862 he returned to Russia, was elected a professor at the Medico-Surgical Academy, where he lectured and conducted practical classes with students until the end of his life; from 1863 he also taught for some time at the Forest Academy. He also began new chemical research.

Shortly after returning to his homeland, in the house of the academy professor S. Botkin, Borodin met M. Balakirev, who, with his characteristic insight, immediately appreciated Borodin's composing talent and told the young scientist that music was his true vocation. Borodin is a member of the circle, which, in addition to Balakirev, included C. Cui, M. Mussorgsky, N. Rimsky-Korsakov and art critic V. Stasov. Thus, the formation of the creative community of Russian composers, known in the history of music under the name "The Mighty Handful", was completed. Under the direction of Balakirev, Borodin proceeds to create the First Symphony. Completed in 1867, it was successfully performed on January 4, 1869 at the RMS concert in St. Petersburg conducted by Balakirev. In this work, the creative image of Borodin was finally determined - a heroic scope, energy, classical harmony of form, brightness, freshness of melodies, richness of colors, originality of images. The appearance of this symphony marked the onset of the composer's creative maturity and the birth of a new trend in Russian symphonic music.

In the second half of the 60s. Borodin creates a number of romances very different in subject matter and the nature of the musical embodiment - “The Sleeping Princess”, “Song of the Dark Forest”, “The Sea Princess”, “False Note”, “My Songs Are Full of Poison”, “Sea”. Most of them are written in their own text.

At the end of the 60s. Borodin began composing the Second Symphony and the opera Prince Igor. Stasov offered Borodin a wonderful monument of ancient Russian literature, The Tale of Igor's Campaign, as the plot of the opera. “I absolutely love this story. Will it be only within our power? .. "I'll try," Borodin answered Stasov. The patriotic idea of ​​the Lay and its folk spirit were especially close to Borodin. The plot of the opera perfectly matched the peculiarities of his talent, his penchant for broad generalizations, epic images and his interest in the East. The opera was created on genuine historical material, and it was very important for Borodin to achieve the creation of true, truthful characters. He studies many sources related to the "Word" and that era. These are chronicles, and historical stories, studies about the "Word", Russian epic songs, oriental tunes. Borodin wrote the libretto for the opera himself.

However, writing progressed slowly. The main reason is the employment of scientific, pedagogical and social activities. He was among the initiators and founders of the Russian Chemical Society, worked in the Society of Russian Doctors, in the Society for the Protection of Public Health, took part in the publication of the magazine "Knowledge", was a member of the directors of the RMO, participated in the work of the St. Medical-Surgical Academy student choir and orchestra.

In 1872, the Higher Women's Medical Courses were opened in St. Petersburg. Borodin was one of the organizers and teachers of this first higher educational institution for women, he gave him a lot of time and effort. The composition of the Second Symphony was completed only in 1876. The symphony was created in parallel with the opera "Prince Igor" and is very close to it in ideological content, the nature of musical images. In the music of the symphony, Borodin achieves bright colorfulness, concreteness of musical images. According to Stasov, he wanted to draw a collection of Russian heroes at 1 o'clock, in Andante (3 o'clock) - the figure of Bayan, in the finale - the scene of the heroic feast. The name "Bogatyrskaya", given to the symphony by Stasov, was firmly entrenched in it. The symphony was first performed at the RMS concert in St. Petersburg on February 26, 1877, conducted by E. Napravnik.

In the late 70s - early 80s. Borodin creates 2 string quartets, becoming, along with P. Tchaikovsky, the founder of Russian classical chamber instrumental music. Particularly popular was the Second Quartet, whose music with great force and passion conveys the rich world of emotional experiences, exposing the bright lyrical side of Borodin's talent.

However, the main concern was the opera. Despite being very busy with all sorts of duties and implementing the ideas of other compositions, Prince Igor was at the center of the composer's creative interests. During the 70s. a number of fundamental scenes were created, some of which were performed in concerts of the Free Music School conducted by Rimsky-Korsakov and found a warm response from the audience. The performance of the music of the Polovtsian dances with a choir, choirs (“Glory”, etc.), as well as solo numbers (song of Vladimir Galitsky, Vladimir Igorevich’s cavatina, Konchak’s aria, Yaroslavna’s Lament) made a great impression. Especially a lot was done in the late 70s - the first half of the 80s. Friends were looking forward to the completion of work on the opera and did their best to contribute to this.

In the early 80s. Borodin wrote a symphonic score "In Central Asia", several new numbers for the opera and a number of romances, among which the elegy on Art. A. Pushkin "For the shores of the distant homeland." In the last years of his life, he worked on the Third Symphony (unfortunately unfinished), wrote the Petit Suite and Scherzo for piano, and also continued to work on the opera.

