Yakut national school of composers and works of the first Even composer P. M. Starostin: review experience

Abstract

This article is dedicated to the life and works of the first Even composer P. M. Starostin (1944-2013) in the context of evolution of the national school of composers in the East. The goal of this research consists in review of the life and works of the Even composer P. M. Starostin. The object of study is the professional musical art of the Evens, while the subject is the artistic heritage of the first Even composer. The article is based on the comparative and typological methods, with consideration of theoretical insights of the national musicologists dedicated to the development trends of young national schools of composers (M. N. Drozhzhina, M. Y. Dubrovskaya, L. L. Pylneva, and others.). The following conclusions were made: professional becoming of the first Even composer P. M. Starostin was within the framework of Yakut national school of composers; the primary source for his works became the rich Even folklore – epic tales, ritual genres, song lyrics. The artistic heritage of P. M. Starostin is unique and versatile in genre, featuring the large forms such as opera and cantata, as well as the chamber-vocal oeuvres and compositions for children. The geography of the young national schools of composers spread to the northeast of Russia, where is successfully functioning the Yakut national school of composers. The Yakut national school of composers becomes the new center, forming prerequisites for the establishment of national schools of composers of the indigenous peoples of the North living in the Arctic zone. The reviewed experience of the first Even composer P. M. Starostin indicates this process. The novelty of this research consists in introduction of information on the life and works of the first Even composer P. M. Starostin into the scientific discourse. Such analysis was carried out for the first time.