Composer Anatoly Grigoryevich Novikov is a bright representative of the new musical art, formed by the 1917 revolution. His talent, creative energy were directed to the development of a new musical theme - the Soviet song, glorifying the labor and military exploits of the Soviet people. Anatoly Novikov devoted his whole life to this cause. More than 600 songs have become the result of his work, which are still popular today.
The beginning of the composer's journey
Anatoly Grigorievich Novikov, whose biography dates back to the 19th century, or rather October 18 (30), 1896, was born in the county town of the Ryazan region - Skopin.
His parents, Grigory Osipovich and Neonila Nikolaevna, were illiterate. His father worked in a forge, which was located on the outskirts of the city, so the only book that the future composer saw in his house was How to Shoe Horses.
But Anatoly's childhood was not deprived of music: in the evenings, the Novikov family loved to sing folk songs, and on holidays military parades and all sorts of ceremonies were held in the town with the participation of the Zaraisk Infantry Regiment. But what military parade takes place without music and soldiers' songs? This is how the love of the future composer for music, songs of folk and military-patriotic themes was born.
Love for music demanded an outlet, and Novikov buys a balalaika with the first money he earns, very quickly mastering the game by ear. Then there was a craving for choral singing, and Anatoly decides to study music. In 1912, he entered the Ryazan Teachers' Seminary, graduating in 1916, and immediately entered the Moscow People's Conservatory.
Already at that time, the young man showed outstanding abilities for music: at the age of 20 he wrote the first work called “The Anthem of Liberated Russia”. However, a year later, the difficult financial situation forced Novikov to leave the walls of the conservatory and return to Skopin.
Novikov in his small homeland
Returning to Skopin, Novikov Anatoly Grigoryevich began to organize a music school. Here he uses the experience of his Moscow comrades. His appeal to the city education department with a request for help in creating a folk music school was satisfied: one of the post offices was allocated for the school, two pianos were transferred (the instruments were found in the houses of the surrounding landowners, whose estates were destroyed), and the St.specialists for the formation of the teaching staff of the school.
Despite the difficult post-revolutionary times, studies at the children's music school (DMSH) were free of charge, which, of course, was of great importance: art became accessible to simple but talented children. Children's music school was the center of culture of the city of Skopin, the local intelligentsia enthusiastically met Novikov's initiative and supported him in every possible way.
During this period, Anatoly Grigorievich clearly understood that music had become the meaning of life for him, but at the same time he felt a lack of his knowledge and the need to receive a higher musical education.
And Moscow again
Former teacher of Novikov, composer Paskhalov, recommends the young man to study at the Moscow State Conservatory. In 1921, the young composer leaves for Moscow, where he successfully passes tests at the conservatory.
Remarkable musicians become Novikov's teachers at the conservatory: M. Ivanov-Boretsky, S. Vasilenko, R. Glier, G. Catuara. However, the studies did not supplant the composer's educational aspirations for a more distant future: in 1924, in parallel with classes at the conservatory, Novikov led the choir circle of the club for special-purpose artillery courses, and then he was invited to a similar job, but already at the club of the Frunze Academy.
In a short time Novikov Anatoly becomes famous as a connoisseur of folk song repertoire, choral singing, instrumentation. The Central House of the Red Army invites him to lead the choir and orchestra.
In addition to this work, Anatoly Grigorievich creates military orchestras and choirs in parts of the Moscow garrison, conducts seminars for the lead singers of military units. Composer Anatoly Novikov receives the unspoken status of "all-army leader", and in 1934 he becomes a member of the Defense Commission of the Union of Composers, which he later heads for several years.
Features of creativity
Military themes are constantly present in the composer's work, and it is very diverse. In his songs, Novikov the composer certainly reflects the everyday life of the defenders of the Motherland, their holidays. His works are permeated with patriotism, comradeship, they tell about heroes, military traditions.
Novikov revives the intonations of the songs of our ancestors. He brings back to life the already almost forgotten old soldier's, Cossack songs, in which he continues the theme of the patriotism of the Russian people, the strength of his spirit. In most of his works, Russian musical folklore is clearly visible: “Oh, yes, you, Kalinushka”, “The Blue Dove”, “Down the Mother, along the Volga”, etc.
One of the striking features of Novikov's work is the clearly expressed choral orientation of his songs. Even songs that were originally conceived as solo songs later became choral ones. We can say that Novikov's compositions were universal for performance.
His songs, such as "My Motherland", "Roads", "March of the Communist Brigades", "Vasya-Vasilek", etc., could be performed both solo and in chorus, at a concert venue and on a train.
Novikov and films
Anatoly Grigoryevich Novikov, a biography whose filmography is firmly connected with the formation of Soviet power, the history of the country, was the composer whose works simply could not pass by Soviet cinema. It is difficult to name films of that time in which Novikov's songs did not sound. It is rare that a film about the war did without the song "Oh, roads." Everything that the Russian soldiers felt and experienced sounded in it.
One cannot but say about the song "Smuglyanka", which was written in 1940, but some of its fragments caused bewilderment among officials, and the composition was forgotten.
It was revived by director Leonid Bykov, who heard the motive in childhood from front-line soldiers and decided to make a film about pilots, in which "Smuglyanka" was sure to sound. Bykov realized this dream in his film “Only Old Men Go to Battle”.
Since the release of the film on the screens of the country, "Smuglyanka" deservedly returned to the repertoire of many performers and musical groups.
Composer's public activities
In 1957, the composer Novikov Anatoly Grigorievich was elected head of the organizing committee of the Union of Composers (SK) of the RSFSR and secretary of the board of the USSR SK.
Since 1960, Novikov has been the Secretary of the Board of the Republic's Investigative Committee. The composer worked in this position until 1968.
From 1962 to 1965, Novikov was an adviser to the Minister of Culture of the USSR. At the same time, he becomes chairman of the All-Russian Choral Society.
Awards and titles
Anatoly Novikov, whose works wereso popular and patriotic that his work could not be overlooked by the state, he was deservedly noted:
- Stalin Prize of the second degree;
- Order of the Red Banner of Labor;
- Order of Lenin (twice);
- Order of the October Revolution;
- Star of the Hero of Socialist Labor;
The titles of Honored Artist of the RSFSR, People's Artist of the RSFSR and the USSR were awarded.
Conclusion
Composer Novikov Anatoly Grigorievich wrote many wonderful songs. It is interesting that each of them contains one or another segment of the history of our Motherland, serves as a kind of musical monument of military glory and labor victories of the Russian people.
Anatoly Grigorievich died on September 24, 1984. His grave is at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.
Novikov the composer will always be in the memory of the people as a person who knew the soul of the people, their aspirations. A documentary was filmed in memory of the great composer and a postage stamp was issued. In Skopin, a memorial plaque was installed on the composer's house, one street of the city bears his name.
Unfortunately, at present, the children's music school, created by Novikov in the town of Skopin, does not have the former support from the local administration and drags out a miserable existence.