Changes in the socio-political situation in Russia in the 80s. - the onset of the most severe reaction, the persecution of advanced culture, the rampant rude bureaucratic arbitrariness, the closure of women's medical courses - had an overwhelming effect on the composer. It became more and more difficult to fight the reactionaries in the academy, employment increased, and health began to fail. Borodin and the death of people close to him - Zinin, Mussorgsky - were having a hard time. At the same time, communication with young people - students and colleagues - brought him great joy; the circle of musical acquaintances also expanded significantly: he willingly attends "Belyaev Fridays", gets to know A. Glazunov, A. Lyadov and other young musicians closely. He was greatly impressed by his meetings with F. Liszt (1877, 1881, 1885), who highly appreciated Borodin's work and promoted his works.

From the beginning of the 80s. the fame of Borodin the composer is growing. His works are performed more and more often and are recognized not only in Russia, but also abroad: in Germany, Austria, France, Norway, and America. His works had a triumphant success in Belgium (1885, 1886). He became one of the most famous and popular Russian composers in Europe in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Immediately after Borodin's sudden death, Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov decided to prepare his unfinished works for publication. They completed work on the opera: Glazunov recreated the overture from memory (as planned by Borodin) and composed Act III music based on the author's sketches, Rimsky-Korsakov instrumented most of the opera's numbers. October 23, 1890 Prince Igor was staged at the Mariinsky Theater. The performance received a warm welcome from the audience. “Opera Igor is, in many ways, directly the sister of Glinka’s great opera Ruslan,” wrote Stasov. - “it has the same power of epic poetry, the same grandeur of folk scenes and paintings, the same amazing painting of characters and personalities, the same colossality of the whole appearance and, finally, such folk comedy (Skula and Eroshka) that surpasses even Farlaf’s comedy” .

Borodin's work had a huge impact on many generations of Russian and foreign composers (including Glazunov, Lyadov, S. Prokofiev, Yu. Shaporin, K. Debussy, M. Ravel, and others). It is the pride of Russian classical music.

Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin, an extraordinary person who did a lot for Russian culture and science, was born on October 31 (November 12), 1833 in St. Petersburg.

The illegitimate son of a Georgian aristocrat, he did not have the opportunity to study at the gymnasium and, only by the trick of his mother and stepfather, who achieved the title of a merchant for him, a capable child got the opportunity to change home schooling to gymnasium.

Since childhood, Borodin was fond of music. The flute, piano and cello easily obeyed the boy, he early began to compose small works. And by the age of 10, chemistry took over the mind of the child.

In 1850, having brilliantly studied at the gymnasium, Borodin entered the Medico-Surgical Academy, where he studied medicine in conjunction with chemistry. N.N. becomes his mentor. Zinin, a famous chemist. In 1859 he went abroad. There, first in Germany, later in France, he continues to hone his knowledge of science. There, in Germany, he meets his future wife, a capable pianist with perfect pitch. It was she who prompted him to return to his slightly forgotten music lessons.

Returning to Russia, Borodin worked hard and in 1864 received the title of professor, later became the head of the laboratory, then an academician of the Medico-Surgical Academy. His works on organic chemistry are studied by students in many countries.

It is impossible to overestimate the talent of Borodin as a musician.

In 1862, the composer Balakirev introduced him to the "Mighty Handful" circle. Here he manifested himself as a supporter of the development of the Russian trend in music. The best qualities of the Russian people, their strength, love of freedom, greatness become the main theme of his works.

The largest and most recognizable musical creation of Borodin is the opera "Prince Igor".

The author began to work on it in 1869 at the suggestion of V.V. Stasov. The work dragged on for a long time, because it was impossible to leave scientific work. The opera was not completed due to the composer's sudden death in February 1887 from a heart attack. The opera was finished by Borodin's friends Glazunov and Rimsky-Korsakov, and the premiere took place at the Mariinsky Theater at the end of October 1890.

Borodin did not live a very long life, and his scientific activity did not allow him to fully engage in composing, but his contribution to the development of Russian musical classics is great and will be appreciated by many generations of music lovers.

Biography 2

Russian music is as great as our Russian language, our speech is important. Many names of Russian composers and musicians are known to people. Glinka, Rimsky-Korsakov, Tchaikovsky - they are all considered great people and have made an invaluable contribution to their native classical music. Borodin can also be attributed to this number of people. What is he famous for? And was Alexander only affected by music?

Alexander Borodin was born on October 31, 1833. It was in the city of St. Petersburg. His father was the prince of one of the plots of Georgian lands. By the way, it so happened that Alexander became an illegitimate child. That is why the boy had to be given to the prince's servant, Porfiry Borodin and his wife, hence Alexander's patronymic. For 8 years, the boy had to serve in the prince's house until he died, having previously left his child and Avdotya at home. Alexander had to get a lot of problems due to the fact that relationships outside of marriage were not yet the norm. Therefore, the real name had to be hidden from everyone. Moreover, thanks to a similar origin, gymnasiums were banned for Alexander, because of which he had to study science at home. But the boy was well trained.

