Bibergan V. The Visim songs. Vocal cycle for soprano and piano

Vadim Bibergan is one of the most distinguished Petersburgian composers, working in various genres — symphonic, chamber and folk instrumental ones. His music to numerous films and theatrical performances has already enjoyed the great popularity.

This is exactly the chamber-vocal genre, that attracts the composer’s attention so much and rather constantly. Through different periods Bibergan gave birth to the vocal cycles to the verses by M. Lermontov, R. Gamzatov, mongolian poets. Remember his “Fanfares” for basso and soprano to the verses by Robert Burns and the ones from the English poetry.

“The Visim Songs” for soprano were written in 1999. This vocal cycle continues the kind of trend in composer’s creativity, i. e. his close connection with folklore studying. Bibergan comprehends traditional music making keenly and attentively, that is reflected in his mostly popular compositions, such as the Concert Suite “Russian Amusements” and “Three Russian Old-Time Laments” for piano in four hands. The composer used the authentic traditional texts of Ural minal and metallurgical settlement Visim — native land of the Russian writer D. N. Mamin-Sibiryak. The rather small composition reflects the whole world of the Russian woman’s life, where such substances as love and maternal joy co-exist, so as the sadness of parting and succulent traditional humour.

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