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 Tikhon Khrennikov CDs


When Khrennikov began to compose he faced a number of contradictions that characterized music epoch of those days, when melody itself was of minor importance. 
However Tikhon Khrennikov was always among those who never forgot about melody. 
A small fragment from the composer's diary, where he nearly declared his creative program and the aim: "What kind of methods should we use to properly reflect our epoch? 
Of course it should be a method with the same characteristics as our life: rhythmical simplicity and clearness, monumentalty and integrety of the form, harmonious courage and expediency. Courage should manifest a simple harmony, but not a complicated one (though, 
if complexity is expedient it is good as well), since nowadays it is very courageous to take a simple triad. Simplicity and lucidity of style, domination of melody as a principle (because melody is the key element 
of music expressiveness) and dynamics - are, to my mind, the three formal features characterizing true compositions of our epoch."

 The CD Kapelmeister KAP 009 contains his first three Piano Concertos, performed by himself on the piano. His Piano Concerto No. 1 is one of his earliest compositions (1932-1933). In his opus list it is registered under opus number one. This Concerto 
is written in a rare for this genre four-party form with an explicit domination of swift motion.

His Piano Concerto No. 2 from 1971 continues the trend in early compositions. It is akin with Concerto No. 1 due to a perfect understanding of pianism nature specifically in concerto meaning, as well as awareness of piano and orchestra ensemble, and ability 
to create various sophisticated passage formulas.

Piano Concerto No. 3 (1983) immediately attracted public with brilliant music, show-piece scope and originality of the common concept. Written in a traditional triadic form, this Concerto is unique for its tonal and harmonious structure.


Kapelmeister KAP 008 contains his Symphonies Nos. 1, 2 & 3. Khrennikov's Symphony No. 1 fascinates with its freshness, melodic originailty and terrific emotional power. These features are still characteristic of this composition even today. 
 This also refers to his Symphony No. 2 that was finally composed at the height of the Second World War, Its premiere became a significant event - not only musical, but also a public one, and was warmly greeted with tremendous applause. 
Among a great number of its performances, Evgeny Svetlanov's interpretation especially impressed the audience. He managed to successfully reproduce the indescribable flame of this music - probably, the most dramatic Khrennikov's composition, that, together with the symphonies of Shostakovich and 
Khachaturian, became a worthy monument of the heroic epoch.

Symphony No. 3 is remarkable for the originality of the form, for the driving melodious stream and for its fresh sound.


Khrennikov's Chamber Music is on Kapelmeister KAP 012. This CD contains his String Quartet No. 1 opus 33, Sonata for cello and piano opus 34, Three Pieces for violin and 
 piano opus 26, 
Three Poems on Nekrassov's Rhymes from 1971 and 1990, Songs from theatrical performances and his Piano Concerto No. 4 for piano, strings and percussion instruments opus 37. 
His Piano Concerto No. 4 turned to be completely different from the three predecessors by all parameters. Instead of a large orchestra there were string and drum sections; instead of a traditional form, there were two surprisingly vivacious and 
sometimes sweeping parts with rare isles of placid lyrics. There is no pacification; there is nothing external, only entire stream of music, like a stream of glowing avalanche, carrying away the listeners. Both parts of the Concerto are absolutely 
self-sufficient, moreover, they are integral in its essence, in the nature of thematic material, in its rush movement.






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