Slonimsky S. Africa. Cycle of piano pieces

Sergei Mikhailovich Slonimsky (born in 1932) is one of the leading modern Russian composers. His creation embraces actually all the genres. Remember the musical drama “Virineya” (1965–1967) after the novel by L. Seyfullina, chamber opera “Master and Margarite” (1970–1972) after M. Bulgakov, opera-ballad “Mary Stuart” (1978–1980) to Ya. Gordin’s libretto, dramma per musica “Hamlet” (1990–1991) after W. Shakespeare’s tragedy translated to Russian by B. Pasternak, chamber opera (monodic drama) “King Ixion” (1993–1995) after the ancient myth and the tragedy by I. Annensky, the  Russian tragedy in 14 visions with three epilogues and overture “The Visions of Ioann Grozny” to Ya. Gordin’s libretto, dramma per musica “King Lear” (2000–2001) after the tragedy by W. Shakespeare translated by B. Pasternak, 32 symphonies, ballets, instrumental concertos, cantatas, among which there is the “Voice From Choir” (1962–1963) to the verses by Alexander Blok, “One Day of the Life” (1998) to the texts from “Chapter of the Thousand” by Dhammapada translated by V. Toporov, Requiem for soloists, choir and symphony orchestra (2003), so as numerous choral, chamber-instrumental and vocal compositions. The spring of 2005 was marked by the ballet premiиre of the “Magic Nut” after the tale by E. Th. A. Hoffmann to the libretto by the artist Mikhail Chemiakine, who staged it in the Mariinsky Theatre. It was in 2008, when Slonimsky’s oratorial opera “Antigone” after Sophokle’s tragedy was firstly staged by A. N. Sokurov at the St. Petersburg Academic Kapelle. 

Sergei Slonimsky is the People’s Artist of Russia, laureate of the Russian State Prize, knight of the orders “Merits before Motherland” and of the Commander Cross of the Order “Merits before the Polish Republic”. Slonimsky’s opuses are on roll all over the world.

It is clear from the very name of the cycle that the main characters of this cycle are absolute foreigners from scary jungles. But soon it appears that those dangerous animals are quite harmless even funny and touching. The piece Crocodile’s Tears is written with great wits, it the form of passacaglia for children, with humor and warmth. The Lullaby for an Elefat kid, quite fresh and unusual, with angularly awkward music movement is rhythmically assimmetric that only adds heaviness to this fidgety piece. The Dance of a Snake is oriental and truly serpentine, and the most colourful piece of the cycle, Scary Jungle is not at all scary, but mysteriously dazzling with its ‘alien’ harmonic language. It immerses both player and listener into this fantastic atmosphere of a musical jungle, commencing the cycle…

Contents:

Terrible Jungles (Music text example)  
Little Monkey’s Song  
Crocodile Tears. Passacaglia  
Snake’s Dance  
Lullaby to Little Elephant  
Brave Lion  
Tropic Rain