Nikolay Sokolov (composer)

This article is about the Russian composer and teacher. For the violinist and conductor, see Nikolai Sokoloff.

Nikolay Alexandrovich Sokolov (Russian: Никола́й Алекса́ндрович Соколо́в; 26 March [O.S. 14 March] 1859 – 27 March 1922) was a Russian composer of classical music and a member of the circle that grew around the publisher Mitrofan Belyayev.

Career

Sokolov was born in Saint Petersburg in 1859. A student of Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov, he taught Alexander Tcherepnin, Dmitri Shostakovich and Yuri Shaporin^[1] at the Saint Petersburg Conservatory.

He was the posthumous dedicatee of Shostakovich's Theme and Variations in B-flat major for orchestra, Op. 3.^[2][3]

Sokolov's recorded works include his contributions to several collaborative projects of the "Belyayev circle", including the set of character pieces for string quartet known as Les Vendredis as well as a set of variations for piano and orchestra on a Russian theme.

Other works include a Quintet, Op. 3, also arranged for string orchestra as a serenade; final chorus from Aleksey Konstantinovich Tolstoy's Don Juan, Op. 5; choruses for women's voices, Op. 12 (published 1892); piano variations, Op. 25; Variations on a popular Russian theme for string quartet (published 1899). There are also three string quartets, in F major, A major and D minor, and a string trio in D minor, his Op. 45 (published in 1916). All of these were published by Belyayev's firm.

It is possible that, when Sergei Diaghilev was looking for a composer for The Firebird, Sokolov was considered before Igor Stravinsky was settled on.^[4][5]

He died in Petrograd in 1922, aged 63.

Selected worklist

• Orchestral music
  • Elegie, for orchestra (pub. 1888)^[6]
  • Four pieces for strings, Op. 18^[7]
  • Second Serenade for strings, Op. 23^[8][9]
  • Caressante polka, for string orchestra, Op. 38.^[10]
  • Divertissement, Op. 42^[9][11]
  • Music for Shakespeare's The Winter's Tale, for large orchestra, Op. 44^[12]
  • Ballet 'Les Cygnes Sauvages' Op.40 Suite for Orchestra Belaieff 1902 pl.#2353-2355
• String quartets
  • No. 1 in F major, Op. 7^[9][13]
  • No. 2 in A major, Op. 14^[9][14]
  • No. 3 in D minor, Op. 20^[9][15]
• Other chamber music, and piano music.
  • Elegie, for violin with piano accompaniment, Op. 17.^[16]
  • Variations for piano, Op. 25.^[17]
  • String trio in D minor, Op. 45^[9][18]
  • Romance for Cello and Piano, Op. 19^[9]
• Vocal music
  • Four lieder from Op. 1^[19]
  • Three-part chorus "Printemps"^[20]
  • Autumn for women's chorus and piano^[9]
  • Four romances on words of Apollon Korinfsky with piano accompaniment, Op. 24 (pub. 1895)^[21]
  • Choruses for Men's Voices, Op. 6^[9]
  • Choruses for Men's Voices, Op. 15^[9]

Books

• Sokolov, N. Prakticheskoe rukovodstvo k izucheniiu akkordov, vkhodiashchikh v kurs II-go klassa solfedzhio Petrogradskoi konservatorii. 1897, reprinted 1916. Izd. M.P. Bieliaeva. (18 pages.^[22])
• Sokolov, N. Imitatsii na cantus firmus; posobie pri izuchenii kontrapunkta strogogo stilia. Leningrad: Izd. Gosudarstvennoi konservatorii. 1928. (62 pages, of which pages 23–62 are score.)