Yury Slonov - Prelude (Прелюдия), n. 39, from Pieces for Children (1960)

NOTE: Today I changed the order of the publications because in the afternoon I was reached by the sad news of the passage to the other side of the river of the American guitarist Ralph Towner. I have personally met him several times and have listened to several of his wonderful concerts. But here I would like to remember him for something more personal that, in some way, changed the course of my life. In the 90s I only listened to classical music, it was thanks to an Oregon record, "Crossing", that I was literally struck and I started listening to jazz and opening my eyes. This turning point then determined the course of my life for the next few years until today. Thank you again for that, Ralph, and especially thank you for the magnificent music you have given us.

Yuri Mikhailovich Slonov (Russian: Юрий Михайлович Слонов; ISO-9: Jurij Michajlovič Slonov). Yuri Mikhailovic Slonov was born on July 14th, 1906 in Moscow; he died on November 19th, 1981 in Moscow. He was a Soviet composer, and noted song writer. Honoured Art Worker of the RSFSR (1977).
He studied at the Moscow Conservatoire, where he graduated in 1936 in the class of composition headed by A. N. Alexandrov.. From 1925-30, was film illustrator at the club ‘Profintern’ in Moscow and from 1930-40 was head of the music department of the Youth Theatre in Moscow.
His first musical works were written mainly in the genre of light dance music - foxtrots, tangos, waltzes, etc. (published in 1926-30 under the pseudonym "Yuri Grin").
A participant of the World War II. At the very beginning of the war Yuri Slonov, among other Moscow composers, voluntarily joined the Navy and served the whole war in the Black Sea Fleet, where he participated in the defense of Sevastopol. He had the rank of technician-intendant of the first rank. He was awarded the Order of the Red Star in 1943.
He wrote a number of songs on maritime themes, such as "By the Sea" (lyrics by A. Zharov), which was especially facilitated by his 1941 business trip with his friend Boris Mokrousov to the Black Sea Fleet.
Slonov's best song about the sea is the well-known "The Wave is Noisy, the String is Ringing" with lyrics by V. Malkov. It was so loved by listeners that it became a folk and table song.
In the post-war period were popular his romantic tangos "Starlight" and "I'm Waiting for You", the waltz "Spring Evening”.
He died on November 19th, 1981 in Moscow and buried at the Vagankovskoye cemetery (3rd cemetery).

The image before (and after) the music is Stage design for “Sadko”: The river Volkhova in flood (1929-1930) by Sergei Sudeikin, chosen by D. T. for this video.

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