Tikhon Khrennikov

Tikhon Nikolayevich Khrennikov (Russian: Тихон Николаевич Хренников) (June 10 [O.S. May 28] 1913 – 14 August, 2007) was a Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, leader of the Union of Soviet Composers, and film actor, who was also known for his political activities. He wrote three symphonies, four piano concertos, two violin concertos, two cello concertos, operas, operettas, ballets, chamber music, incidental music and film music. Tikhon Khrenniko... more

Tikhon Nikolayevich Khrennikov (Russian: Тихон Николаевич Хренников) (June 10 [O.S. May 28] 1913 – 14 August, 2007) was a Russian and Soviet composer, pianist, leader of the Union of Soviet Composers, and film actor, who was also known for his political activities. He wrote three symphonies, four piano concertos, two violin concertos, two cello concertos, operas, operettas, ballets, chamber music, incidental music and film music. Tikhon Khrennikov was the youngest of ten children, born into a family of horse traders, in the town of Yelets, Lipetsk Oblast in central Russia. He learned guitar and mandolin from his family members, and sang with a local choir in Yelets. There he also played with a local orchestra and studied piano. As a teen he moved to Moscow. From 1929 to 1932, he studied composition at the Gnessin Music College under Mikhail Gnessin and Yefraim Gelman. From 1932 to 1936, he attended Moscow Conservatory. There he took composition under Vissarion Shebalin, and studied... less