Short bio Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Full biography Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Ivan Alexandrovich Wyschnegradsky (1893-1979) was a Russian composer, primarily known for his microtonal music. He was born in Saint Petersburg to a mother who wrote poetry and a father who was a banker. Wyschnegradsky studied music in Russia and later in Paris, where he moved in 1920 and spent most of his life.
Wyschnegradsky was deeply interested in microtonal music, which he believed could express a greater range of emotions. In 1918 he started experimenting with quarter-tone tuning, and in the 1920s he developed his own system of 72 notes to the octave. He wrote music for a variety of instruments, including pianos, string quartets, and orchestras, all using microtonal scales.
Wyschnegradsky was also interested in color theory, and created color wheels to represent his microtonal scales. His music was often inspired by mystical and philosophical ideas, and he believed that music had the power to awaken spiritual experiences in listeners.
While Wyschnegradsky's music was not widely performed during his lifetime, it has received increasing attention in recent years from musicians and scholars interested in microtonal music. The Arditti Quartet, a renowned string quartet, has championed his music and many of his compositions have been recorded and released on various labels.
Wyschnegradsky was not only a composer but also a theorist and writer. He wrote extensively on his microtonal system and its applications in music, and his 1932 book "Manual of Quarter-Tone Harmony" remains an important text on the subject.
In summary, Ivan Wyschnegradsky was a Russian composer and inventor of a microtonal music system consisting of 72 tones to the octave. His music was often inspired by mystical and philosophical ideas and he was also interested in color theory. Although his music was not widely performed during his lifetime, it has gained recognition in recent years and his theories and writings on microtonal music remain influential to this day.
Compositions featuring Ivan Wyschnegradsky
| # | Name | Duration | Genre | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arc-en-ciel 2 (Excerpt from Les Arcs-en-ciel, Op. 52a), for 6 grand pianos in 12-tone tuning | 3:19 min | Keyboard | 1972 |
| 2 | Composition en quarts de ton | 6:06 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1963 |
| 3 | Transparencies II, Op 47 | 11:54 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1963 |
| 4 | Etude sur le Carré Magique Sonore, for piano, Op. 40 | 8:22 min | Keyboard | 1957 |
| 5 | Arc-en-ciel, for 6 grand pianos in 12-tone tuning | 9:19 min | Keyboard | 1956 |
| 6 | Transparencies I, Op 36 | 8:54 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1953 |
| 7 | Chants russes (2), for voice & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 29 | Vocal Music | 1940 | |
| 8 | Cosmos, for 4 (quartertone) pianos, Op. 28 | 15:51 min | Miscellaneous (Classical) | 1939 |
| 9 | À Richard Wagner, for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 26 | Vocal Music | 1934 | |
| 10 | Préludes (24) dans l'échelle chromatique diatonisée à 13 sons, en quarts de ton for 2 pianos, Op. 22 | 53:09 min | Keyboard | 1934 |
| 11 | Chant nocturne for violin & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 11 | 6:45 min | Chamber Music | 1927 |
| 12 | Chants (2) sur Nietzsche, for baritone & 2 pianos in quarter tones, Op. 9 | Vocal Music | 1923 | |
| 13 | L'Évangelie Rouge, cycle for voice & 2 pianos in quarter tones (2nd version), Op. 8 | Vocal Music | 1918 | |
| 14 | Meditation on Two Themes From "The Day of Existence" for piano & cello (or bassoon), Op 7 | 6:39 min | Chamber Music | 1918 |
| 15 | Chant douloureux for violin & piano, Op. 6 | 4:43 min | Chamber Music | 1918 |
| 16 | Preludes (2) for piano, Op. 2 | 3:41 min | Keyboard | 1916 |
| 17 | Etude Ultra Chromatique, for ensemble | 3:47 min | Chamber Music | - |
| 18 | Piano Sonata, Op. 34 | 9:35 min | Keyboard | - |
| 19 | Dithyrambe, for chamber ensemble, Op. 12 | 12:55 min | Keyboard | - |
| 20 | Songs of Nietzsche, Op. 9: Après un orage nocturne | 5:30 min | - | |
| 21 | Songs of Nietzsche, Op. 9: Le signe de feu | 8:09 min | - | |
| 22 | Dialogue, for piano | 14:44 min | Keyboard | - |
| 23 | Compositions for String quartet and String trio | Chamber Music | - | |
| 24 | Étude sur les mouvements rotatoires, Op. 45c | 6:08 min | Keyboard | - |
| 25 | Études sur les densités et les volumes, No. 1 for 2 (quartertone) pianos, Op. 39b/1 | 5:07 min | Keyboard | - |
| 26 | Études sur les densités et les volumes, No. 2, for 2 (quartertone) pianos , Op. 39b/2 | 4:45 min | Keyboard | - |
