Mykola Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky (Russian: Николай Овсянико-Куликовский, 1768–1846) was the purported author of a famous musical hoaxSymphony No. 21 (Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky), perpetrated by composer and violinistMikhail Goldstein.
In 1948, Goldstein announced that he had discovered the manuscript of a symphony by Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky in the archives of the theater in Odessa. The G minor work, numbered 21, was said to have been written in 1809; it bore the inscription "for the dedication of the Odessa Theater". The discovery caused a great deal of excitement in Soviet musical circles, for it was seen as proof that Russia had been able to produce a symphonist of comparable stature to Joseph Haydn. Furthermore, the symphony contained Ukrainian folk songs and ended with a Cossack dance, showing that the composer had a nationalist awareness. This piece was subsequently proven to be a fake.[1][2]
Little is known about Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky's life besides his dates of birth (1768) and death (1846). A native of Kherson Oblast, he is known to have been a landowner and patron of the arts; in 1810 he presented his orchestra of serfs to the Odessa Theater. No evidence has yet come to light to suggest that he was active as a composer. He was the grandfather of the linguist Dmitri Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky.
Hoax discovery
The piece was performed in Odessa and in Kyiv in 1949, and was published by the state music publishers in 1951. It was also quickly recorded for Melodiya by Yevgeny Mravinsky, and was soon the subject of treatises by two Soviet musicologists.
One of the musicologists to study the work was a composer and Kyiv conservatory professor named Gleb Taranov, who was asked to examine the manuscript of the symphony. Upon completing his examination, he concluded that neither Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky nor Mikhail Goldstein had written the symphony. Goldstein, however, stated that the symphony was in fact his own work. He had been stung when a communist party functionary savaged his use of Ukrainian themes in one of his own pieces, claiming that as a Jew he could not understand Ukrainian culture and had no right to use it in his music. When Goldstein replied that Beethoven also made use of Ukrainian themes in his "Razumovsky Quartets" the functionary said bluntly that "Beethoven was not a Jew." The symphony, then, was written as an act of revenge, to prove that he could, in fact, write "Ukrainian" music. Vsevolod Chаgovets, a philosemitic Ukrainian musician-friend of his, made the suggestion to ascribe the symphony to "Ovsianniko-Kulikovsky".[3]
Goldstein was branded a liar and a traitor to Soviet culture for his actions; in 1964 he emigrated from Ukraine to West Germany. He spent his remaining years teaching and working as a musicologist in Germany.
The hoax was not acknowledged in some later publications. The work continues to be taught in courses on Ukrainian music at the major conservatories in Ukraine.[citation needed]
Publication
Ovsianiko-Kulikovsky: Symphony No. 21. full score, 22.2 x 30 cm 79pp. Moscow, Muzgiz, 1951. 480 copies printed.
Recording
The Melodiya recording of the symphony has recently been reissued.
Alexander Glazunov (1865–1936) Symphony No. 4 in E flat Major en, op. 48
Nikolai Ovsianiko-Kulikovski (Michael Goldstein) Symphony No. 21 in G minor
1 CD - ADD - TT: 55' 42
Recorded in 1948 (Glazunov) & 1954 (Ovsianiko-Kulikovski)
References
^Taruskin, Richard (1996). Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions: A Biography of the Works Through Mavra, p. 161. University of California Press, ISBN978-0-520-07099-8
^Association for Recorded Sound Collection (1994). ARSC Journal, Volume 25, pp. 42-43.
^"Находка великой симфонии - Великие авантюры и приключения в мире искусств. 100 историй, поразивших мир". www.e-reading.club. Retrieved Sep 28, 2019.
