Sergei Prokofiev

Early Life o Born on April 23, 1891, in Sontsovka, Ukraine. o Wrote his first composition, the “Indian Gallop” at age 5. o Aside from music, he was well-educated in math and science, and had a passion for chess. o At the age of 13, Prokofiev was the youngest student accepted into the St. Petersburg Conservatory. There he studied piano, composing, and conducting.

Compositional Beginnings o Prokofiev left the St. Petersburg Conservatory when he was 22. After leaving, he began to write ballets, most of which received terrible reviews from American, French, and Russian critics. o Even as Russia became a war zone, Prokofiev continued to work. He eventually performed his Classical Symphony to positive reviews.

Prokofiev in America o Prokofiev arrived in New York in He was asked to play a recital; he received positive reviews from the public and negative reviews from critics. o Critics called his work “barbaric”, causing Prokofiev to resent America. He did continue to play in Chicago and NY though. After becoming sick, poor, and out of work, he eventually went to Paris in the 1920’s. o On a more positive note, Prokofiev met his future wife, Lina, while living in America. Prokofiev in Chicago,

Back to Russia o Prokofiev returned to Russia in While there, he wrote Romeo & Juliet, Hamlet, and the score for Ivan the Terrible. He also wrote Peter and the Wolf, finishing it in only 4 days. o During World War II, Prokofiev wrote Cinderella and his famous Fifth Symphony.

In Closing o Prokofiev took a bad fall in 1945 and nearly died. Despite his ailing health, he continued to compose many works, including ballets and symphonies. He also wrote his last composition, Symphony No. 7. o Prokofiev died on March 5, 1943, the same day as Stalin. Sergei Prokofiev’s grave

Peter and the Wolf o Prokofiev composed Peter and the Wolf in 1936 while living in the USSR. o The work is 25 minutes long; Prokofiev finished it in 4 days. o It received poor reviews when it premiered. However, it is now famous and has been featured in movies and plays many times.

Peter and the Wolf: 0 seconds to 3 minutes o Peter and the Wolf starts off with a very light, happy tune in a major form. Prokofiev uses string instruments, including violins and violas. The string instruments are meant to describe Peter in the story (Wikipedia), and as one listens you get the impression that the boy could be skipping. o At 51 seconds the flute, meant to represent a bird in the story (Wikipedia), is introduced. The flute plays a light, trilling tune that does indeed sound like a bird. You can also hear the sound of an oboe at 58 seconds, representing a duck (Wikipedia). Then the flute comes back until the 60-second mark. o The oboe returns at 60 seconds. The flute returns at 65 seconds and the oboe and flute play together until 90 seconds. o The flute and oboe continue to play, as well as the string instruments. The strings play in a slightly lower tune for a moment, and then Peter returns to his previously happy mood. o The flute starts at 2:28, in a high, fast trilling motion. o The clarinet continues, and the flute is heard in short intervals. You can hear the string instruments in the background, playing a slower, lower tune.

Peter and the Wolf: 3 minutes to 6 minutes o The string instruments are playing low and slow. You can hear the addition of the double bass here. o The flute makes a comeback, playing high and fast. The oboe is back as well, it seems as though the flute and the oboe are arguing. o The oboe and the flute are still arguing. You can hear the violin in the background. The cat makes its introduction here at the 4:28 mark, played by the clarinet. o the clarinet plays in a sneaky mode, indicating a cat stalking its prey (Wikipedia). It stops and starts, then plays slower and faster as it is sneaking up on the bird and the duck. o The clarinet continues to sneak up on the birds. The strings suddenly come in, in a high-pitched warning from the violins. The flute trills and gets lower as the bird flies away. The strings continue their high-pitched warning call. o The clarinet slinks away, and the strings play on in a slower, but still merry tune. You can just hear the introduction of the bassoon as Peter’s grandfather scolds him (Wikipedia).

Peter and the Wolf: 15 minutes to 18 minutes o at the 15:01 mark, you hear the boom of the timpani, indicating the hunters are shooting at the wolf (Wikipedia). o at 15:42 you can again hear the snare and timpani “shot” going off. This is followed by the woodwinds continuing the hunters’ walk. o The woodwinds play on. At 16:11 the percussion executes a drumroll that fades into silence for a moment. At 16:27 the strings reappear, playing a high note. o The violins and violas continue playing, with the occasional cello in the background. At 17:18 minutes, the bassoon enters. It seems as though Peter is proud of something as the bassoon is playing a “manly” sort of tune. o The bassoon continues playing, along with the other strings. At the 17:52 mark you can hear the intro of some castanets, playing along with the violins.

Peter and the Wolf: 18 minutes to 21 minutes o 18 minutes to 18:30 minutes : The castanets continue, along with the French Horns, playing in a lower, ominous minor mode, signifying that the wolf is drawing near (Wikipedia). The French Horns continue on, changing into a more playful tune, along with the triangle in the background. o 19 minutes to 19:30 minutes : The oboe returns here, as well as the bassoon. At the 19:21 the percussion really enters, playing along with the French Horn in sync. It is a grand ascending theme. o 20 minutes to 20:30 minutes : The flute returns here in a light, playful tune. The violins answer the flute in return; they seem to almost be having a conversation. o 20:30 minutes to 21:00 minutes : You hear a few seconds of silence, until the 20:32 mark. Then the strings play very quietly, and then the work ends in a bang with the strings and woodwinds in a crescendo.