Aleksandr Varlamov(1904-1990)
- Composer
- Soundtrack
Aleksandr Varlamov is a composer, arranger, singer, conductor, head of one of the best Soviet jazz orchestras. Honored Artist of the RSFSR (1979), author of more than 400 musical works.
Until September 1918 Varlamov lived in Simbirsk, studied at the second male gymnasium. In 1912, his first musical works were published in Simbirsk - the play "Sadness" and the waltz "Evening". In 1922 he entered GITIS (in the same workshop with Erast Garin and Nikolai Okhlopkov). However, he soon leaves there and enters the Gnesin School.
As the jazz bandleader, Varlamov debuted in 1934. The attention of the music community was attracted by Varlamov's collaboration with a singer from the USA, Celestine Cool. Later he assembled the first group in the USSR from improvising musicians (The Seven). In the fall of 1938, he created the All-Union Radio Committee jazz orchestra, with which he worked until September 1939, having managed to take part in the first domestic television show. In 1939-1940 led the jazz orchestra of MVTU of N. Bauman. From the summer of 1940 to the summer of 1941, he was the chief conductor of the USSR State Jazz Orchestra. Being one of the few then Soviet composers, arrangers and conductors who mastered the swinging style of playing and writing, one of the first in the country to perform swing music, giving interesting examples of a new style.
Aleksandr Varlamov wrote music for pop orchestras, films and television productions, made a number of recordings of his own compositions with sympho-jazz composition. He also translated foreign songs into Russian and performed them himself. Aleksandr Varlamov carefully worked on improving the performing technique and ensemble playing, which led to a noticeable increase in professionalism in domestic jazz and had a significant impact on the development of jazz music in the USSR.
Until September 1918 Varlamov lived in Simbirsk, studied at the second male gymnasium. In 1912, his first musical works were published in Simbirsk - the play "Sadness" and the waltz "Evening". In 1922 he entered GITIS (in the same workshop with Erast Garin and Nikolai Okhlopkov). However, he soon leaves there and enters the Gnesin School.
As the jazz bandleader, Varlamov debuted in 1934. The attention of the music community was attracted by Varlamov's collaboration with a singer from the USA, Celestine Cool. Later he assembled the first group in the USSR from improvising musicians (The Seven). In the fall of 1938, he created the All-Union Radio Committee jazz orchestra, with which he worked until September 1939, having managed to take part in the first domestic television show. In 1939-1940 led the jazz orchestra of MVTU of N. Bauman. From the summer of 1940 to the summer of 1941, he was the chief conductor of the USSR State Jazz Orchestra. Being one of the few then Soviet composers, arrangers and conductors who mastered the swinging style of playing and writing, one of the first in the country to perform swing music, giving interesting examples of a new style.
Aleksandr Varlamov wrote music for pop orchestras, films and television productions, made a number of recordings of his own compositions with sympho-jazz composition. He also translated foreign songs into Russian and performed them himself. Aleksandr Varlamov carefully worked on improving the performing technique and ensemble playing, which led to a noticeable increase in professionalism in domestic jazz and had a significant impact on the development of jazz music in the USSR.
