Composer, Honored Artist of the BSSR
Alexey Yevlampievich Turenkov (21.1.1886, Saint Petersburg — 27.9.1958, Minsk), composer, Honored Artist of the BSSR (1940).
He studied at the St. Petersburg Conservatory (1911-1914, class of A.Lyadov and M.Sokolova). Since 1918 he lived in Gomel. One of the organizers and teachers of the music school, head of amateur choral circles, artist of the city Symphony orchestra, head of the music section of the Department of Public Education; since 1934 in Minsk.
He began his creative career in the 1920s, and was one of the pioneers of the genres of mass song, choir, and romance in Belarusian music. Of particular importance is Turenkov’s opera “The Flower of Happiness” based on a libretto by V.Borisevich, P.Brovka and P.Glebka (post. 1940), characterized by poetry, lyricism, direct connection with various genres of national musical folklore, precision of musical characteristics in portraying images, accessible folk humor (shown at the Decade of Belarusian Art in Moscow in 1940).
Among other works: the opera “Clear Dawn” (post. 1958, in the new musical edition of G.Wagner 1963), the ballet for children “Forest Tale” (1952), “Belarusian Suite” at 4 o’clock, “Belarusian Fantasy” (both 1933), “Pioneer Suite” (1955), “A Poem about Peace and Labor” (1957) for symphony orchestra, cantata to Pushkin for soloists, choir and symphony orchestra, 2 string quartets, Rhapsody for string quartet, piano trio, pieces by piano, violin and viola, viola and piano, romances based on poems by A.Pushkin, Ya.Kupala, Ya.Kolos, M.Bogdanovich, A.Prokofiev, vocal trios, duets.
He is the author of music for dramatic performances and films, arrangements of Belarusian and Russian folk songs for voice from f-P., mixed choir, orchestra of Belarusian folk instruments, domr sextet, accordion.