External links
Notes on the symphony and the hoax
Musica-Ukrainica page
March 11, 2023
mykola, ovsianiko, kulikovsky, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jst. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Mykola Ovsianiko Kulikovsky news newspapers books scholar JSTOR January 2013 Learn how and when to remove this template message Mykola Ovsianiko Kulikovsky Russian Nikolaj Ovsyaniko Kulikovskij 1768 1846 was the purported author of a famous musical hoax Symphony No 21 Ovsianiko Kulikovsky perpetrated by composer and violinist Mikhail Goldstein In 1948 Goldstein announced that he had discovered the manuscript of a symphony by Ovsianiko Kulikovsky in the archives of the theater in Odessa The G minor work numbered 21 was said to have been written in 1809 it bore the inscription for the dedication of the Odessa Theater The discovery caused a great deal of excitement in Soviet musical circles for it was seen as proof that Russia had been able to produce a symphonist of comparable stature to Joseph Haydn Furthermore the symphony contained Ukrainian folk songs and ended with a Cossack dance showing that the composer had a nationalist awareness This piece was subsequently proven to be a fake 1 2 Contents 1 Description 2 Purported composer 3 Hoax discovery 4 Publication 5 Recording 6 References 7 External linksDescription EditAdagio Allegro G minor Romance Adagio G major Minuet G minor with trio in G major Finale Kazachok G major Purported composer EditLittle is known about Ovsianiko Kulikovsky s life besides his dates of birth 1768 and death 1846 A native of Kherson Oblast he is known to have been a landowner and patron of the arts in 1810 he presented his orchestra of serfs to the Odessa Theater No evidence has yet come to light to suggest that he was active as a composer He was the grandfather of the linguist Dmitri Ovsianiko Kulikovsky Hoax discovery EditThe piece was performed in Odessa and in Kyiv in 1949 and was published by the state music publishers in 1951 It was also quickly recorded for Melodiya by Yevgeny Mravinsky and was soon the subject of treatises by two Soviet musicologists One of the musicologists to study the work was a composer and Kyiv conservatory professor named Gleb Taranov who was asked to examine the manuscript of the symphony Upon completing his examination he concluded that neither Ovsianiko Kulikovsky nor Mikhail Goldstein had written the symphony Goldstein however stated that the symphony was in fact his own work He had been stung when a communist party functionary savaged his use of Ukrainian themes in one of his own pieces claiming that as a Jew he could not understand Ukrainian culture and had no right to use it in his music When Goldstein replied that Beethoven also made use of Ukrainian themes in his Razumovsky Quartets the functionary said bluntly that Beethoven was not a Jew The symphony then was written as an act of revenge to prove that he could in fact write Ukrainian music Vsevolod Chagovets a philosemitic Ukrainian musician friend of his made the suggestion to ascribe the symphony to Ovsianniko Kulikovsky 3 Goldstein was branded a liar and a traitor to Soviet culture for his actions in 1964 he emigrated from Ukraine to West Germany He spent his remaining years teaching and working as a musicologist in Germany The hoax was not acknowledged in some later publications The work continues to be taught in courses on Ukrainian music at the major conservatories in Ukraine citation needed Publication EditOvsianiko Kulikovsky Symphony No 21 full score 22 2 x 30 cm 79pp Moscow Muzgiz 1951 480 copies printed Recording EditThe Melodiya recording of the symphony has recently been reissued MELODIYA MEL 1000933 Evgeni Mravinsky Glazunov amp Ovsianiko Kulikovski Leningrad Philharmonic Orchestra Evgeni Mravinski conductorAlexander Glazunov 1865 1936 Symphony No 4 in E flat Major en op 48 Nikolai Ovsianiko Kulikovski Michael Goldstein Symphony No 21 in G minor1 CD ADD TT 55 42 Recorded in 1948 Glazunov amp 1954 Ovsianiko Kulikovski References Edit Taruskin Richard 1996 Stravinsky and the Russian Traditions A Biography of the Works Through Mavra p 161 University of California Press ISBN 978 0 520 07099 8 Association for Recorded Sound Collection 1994 ARSC Journal Volume 25 pp 42 43 Nahodka velikoj simfonii Velikie avantyury i priklyucheniya v mire iskusstv 100 istorij porazivshih mir www e reading club Retrieved Sep 28 2019 External links EditUkrainian music of the nineteenth century Notes on the symphony and the hoax Musica Ukrainica page Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Mykola Ovsianiko Kulikovsky amp oldid 1116950246, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
