Mykola Vilinsky

Mykola Mykolayovych Vilinsky (; 14 May 18889 September 1956) was a Soviet and Ukrainian composer who held senior chairs at the Odesa Conservatory and later the Kyiv Conservatory. He wrote articles on Ukrainian and Moldovan music, and was a music critic and an expert on the works of the Ukrainian composer Mykola Lysenko.

Following the wishes of his father, Vilinsky was initially educated for a career as a lawyer, but then changed to study music at the Odesa Conservatory, from which he graduated in 1919. He taught and composed there for twenty years. During the Second World War he and his family was evacuated from Odesa to Tashkent, where he continued to teach and compose. After the end of the war, he returned to Ukraine and became a professor at the Kyiv Conservatory, where he remained until his death in 1956. His students included Kostiantyn Dankevych, Oleksandr Bilash, Oscar Feltsman, David Gershfeld, and Anton Mucha.

Mykola Vilinsky was one of the founders of modern Ukrainian music and the creator of the Ukrainian piano ballad genre. Vilinsky's output includes symphonic suites, music for piano, and arrangements for choir and solo voices of Ukrainian, Russian, Moldavian folk songs. His daughter, Iryna Vilinska was also a professor of music and a composer.

Life Early years and education

Mykola Mykolayovych Mykola was born on 2/14 May 1888, in Holta, in the Russian Empire, now part of the Ukrainian city of Pervomaisk. He had an older sister, Tamara. His father Mykola Oleksandrovych Vilinsky was the mayor of Ananiv. , and the musicologist and writer Alexander Ossovsky were both his cousins. Orfeev, who later became rector (principal) of the Odesa Conservatory wrote, "It seems that there was no composer in Odesa who did not consult with Mykola Mykolayovych.... and his advice was unconditionally accepted."

Orchestral works Characteristic Dances, suite for symphony orchestra, Op.1 (1910) Suite No. 1 on Moldovan folk songs for symphony orchestra, Op.16 (1932) Suite No. 2 on Moldavian themes for symphony orchestra, Op.17 (1933) Music for the film The Happiness of Being Young (Odesa Film Studio), Op.22 (1937) Suite No. 3 on themes of Moldovan folk songs for symphony orchestra, Op.28 (19441945) Ballet Suite in 4 movements for symphony orchestra, Op.41 (1956)

Music for brass band Departure March for brass band, Op.18 (1935)

Piano Fugue for piano, Op.2 (1913) Russian Variations in Epic Style for piano on an original theme, Op.3 (1914) A ballad in the form of variations for piano on a Ukrainian folk theme, Op.4 (19171925) Scherzo Etude for piano, Op.5 (1918) Elegy Suite – eight preludes for piano, Op.6 (19141918) Two pieces for piano: "Dream", "Thoughts" Op.7 (1926) Sonata for violin and piano, Op.10 (1929) Children's album – eight piano pieces for 4 hands, Op.11 (1925) Model variations for piano. A guide to the harmony course for student composers, Op.29 (1947) Variations on an original theme (D major) for piano, Op.33 – No.1 (1949); No. 2. (1949) Four miniatures in memory of A. Lyadov for piano, Op.40 (1951) Pieces for piano: Sad song, Funeral march, Two mazurkas, Elegy, Waltz, Tu-tu march. Prelude No. 1, Prelude No. 2, Prelude No. 3, Prelude for the left hand. No opus number (1961)

Choral music Moldova – a cantata for choir, soloists, symphony orchestra with words by L. Kornian, Op.21 (19371939) An arrangement of Shevchenko's Testament for choir and symphony orchestra, Op.24 (1939) An arrangement of the song The mountain stands tall for choir, soloists, symphony orchestra, Op.39 (1951) Songs to texts by Tychyna (manuscript not found, no opus number)

Songs Humoresque, four songs to words by Prutkov, Op.8 (1915, 1920) Arrangements of Moldovan folk songs for solo voice, choir and piano, Op. 14, 15, 18, 20, 28 (19301937) Arrangement of eight Moldavian folk songs for voice and piano, Op.25 (undated) Five arrangements of Uzbek folk songs for voice and piano, Op.26 (1942) Four arrangements of Moldovan folk songs for voice and piano, recorded by Borshch, Op.30 (undated) Arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs: "The sycamore stands above the water", "Oi verbo, verbo", "About Karmaluk", "Oh zhigune...", Op.31 (1949) Two arrangements of Russian folk songs: "Utes", "Ah, letyat utky...", Op.32 (1949) Three arrangements of Ukrainian folk songs: "In the cherry orchard", "Oh worlds, little moon", "It's raining", Op.35 (1950) Arrangement of Russian folk songs: "Down the Volga River" for bass and piano, Op.36 (1950) Two arrangements of Moldovan folk songs for voice and piano: "Hey, my cuckoo", "Tractor rule", Op37 (1951) Romances and songs to the words of Tolstoy: "Ushkuynyk", "Gryadoi klubitsya beloyu...", "Dreevtso moe mandalnoe", "Oh, if you could at least for one moment...", "Hurry up", "I kissed you", Maikov, "What a heavy dream", and Solovyov. "Bright stars are burning" to the words of M. Minsky.(No opus number) (19081913) "Singing a song tiredly" and "Behind the light is a shadow". words by O. Vilinsky. (No opus number, undated) Two romances to words by O. Vilinsky: "Lilac", "Everywhere you look - solemn space". (No opus number) (1925) Two songs to words by Pushkin: "To Chaadaev", "White-sided Dragonfly", (No opus number) (1937)

Reputation and legacy Vilinsky played a role in the rebirth of Ukrainian political and cultural identity from 1910 to 1932. He was a key figure to the process of developing Ukrainian piano music to have a clear Ukrainian style.”

Lyatoshynsky wrote of Vilinsky that "He was a wonderful musician and a wonderful person. All his works bear the stamp of true talent and all of them show the fine taste and great professional skill of the author. As for Mykola Mykolayovych as a person, everyone who even occasionally met him could not help but be convinced of his high mental qualities, which were manifested throughout his life."

Vilinsky edited some of Lysenko's piano works, published from 19521953.