Vladislav Zolotaryov's contribution to the accordion world is absolutely enormous. Zolotaryov (1942-75) graduated from the Secondary Music School (major in accordion) in 1968 with Professor N. Lesnoy, in the town of Magadan. After that he studied composition with Professor R. Shchedrin and Professor T. Khrenikov at the Moscow Conservatorium of Music. Zolotaryov wrote music for symphony orchestra as well as chamber orchestra, string quartets and vocal music. His accordion works are justly considered an exceptionally important contribution toward the original literature for the accordion. I believe that, amongst classical accordionists, Zolotaryov is the most well known and the most played composer. Six Children's Suites is one of many Zolotaryov compositions written for the accordion. Each suite consists of several movements, each movement is a miniature musical story in itself - Programme Music. Movements include Toy Soldiers March, Awakening, A Stroll, Game, Doll's waltz. etc. Many moods and images are expressed in this music: pure joy, melancholy, sadness, refined humor and fairy like magic. The first four Suites dominate the realistic images as well as more intense feeling of happiness, joy of life. The last two Suites represent more abstract images and the dominant moods are melancholy and sadness. Six Children's Suites are musical miniatures of rare beauty and are regularly included in the repertoire of accordion concert artists as well as students. Friedrich Lips performs Six Children's Suites with great care for detail and deep understanding of the physiological contents of the composition. Simplicity in expression and delicate approach to all sorts of different moods are just some of the factors of Lips performance being absolute mastery of the accordion. |