Sylvestrov Valentyn Vasylyovych, *30 September 1937 Kyiv, Ukrainian composer. He began studying music at the age of 15, initially in private lessons, then at an evening music school in Kyiv (1953–55), from which he graduated with distinction. He studied engineering in Kyiv in 1955–58, and composition at the local conservatory with B. Latoshinsky and L. Revutsky from 1958 to 1964. He taught music theory at music schools in 1964–72. He lived and worked in Kyiv until 2022. In the first days of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, he left Kyiv and settled in Berlin. Winner of the S. Koussevitzky Prize (1967), 1st Prize at the Gaudeamus International Composers Festival for young music pioneers (Netherlands, 1970), twice of the Shevchenko State Prize (1989, 1995), and the Opus Klassik Award for Life’s Work (2022). Awarded with the Ukrainian Order of Merit, 3rd degree (1997) and 2nd degree (2013) and the Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, 5th degree (2007) and 4th degree (2017). In 2011, he received the title of Doctor Honoris Causa of the National University of the Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. He was a composer-in-residence of European music centres and festivals several times, including the Nostalgia Festival in Poznań (2009).
Silvestrov was one of the leading representatives of the “Kyiv Avant-Garde” of the 1960s and was one of the first composers of the former USSR around 1970 to reject the means typical of this trend, leaning towards neo-romanticism (Music in the Old Style, String Quartet No. 1, Symphony No. 5). He created his own style, close to Western postmodernism, which he calls “meta-music” (allegorical, metaphorical music). Its essence is, on the one hand, ambiguity and constant oscillation between “old” and “new,” and on the other hand, the denial of the traditionally understood musical narrative by shifting the centre of gravity from climax to continuation (echo). Characteristic of Silvestrov’s compositional technique is the superimposition of sound planes, the basis of which are overtones (Quiet Songs, Metamusika, Postludium). Since the beginning of the 2000s, he has focused on smaller instrumental forms and a cappella choral music. His portfolio also includes music for several films.
In 2011, the book Doczekatysja muzyki. Lekcii-besidy [Дочекатися музики. Лекції-бесіди] was published, which was vase dib lectures and meetings with the composer, organised in 2007 in Kyiv. A full-length documentary film V. Sylvestrov was made in 2019, directed by Serhii Bukovskyi, devoted to the composer and his work.
Literature: S. S. Pawliszyn Walentyn Sylwestrow, series: Tworczi portrety ukrainskich kompozitoriw, Kyiv 1989 (in Ukrainian); S. Savenko Valentin Silvestrov’s Lyrical Universe w Underground Music from the Former USSR, ed. Valeria Tsenova, Amsterdam, 1998; P. J. Schmelz Valentin Silvestrov and the Echoes of Music History, “The Journal of Musicology,” 31/2, 2014, pp. 231–71; P. Edwards Valentin Silvestrov and the symphonic monument in ruins w Transformations of musical modernism, ed. E. E. Guldbrandsen, J. Johnson, Cambridge University Press, 2015; P. R. Bullock Intimacy and distance: Valentin Sil’vestrov’s Tikhie pesni, “The Slavonic and East European Review (1928)”, vol. 92 (3) 2014; R. L. Gillies Singing Soviet Stagnation: Vocal Cycles from the USSR, 1964–1985, London 2021; L. Shapovalova, І. Romaniuk, M. Chernyavska, S. Shchelkanova Early (Avantgarde) Symphonies by Valentin Silvestrov As a Sound Universe, “Studia Universitatis Babeş-Bolyai. Musica”, vol. 66 (1), 2021; I.W. Melnichenko, Specyfika estetyki postmodernizmu w kontekście fenomenu twórczości Walentyna Sylwestrowa, “Molodyj wczenyj” [Молодий вчений], no. 10 (50), 2017 (in Ukrainian); P. J. Schmelz Sonic overload: Alfred Schnittke, Valentin Silvestrov, and polystylism in the late USSR, New York 2020; W. Kläy Vertontes Schweigen: Der Ukrainische Komponist Walentin Silwestrow, “Dissonanz” 2003 (83); P. J. Schmelz Such freedom, if only musical unofficial Soviet music during the Thaw, chapter 6. From Abstraction to Mimesis, from Control to Freedom: Part, Schnittke, Silvestrov, Gubaidulina, New York, 2009; W. Silvestrov Doczekatysja muzyki: Lekcii-besidy, Kyiv 2011.
