Duets for Viola & Harp

Dmitri N. Smirnov: DUETS FOR VIOLA & HARP. FAREWELL SONG for viola and harp Op. 37 (1982), 7'. The piece was written for my friends, violist Sergey Rakitchenkov and his wife harpist Olga Ortenberg-Rakitchenkov, immediately after I learned that they decided to leave Russia forever. It was a feeling that everybody is going away, all our close friends and all excellent musicians, leaving us in a desert. The feeling of loss dominates the character of the piece. I used also the "musical letters" of their names in their parts, saying by this a symbolical farewell to them. The premiere performance took place on 4th of October 1982 at the Union of Composers in Moscow. SHADOWS IN LIGHT for viola and harp Op. 122 (1999), 5'30''. Two friends of mine who emigrated and settled in California were continued play my music, asking me from time to time to write a new piece for them. That time I was reading the book by Vassily Kandinsky on the light and shadows in painting, and it was influenced the title and character of the piece. Sergey Rakitchenkov and Olga Ortenberg-Rakitchenkov premiered the piece on 20th of April 2001 at the Old First Church in San Francisco (USA). Scores and parts are available from Meladina Music: meladina@mail.com