Already at the age of 9, Borodin showed interest in music. Then he received his first musical creation - a polka called "Helen". At first he played the flute and piano, but from the age of 13 he also took up the cello. And at the same age, Borodin managed to hold his first concert, the main instruments of which were the flute and piano. In his first decade, Alexander began to enjoy chemistry. But all the same problem prevented the study of different sciences - this is an illegitimate origin. I had to ask for help from officials in order to enroll in the Novotorzhsk third merchant guild. So Alexander had the opportunity to complete his studies.

What areas in science did Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin touch on?

Chemistry and medicine.

In 1858, Alexander became a doctor of medicine after he successfully defended his scientific work and conducted a series of experiments. At the same time, Borodin was sent to the city of Soligalich in order for him to conduct research with mineral water found by the merchant Kokorev. Then Alexander began to improve his chemical skills, wandering around other countries. In 1864 Borodin became a professor of chemistry.

Music.

One of the main members of the "Mighty Handful". He was the first to introduce epic symphonism to Russia. On account of Borodin such operas and works as "Prince Igor", "Bogatyrs" and "The Tsar's Bride".

Biography by dates and interesting facts. The most important thing.

MAIN DATES OF THE LIFE AND ACTIVITY OF A. P. BORODIN

1833 - On October 31 (November 12, old style), Avdotya Konstantinovna Antonova and Prince Luka Stepanovich Gedianov had a son, Alexander, who was recorded as the son of Porfiry Ionovich Borodin, a courtyard man of Prince Gedianov.

1850 - Borodin was admitted to the number of volunteers at the Medical and Surgical Academy.

1855 - Borodin receives a doctor's diploma - "cum eximia laude" - with honors.

1856 - Appointment as an intern at the Second Military Land Hospital with secondment to the Department of General Therapy, Pathology and Chemical Diagnostics.

1856 - First meeting with MP Mussorgsky.

1857 - A trip to the International Congress of Ophthalmologists.

1858 - Defense of the dissertation ("On the analogy of arsenic acid with phosphoric acid in chemical and toxicological relations") and receiving the title of Doctor of Medicine.

1858 - N. N. Zinin makes a report on the work of Borodin "Study of the chemical structure of hydrobenzamide and amarin" at a meeting of the Physics and Mathematics Department of the Academy of Sciences.

1859 - Borodin conducts practical classes with students of the Medico-Surgical Academy and lectures to doctors left at the academy for improvement.

1859 - The Conference of the Medico-Surgical Academy sends Borodin abroad "for improvement in chemistry."

1860 - Borodin participates in the work of the first International Congress of Chemists in Karlsruhe.

1861 - Acquaintance with Ekaterina Sergeevna Protopopova.

1861 - Borodin takes part in the work of the congress of German doctors and naturalists in Speyer. At this congress, Butlerov makes a report "On the chemical structure of matter."

1862 - For the first time in the history of chemistry, Borodin receives an organic fluoride compound - benzoyl fluoride.

1862 - Return to Russia and appointment as an adjunct professor at the Medico-Surgical Academy.

1862 - Acquaintance with M. A. Balakirev.

1862 - Beginning of work on the First Symphony.

1863 - Marriage to E. S. Protopopova.

1864 - Borodin's work "On the action of sodium on valeric aldehyde" was published in the Bulletin of the Academy of Sciences.

1866 - First Symphony completed.

1867 - The romance "The Sleeping Princess" was written.

1867 - At the end of December, the First Congress of Russian Naturalists opened in St. Petersburg, at which Borodin made a report on the derivatives of valeric aldehyde.

1868 - The romances "The Sea Princess" and "Song of the Dark Forest" were written.

1869 - On January 4, in a concert of the Russian Musical Society, Borodin's First Symphony was performed under the direction of M. A. Balakirev.

1869 - Work began on the opera "Prince Igor" and on the Second Symphony.

1869 - At the Second Congress of Russian Naturalists in Moscow, Borodin makes a report on the isocapric acid he received, its aldehyde and salts.

1870 - The romance "Sea" was written.

1870-1871 - Borodin edits the popular science magazine "Knowledge" together with Professor Khlebnikov.

1872 - The fourth act of the opera-ballet "Mlada" was written.

1872 - At a meeting of the Russian Chemical Society on May 4, Borodin makes a report on the condensation products of aldehydes and on the discovery of an aldol.

1872 - The Higher Women's Medical Courses were opened at the Medico-Surgical Academy. Borodin begins to read chemistry courses.

1873 - Borodin participates in the work of the Fourth Congress of Russian naturalists and doctors in Kazan.

1874 - Beginning of work on the First Quartet.

1876 ​​- Second Symphony completed.

1877 - Acquaintance with the Hungarian composer F. Liszt.

1877 - On February 26, Borodin's Second Symphony was performed in a concert of the Russian Musical Society conducted by E. F. Napravnik.

1877 - Election of Borodin as an academician of the Medico-Surgical Academy.

1879 - The First Quartet is completed.

1880 - The musical picture "In Central Asia" was written.

1880 - Death of H. N. Zinin.

1881 - Death of MP Mussorgsky. The romance "For the shores of the distant homeland" was written.

1882 - The Second Quartet is completed.

1886 - Third Symphony begun.