Albums featuring Ivan Wyschnegradsky
| # | Сover | Name album | Year | Music label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Alain Bancquart, Alain Moëne – Pianos Quart De Ton(CD, Album) | 2018 | Shiiin |
| 2 |  |
Thomas Günther (2), Nikolaj Obuchov, Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Sergej Protopopov, Arthur Lourié, Alexander Mosolov, Alexander Skrjabin, Igor Strawinsky, Nikolaj Roslavetz – Klavierwerke Um Den Russischen Futurismus Vol. 1-4(4×SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Compil | 2016 | Cybele |
| 3 |  |
La Journée De L'Existence(CD, Album) | 2009 | Shiiin |
| 4 |  |
Thomas Günther (2), Nikolaj Obuchov, Ivan Wyschnegradsky, Sergej Protopopov – Klavierwerke Um Den Russischen Futurismus Vol. 1(SACD, Hybrid, Multichannel, Album) | 2009 | Cybele |
| 5 |  |
Charles Ives, Ivan Wyschnegradsky - Josef Christof, Steffen Schleiermacher – Quarter-Tone Pieces(CD, ) | 2006 | hat[now]ART |
| 6 |  |
Etude Sur Les Mouvements Rotatoires · 24 Préludes(CD, Album) | 2002 | col legno |
| 7 |  |
Ivan Wyschnegradsky / Bruce Mather – Michel Ducharme, Pierrette & Bruce Mather – L'Evangile Rouge (The Red Gospel)(CD, Album) | 1999 | sne (Société Nouvelle d'Enregistrement) |
| 8 |  |
Acte Choreographique Opus 27(CD, ) | 1999 | Mikroton |
| 9 |  |
Étude Sur Les Mouvements Rotatoires - Sonate Op. 34 - Dialogue Op. Posth. - Études Sur Les Densités Et les Volumes, I & II - Deux Chants Sur Nietzsche - Dithyrambe | 1995 | 2e2m Collection |
| 10 |  |
Ivan Wyschnegradsky / Serge Provost / Bruce Mather – Hommage À / Hommage To Ivan Wyschnegradsky(CD, ) | 1994 | sne (Société Nouvelle d'Enregistrement) |
| 11 |  |
Ivan Wyschnegradsky - Arditti String Quartet – Compositions For String Quartet And String Trio(CD, Album) | 1990 | Edition Block |
| 12 |  |
24 Preludes Op.22 / Integrations Op.49(CD, ) | 1988 | Fontec Records |
| 13 |  |
Ivan Wyschnegradsky / Bruce Mather / Jack Behrens – Music For Three Pianos in Sixths Of Tones(LP, Album, Stereo) | 1985 | McGill University Records |
| 14 |  |
Vierteltonmusik • Musique A Quarts De Ton • Quarter Tone Music(2×LP) | 1983 | Edition Block |
Videos featuring Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: I
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: I · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: IV
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: IV · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: V
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: V · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXIV
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXIV · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTub
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XIV
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XIV · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXI
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXI · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Chorale
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Chorale · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Charles Ives
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTub
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Allegro
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Allegro · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Charles Ives
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTub
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XX
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XX · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXIII
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XXIII · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: IX
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: IX · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XVIII
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Preludes in Quarter-Tone System: XVIII · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Ivan Wyschnegradsky
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Largo
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Three Quarter-Tone Pieces for Two Pianos: Largo · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher · Charles Ives
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Three Page Sonata
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Three Page Sonata · Charles Ives · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTube.
Étude sur le 'Carré Magique Sonore', Op. 40
Provided to YouTube by The Orchard Enterprises
Étude sur le 'Carré Magique Sonore', Op. 40 · Ivan Wyschnegradsky · Josef Christof · Steffen Schleiermacher
Quarter-Tone Pieces
℗ 2006 Hat Hut Records Ltd.
Released on: 2014-07-24
Auto-generated by YouTu
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