Popov A. Arbor. Composition for six horns. Score

Alexander Georgiyevich Popov (bоrn in 1957) is the Petersburgian composer, author of symphonic compositions, chamber-instrumental and vocal music. 

Alexander Popov tries to solve the problem of relations between the Human Being and the Типе in different aspects of this word's meaning, i. e. the course of time and its perception, concentration and rarefaction, accelerations and stops. Thus all these relations grow at last to the contiguity between the Time and the Eternity on the one hand and between the Human Being and cultural heritage (including musical one) nowadays. The composer resorts to various cultural traditions, е. g. the European Middle Ages, the Rennaissance, the Oriental Nirvana music and ecclesiastic Armenian music. Among Popov's most signifant works there are the Requiem for soloists, old instruments' ensembles, prepared piano and metronome, “Theory of Affects” for chamber orchestra, “Sinfonia da camera” to Frescobaldi's memory. 

Popov is the laureate of hе “International Tribune of Composers” (Paris, 1995). Among his works there are the silent film “Earth” (produced by Alexander Dovzhenko), which the composer wrote music to, and “Johan” (produced by Moris Stiller), ordered by the German TV programme ZDF/АRТЕ. 

The title of the piece “Arbor” originates from the Latin word arbor, going back to the biblical Tree of Life. It's idea arises in the final chapter of “Revelation”, called “Holy Theologian Johann' Revelation”.

The composition was created in 1988 according to the order of the distinguished Petersburgian horn-player and teacher Vitaly Buyanovsky. The “Arbor” was firstly performed in 1889 by the Horns' Ensemble (conducted by Vitaly Byanovsky at the opening of the “Sound Ways” First International Festival at the Composers' House.