Alexander Moiseyevich Veprik, also Weprik, (
Russian: Александр Моисеевич Веприк,
Ukrainian: Олександр Мойсейович Веприк; 23 June 1899 in
Balta,
Podolia Governorate,
Russian Empire, now Ukraine – 13 October 1958 in Moscow) was a Russian-(Ukrainian);
Soviet)
composer and
music educator. Veprik is considered one of the greatest composers of the "Jewish school" in Soviet music.
Veprik was active in the musical life of 1920–1930s. In 1923 he was active in the creation of the
Society for Jewish Music, a focal point for Jewish composers in Moscow, and Jewish music flourished as a result of the activities of the Society.[1] He taught at the Moscow Conservatory (1923–1941; professor from 1930; dean from 1938). In 1927 during a business trip in Austria, Germany and France, he met
Arnold Schoenberg,
Paul Hindemith,
Maurice Ravel and
Arthur Honegger. His music became well known in Europe and the United States during this time: nearly his entire oeuvre was performed by the
Berlin Radio Symphony (1928–1929).[2] In March 1933
Arturo Toscanini conducted Veprik's Dances and Songs of the Ghetto at
Carnegie Hall in
New York.[3]
Veprik was arrested as a "Jewish nationalist" in 1950, maltreated in prison and then deported to the
Gulag. He was released from hard labor and instead had to organize an amateur orchestra among the prisoners.[2] In April 1954, Vepryk's case was reviewed and he was acquitted. In September 1954 he returned sick and weary to Moscow, to a world in which Jewish culture had no place.[4] Veprik composed a few works and wrote Principles of J.S. Bach's Orchestration (Принципы оркестровки И.-С. Баха). He died on 13 October 1958 in Moscow.
Selected works
Opera
Toktogul (Токтогул), Opera (1940); libretto by
Dzhoomart Bokombaev (1910–1944)
Toktogul (Токтогул), Opera (1949); second opera with the same title composed jointly with
Abdylas Maldybaev
Orchestral
Dances and Songs of the Ghetto (Пляски и песни гетто; Tänze und Lieder des Ghetto), Op. 12 (1927)
5 Small Pieces (Пять маленьких пьес; Fünf kleine Orchesterstücke) for orchestra, Op. 17 (1930, revised 1957)
To the Barricades (На баррикадах) (1932); words from Revolutionary Songs of 1905
Чангрийская песня (1937)
2 Ukrainian Songs (Две украинские песни) (1943)
Choral
Stalinstan (Сталинстан) for chorus and piano (1934); words by Izi Kharik
Suite from the Opera "Toktogul" (Сюита из оперы Токтогул) for soloists, chorus and orchestra (1942, revised 1958)
The Curse of Fascism (Проклятие фашизму) for chorus and orchestra (1944)
National Hero (Народ-герой), Cantata for chorus and orchestra (1955); words by Alexander Mashistov
Song of Kotovsky (Песня о Котовском) for chorus a cappella (1935); words by
Eduard Bagritsky
Kyrgyz Song (Киргизская песня) for chorus a cappella (1950)
Film scores
The Last Night (Последняя ночь) (1936); directed by
Yuli Raizman
Literary
О методах преподавания инструментовки на композиторском отделении (1929)
Нужны ли переложения фортепианных произведений на оркестр (1930)
Трактовка инструментов оркестра (1948, published 1961)
Очерки по вопросам оркестровых стилей (published 1961)
Discography
Jewish Chamber Music –
Tabea Zimmermann (viola); Jasha Nemtsov (piano); Hänssler Classic CD 93.008 (2000)
Rhapsodie, Op. 11
Songs of the Dead, Op. 4
Kaddish (Poem), Op. 6
Chant rigoureux, Op. 9
Piano Trios: 3 Folk Dances, Op. 13b – Dmitry Sitkovetsky (violin); David Geringas (cello);
Jascha Nemtsov (piano); Hänssler Classic CD 98.491 (2004)
On Wings of Jewish Songs: Music from the New Jewish School – Helene Schneiderman (mezzo-soprano); Jascha Nemtsov (piano); Hänssler Classic CD 93.041 (2005)
Two Jewish Folk Songs for voice and piano, Op. 8 (1926)
Two Jewish Songs for voice and piano, Op. 10
Turban & Nemtsov Play Hebrew Melodies: Suite No. 7 for violin and piano –
Ingolf Turban (violin); Jascha Nemtsov (piano); Hänssler Classic CD 93.028 (2006)
Alexander Veprik: Orchestral Works -
Christoph-Mathias Mueller (conductor); BBC National Orchestra of Wales; MDG 901 2133-6 (SACD) 2019
^Nemtsov, Jascha (1999). Tabea Zimmermann and
Jascha Nemtsov play Jewish Chamber Music: Alexander Weprik and the Society for Jewish Music in Moscow (CD booklet).
Stuttgart, Germany: Hänssler Classic.