Boleslav Yavorsky

Boleslav Leopoldovych Yavorsky (Ukrainian: Болесла́в Леопо́льдович Яво́рський; June 22, 1877, Kharkiv – November 26, 1942^[1]) was a Ukrainian musicologist, music teacher, administrator and pianist.

Through his teachings and editorial positions he heavily influenced Soviet music theory.^[2] However, outside Soviet circles, he has had little impact.^[2]

Biography

He studied at the Kyiv School of Music and at the Moscow Conservatory under Sergei Taneyev. He taught at the Kyiv Conservatory until 1916–1921, the First Music Tekhnikum in Moscow, which he founded, and the Moscow Conservatory.

He chaired the music section of Narkompros from 1922 to 1930.

Yavorsky was a friend, mentor and confidant of the composer Dmitri Shostakovich and played an important role in the latter's development. He often used his influence to further Shostakovich's career.^[3]

His students included Vladimir Aleksandrovich Dukelsky (also known as Vernon Duke), Alexei Fedorovich Kozlovsky, Alexander Abramovich Krein, Sergei Protopopov and Mykola Leontovych and Isaak Rabinovich, whose son Boleslav Rabinovich was named after Isaak's beloved teacher.

Notes

1. Slonimsky, Nicolas (1978). "Yavorsky, Boleslav". Baker's Biographical dictionary of musicians (6th ed.). New York: Schirmer Books. p. 1926. ISBN 0-02-870240-9.
2. Damschroder, Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker: A Bibliography and Guide, p.386
3. Fay, Shostakovich: A Life, p. 27

References

• Damschroder, David; Williams, David Russell (1990). Music Theory from Zarlino to Schenker: A Bibliography and Guide. Pendragon Press. pp. 386–388. ISBN 0-918728-99-1.
• Fay, Laurel (1999). Shostakovich: A Life. Oxford University Press. pp. 27, p. 385. ISBN 0-19-513438-9.

Further reading

• Wehrmeyer, Andreas (1991). Studien zum russichen Musikdenken um 1920 (in German). Frankfurt am Main: Peter Lang. ISBN 3-631-44048-0.
• McQuere, Gordon (1983). "The Theories of Boleslav Yavorsky". In McQuere, Gordon. Russian Theoretical Thought in Music. Russian Music Studies. No. 10. UMI Research Press. ISBN 0-8357-1457-8.