«Be on the composer’s side in everything» – the E-F-G Competition was discussed at a press conference at TASS

The competition for the creation of a musical composition on the theme «E-F-G» started in September last year as part of the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the birth of Elena Gnesina. The second round is ahead - September 30 and October 2 - two unforgettable days that are worth visiting.

«We will hear live, relevant music on a professional and personal theme for us. Professional, because we are very interested in what is happening today in the field of modern composition. And personal, because «E-F-G» is «mi-fa-sol» - this is our Elena Gnesina,» shared the rector of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music Alexander Ryzhinsky.

At a press conference, the general director of the Russian National Museum of Music Mikhail Bryzgalov spoke about the history of the monogram, in particular, about the warm relationship between Elena Gnesina and Sergei Rachmaninoff. His performance was accompanied by a demonstration of archival materials with an image of the musical autograph.

The chairman of the jury of the competition, People's Artist of the Russian Federation Alexander Tchaikovsky noted that writing music based on an anagram requires special skill from composers and expressed hope that the competition will become traditional.

«On these three notes we will clearly see who is who,» the composer noted. «It seems to me that the competition will yield very interesting results, and it will be very useful for composers, especially for students.»

Head of the Composition Department of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music, member of the jury of the competition Kuzma Bodrov drew attention to the fact that all the competitors have very different compositions in style and language: «There are quite difficult ones, they will make great demands on the audience. But the audience needs to be accustomed to listening to new music, and it is not always harmonious to the ear, sometimes you have to listen to it carefully. But there are also compositions associated with a more traditional view of harmony, the concept of language. Therefore, I have high expectations from the competition. But the main excitement is that it is a live performance. Probably, to sound for composers is a victory.»

At the press conference, Vice-Rector for Academic and Educational Work of the Gnessin Russian Academy of Music Svyatoslav Golubenko reported that a total of 48 works were submitted to the competition: «Twenty of them were in the nomination for piano or piano four hands, nine for chamber choir and the remaining nineteen are the works that were supposed to be performed by a chamber string orchestra. We cannot disclose the authors yet.»

In anticipation of the concerts of the second round, there will be meetings of composers and performers, at which the finalists can make changes to the interpretation of their work.

«We, the performers, must be maximally interested in bringing to life what the composer intended. My personal position is to be on the composer's side in everything,» noted Alexander Ryzhinsky.

In his parting words to the finalists, Alexander Tchaikovsky said: «It doesn't matter who gets which prize. It won't play a significant role in the composer's life. The most important thing is whether the audience likes the composer or not. And not the limited group of the jury, but the public.»
Watch the recording of the press conference broadcast on VK

Photo: Anna Bobrik