Instrumental:
for orchestra:
Symphony No. 1, 1963; 2nd version, 1974
Classical Overture, 1964
Symphony No. 2 for flue, percussion, piano and strings, 1965
Spectra for chamber orchestra, 1965
Eschatophony No. 3 1966
Hymn for 4 instrumental ensembles, 1967
Poem to the Memory of Borys Lyatoshynsky for orchestra, 1968
Symphony No. 4 for brass instruments and strings, 1976
Serenada for string orchestra, 1978
Symphony No. 5, 1982, Polish performance at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1992
Intermezzo for chamber orchestra, 1983
Exegi Monumentum, Symphony for baritone and orchestra, 1985-87
Symphony No. 6, 1995
Metawaltz, Symphonic Poem, 2002
Silent Music for string orchestra, 2002
Abschiedsserenade for string orchestra, 2003
Symphony No. 7, 2003
Symphony No. 8, 2012–2013, Polish performance Eufonie Festival 2022
Symphony No. 9, 2017–2019
for instrument solo and orchestra:
Monodia for piano and orchestra, 1965
Meditation for cello and chamber orchestra, 1972
Postludium, symphonic poem for piano and orchestra, 1984
Dedication/Widmung for violin and orchestra, 1991
Metamusic for piano and orchestra, 1992
Epitaph for piano and string orchestra, 1999
Two Dialogues with Postscript for string orchestra and piano, 2001–2002
Concerto for violin and orchestra, 2016
chamber:
Piano Quintet, 1961
Quartetto piccolo for string quartet, 1961
Trio for flute, trumpet and celesta, 1962
Mystery for alto flute and 6 percussion groups, 1964
Projections for harpsichord, vibraphone and tubular bells, 1965
Drama for piano trio, 1971
String Quartet No. 1, 1974, Polish performance at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1996
Postludium for cello and piano, 1982, Polish performance at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 1983
Sonata for cello and piano, 1983/2000
String Quartet No. 2, 1988
Post scriptum, sonata for violin and piano, 1991
Elegy for cello and 2 tam-tams, 1999
Hommage à J.S.B. for violin and piano (quasi echo), 2009
Two Pieces for violin and piano, 2010
for instruments solo:
Naïve Muzyka for piano, 1954/93
Musica lontana for piano, 1956/93
Intermezzo for piano, 1956/2000
Nocturn for piano, 1957/2000
Bagatelle for piano, 1958–2000
Sonatina for piano, 1960/65
Five Pieces for piano, 1961
Triada for piano, 1962
Sonata “Classical” for piano, 1963
Elegy for piano, 1967
Sonata No. 1 for piano, 1972
Music for children for piano, 1973
Music in an Old Style for piano, 1973
Sonata No. 2 for piano, 1975
Kitsch-Musik for piano, 1977
Sonata No. 3 for piano 1979
Postludium for violin, 1981
Misterioso for clarinet and piano (for one performer), 1996
The Messenger – 1996/Wisnyk – 1996 for piano, 1997; also version for synthesiser or piano and string orchestra, 1997
Orfeo. Eternal Melody for synthesiser, 1998
Usna muzyka, cycle of four pieces for piano, 1999
Nocturn for piano, 2002
Two Epitaphs for piano, 2001
Hymn 2001 for piano, 2001; also version for string orchestra, 2001
Moments for piano, 2003
Moments of Memory (I) for piano, 2003
Moments of Memory (II) for piano, 2004
Spring Serenades, cycle for piano, 2004
Three Dedications for piano, 2004
Four Postludes for piano, 2004
Two Mazurkas for piano, 2005
English Serenades, cycle for piano, 2005
Three Bagatelle for piano, 2006
Nine Waltzes for piano, 2007
Five Musical Motifs for piano, 2007
Elegies, ciaccona and pastorale for piano, 2022
Vocal:
Cantata for choir, words by T. Shevchenko, 1977
Diptych for choir, words by T. Shevchenko, 1995
Elegy for choir, words by T. Shevchenko, 1996
Over All the Mountain Tops is Peace for choir, 2009
Three Sacred Songs for choir, 2013
Majdan 2014 for choir, 2014
Diptych for choir, words by T. Shevchenko, 2016
In memoriam for choir, 2020
Psalm for choir, 2022, Polish performance by the National Philharmonic Choir, Warsaw 2022
Vocal-instrumental:
Two Romances for voice and piano, words by A. Blok, 1960
Cantata for soprano and chamber orchestra, words by F. Tyutchev and A. Blok, 1973
Quiet Songs for voice and piano, words by A. Pushkin, M. Lermontov, J. Keats, S. Yesenin, T. Shevchenko, F. Tyutchev, O. Mandelstam, 1974–77
Simple Songs for voice and piano, words by O. Mandelstam, A. Pushkin, anonymous, 1974–81
Old Ballad for voice and piano, 1977
Forest Music for soprano, English horn and piano, words by G. Aygi, 1978
Autumn Serenade for soprano and chamber orchestra, 1980–2000
Postludium D-S-C-H for soprano, violin, cello and piano, 1981
Four Songs for baritone and piano, words by O. Mandelstam, 1982
Stupieni for voice and piano, words by A. Blok, A. Pushkin, F. Tyutchev, O. Mandelstam, J. Keats, J. Boratynsky, W. Sollogub, and anonymous, 1982/98
Ode to the Nightingale for soprano and chamber orchestra, words by J. Keats, transl. by E. Witkowski, 1983
Exegi monumentum for baritone and orchestra, words by A. Pushkin, 1987
Requiem for Larissa for solo voices, choir and orchestra, 1997–1999, Polish performance at the Warsaw Autumn Festival 2005
River of Time for voice and piano, words by G. Derzhavin, 1999
Three Songs for voice and piano, words by A. Blok, W. Mayakovsky, J. Iwaszkiewicz, 2003
Moments of Poetry and Music for soprano or baritone, piano and string orchestra, 2003
Cantata No. 4 for soprano, piano and string orchestra, 2015
