Great Composers: Alfred Schnittke

A look at the inventor of polystylism.
This was a viewer request from KZbinr Jack. If you've got a question or request for a future video, leave a comment, shoot me a message through KZbin, or use the email/Tumblr links below.
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Classical Nerd is a weekly video series covering music history, theoretical concepts, and techniques, hosted by composer, pianist, and music history aficionado Thomas Little.
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Music:
Alfred Schnittke: Concerto for Piano and Strings (1979), performed by Marc-André Hamelin and the Manitoba Chamber Orchestra conducted by Scott Yoo [original upload: E8IwbnmJ_8M]
Thomas Little: Dance! #2 in E minor, Op. 1 No. 2, performed by Rachel Fellows, Michael King, and Bruce Tippette
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Contact Information:
Questions and comments can be directed to:
nerdofclassical [at] gmail.com
Tumblr:
classical-nerd.tumblr.com
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All images and audio in this video are for educational purposes only and are not intended as copyright infringement. If you have a copyright concern, please contact me using the above information.

[@colinsmith5879]

I just found this channel and I've gotta say, it's an ABSOLUTE GOLDMINE.

[@FeonaLeeJones]

He’s one of my biggest influences as a composer

[@fireemblem2770]

well if that;s true i want to hear your music

[@jesseppianist4454]

Thank you for this! Love Schnittke's music. He has certainly been one of my influences as a composer. His Concerto Grosso 1 and 4/Symphony 5 and his Piano Concerto with Strings are some of my favorite pieces. Also, his Clowns und Kinder score - although it only further cemented my fear of clowns... I'd also love to put in a request for videos about Andrei Eshpai and Nikolai Kapustin. Just discovered Esphai. Interesting and unique! :)

[@ClassicalNerd]

Duly noted: lentovivace.com/classicalnerd.html

[@bathsheba56]

I was first introduced to Schnittke through Kronos Quartet. When I heard the 3rd String Quartet, I knew I was onto something truly unique in a spiritual sense. Like any great work, it is personal, and with this music, it's more so.

[@brianparkhurst2636]

His Choir Concerto is one of the most underrated works of the 20th century. A masterpiece.

[@petsounds3612]

Choir Concerto is one of the most moving pieces of art I've ever experienced. Can never play it loudly enough

[@magmasunburst9331]

One of my favorite ones of yours. I don't know how I missed it. I even requested you do one on him, I believe. Rautavaara would be a nice one.

[@myverybeing]

A nice vid, a shame it's rather short - his 3th "Leipzig" symphony, quintet devoted to his mother (her death was also represent a turning point in compose work), magnificient viola concerto, hardcore avant-garte "quasi una sonata" as well as the first violin one and Faust are all deserve addressing. His ballets, operas and string quartets are also worth mentioning (sorry if they were, I'm writing this a bit later than was watching). Personally I like 2rd string quartet a lot despite it being not that popular among other pieces. Also would be cool to mention how at a concert in Carnegie Hall on 6th February 1994, almost half of the audience left during the performance symphony 6, devoted to Rostropovich (those who stayed acclaimed the composer with a standing ovation). His 1st symphony wasn't outright banned yea but mostly because censorship of that time was nothing like before. Worth to mention however that for the premiere Schnittke was denied in both Moscow and St.P (w/o explaning the reasons) so Rozhdestvensky (who was very inclined to perfotm it) had to write a letter to head of the Gorky's conservatory and he in turn found balls to give Rozhdestvensky an orchestra for that.

[@ClassicalNerd]

I don't think it's fair to compare old, old videos like this to stuff I'd make today-these older ones are more brief overviews than deep dives.

[@BlackJezuz69]

His album on Spotify, requiem: miserere is amazing. Don´t usually feel so much when I listen to classical music but JO OJ JO.... I can´t get enough.

[@schniT_T]

Eyyy. Thanks for this

[@menoflowicz]

Will there be episode about Arvo Part?

[@trabouliste1037]

If Bach is god of music, Schnittke is archangel… BTW: his first concerto grosso is gorgeous…

[@KuroiPK]

Very interesting as always, thank you.Recently I'm quite interested in asian composers, do you have some recommendations which are interesting to look into?

[@ClassicalNerd]

Tōru Takemitsu is the biggest name that comes to mind, and he has pieces in all sorts of styles. Somewhat difficult to get into, perhaps, but really well worth it, especially if you enjoy score-reading. Most of the asian composers I can think of are living and working today, and in all kinds of styles. Joe Hisaishi does phenomenal film scores, and Takashi Yoshimatsu has some mind-blowing concertos that I've been enjoying recently. Chen Yi and Zhou Long are a married couple of composers, and they both have done some great work with integrating traditional Chinese music into traditional forms and structures.

[@KuroiPK]

Thanks! I will look into them all. Takashi Yoshimatsu i already know and love. I did notice that too that their are a lot of great living composer there. I also like the work of Yoko Shimomura, Yuri Kajiura and Keiichi Okabe to name a few that I know (true they mostly do soundtrack but good ones.) What it your take on soundtracks it sometimes appears to me that composer gets some bad reputation for that.

[@loltheworld]

Thank you for not saying "Schnit-key".

[@yoboysemaj2617]

Is he a violinist?

[@nandocordeiro5853]

Me?

[@Igneous01]

Igorrr, while not directly inspired by Schnittke, is probably the closest modern resemblance of polystylism today.

[@marialihuensirvent1006]

now you have to update this with a hint of neo-Riemannian theory :P

[@redvine1105]

Norton’s anthology has got nothing on this classical nerd guy