Realization of ethnic traditions in piano music of the Buryat composer Y. I. Irdyneev

Abstract

  One of the relevant tasks of the modern science of music is the examination of ethnic cultures. The object of this research is the piano music of the Buryat composer Yuri Irineevich Irdyneev. The subject is the peculiarities of realization of ethnic traditions in his piano compositions. The article analyzes opuses for the piano created during the composer's study at the conservatory, attributed to his early period. Based on the analysis of piano compositions, which became a so-called “creative laboratory” of Y. I. Irdyneev, the author traces the evolution of his style: since the first experiments of working with folk material in the piano cycle "Six Children Musical Compositions", through the reference to a romantic genre in the cycle "Three Improvisations", to a monumental conclusion of his creative pursuits – “The Piano Sonata” (1971). For understanding the uniqueness of composer's style, the carried out a comprehensive analysis of piano compositions, which includes examination of each piece from the perspective intonation, tonal and harmonious development, peculiarities of imagery sphere and dramaturgy. Emphasis is made on the specifics of performing interpretation of the ethnic piano compositions. The novelty lies in determination of systemic correlations of Y. I. Irdyneev's piano music with the national and European music traditions. It is concluded that the uniqueness of his piano heritage consists in the profound and multifaceted realization of ethnic traditions in the piano compositions. The author underlines the defining role of Buryat folklore, traditional festivities, songs, dances, imitation of the sound of folk instruments, philosophical and worldview constants in the formation of composer's style. The piano music of Y. I. Irdyneev is known for the original palette of artistic images, which evokes rich emotions and associations. The composer employs the traditional genres along with modern compositional techniques, bringing individuality by means of intonation-thematic material, Buryat ethnic origins and modality, as well as ways of working with thematic material. Yuri Irdyneev has enriched Buryat music with a number of new techniques of musical expression (sonorous consonances, clusters, dodecaphony), and significantly contributed to the piano educational and pedagogical repertoire for the music educational institutions of Buryatia.