Songs of Our Days (Prokofiev)

Cantata by Sergei Prokofiev

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Songs of Our Days, Op. 76 (Russian: Песни наших дней), is a rarely performed cantata for mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1937, during the height of Stalin's power. With rousing marches and text extolling (somewhat unrealistically) Russian virtues and Stalin's magnanimity, the work is composed in a much more approachable style than one would expect of Prokofiev's music during this period.

The total work contains eight songs:

1. March – a Russian march for the full orchestra only
2. Over the Bridge, Cavalry Song – for the male chorus
3. Goodbye! – solo baritone and chorus
4. Golden Ukraine, Folksong – full chorus
5. Brother for Brother – solo baritone and chorus
6. Girls – solo baritone and chorus
7. A Twenty-year old – solo baritone and chorus
8. Lullaby – mezzo-soprano and chorus
9. October Flame – full orchestra and chorus

The text contains many references to Stalin. These were subsequently removed during the Khrushchev Thaw.

The work was premiered on January 5, 1938 in Moscow, conducted by Aleksandr Gauk.[1]

The work was first premiered in Western Europe with the original text by the Goldsmiths Sinfonia and Chorus in London, conducted by Alexander Ivashkin.

## References

[edit]

1. ^ Booklet for CD, Prokofiev: On the Dnieper / Songs of our days, Chandos Records, CHAN10044.

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Sergei Prokofiev

List of compositions

Operas|

* The Giant
* Maddalena
* The Gambler
* The Love for Three Oranges
* The Fiery Angel
* Semyon Kotko
* Betrothal in a Monastery
* War and Peace
* The Story of a Real Man

Ballets|

* Ala i Lolli
* Chout
* Trapèze
* Le pas d'acier
* Prodigal Son
* On the Dnieper
* Romeo and Juliet
* Cinderella
* The Tale of the Stone Flower

Symphonies|

* No. 1 in D major ("Classical")
* No. 2 in D minor
* No. 3 in C minor
* No. 4 in C major
* No. 5 in B♭ major
* No. 6 in E♭ minor
* No. 7 in C♯ minor

Concertos|

| Piano|

* No. 1 in D♭ major
* No. 2 in G minor
* No. 3 in C major
* No. 4 in B♭ major (left-hand)
* No. 5 in G major
* No. 6 (unfinished)

|

Other|

* Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major
* Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor
* Cello Concerto in E minor
* Symphony-Concerto for Cello in E minor
* Cello Concertino in G minor (unfinished)

Orchestral works|

* Sinfonietta in A major (orig. & rev.)
* Summer Night
* Symphonic Song
* Russian Overture
* The Year 1941
* Peter and the Wolf
* Pushkin Waltzes
* Waltz Suite

Film music|

* Alexander Nevsky
* Ivan the Terrible
* Lieutenant Kijé
* The Queen of Spades

Vocal music|

* Alexander Nevsky
* Cantata for the 20th Anniversary of the October Revolution
* Flourish, Mighty Land
* On Guard for Peace
* Seven, They Are Seven
* Songs of Our Days
* Zdravitsa

Chamber music|

* Overture on Hebrew Themes
* Quintet in G minor
* Divertissement
* String Quartet No. 1
* String Quartet No. 2
* Violin Sonata No. 1
* Violin Sonata No. 2
* Flute Sonata in D major
* Cello Sonata in C major
* Sonata for Two Violins in C major
* Sonata for Solo Violin
* Sonata for Solo Cello in C♯ minor

Piano music|

| Sonatas|

* No. 1 in F minor
* No. 2 in D minor
* No. 3 in A minor
* No. 4 in C minor
* No. 5 in C major (orig. & rev.)
* No. 6 in A major
* No. 7 in B♭ major
* No. 8 in B♭ major
* No. 9 in C major
* No. 10 (unfinished)

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Other|

* Toccata in D minor
* Sarcasms
* Visions fugitives
* Tales of an Old Grandmother
* March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges
* Three Pieces from War and Peace
* Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet
* Three Pieces & Six Pieces & Ten Pieces from Cinderella
* Fantasia on Scheherazade (1926)

Related articles|

* Ballets Russes
* Sergei Diaghilev
* George Balanchine
* Sviatoslav Richter
* Mstislav Rostropovich
* Nikolai Myaskovsky
* Prokofiev (crater)
* Lina Prokofiev
* Lina and Serge: The Love and Wars of Lina Prokofiev
* Mira Mendelson
* Oleg Prokofiev
* Shostakovich v. Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corp.

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* Audio

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