Stefan Nikolov Remenkov (Bulgarian: Стефан Николов Ременков) (born 30 April 1923, Silistra - 30 October 1988, Sofia) was a Bulgarian composer and pianist.
Biography
Remenkov comes from a family of teachers. His father Nikolay Remenkov taught history and philosophy, and was a headteacher. His mother Angelina was a chemistry teacher. He received piano lessons from an early age and began composing already in school. He completed his high school education in Constanta, Romania where the family lived at the time. During World War II he served as a soldier on the front with the Bulgarian army."While on active service in World War II he established and conducted a choir on the front lines. He then started writing marches, many of which became very popular - "The March of the First Bulgarian Army" was broadcast daily by Sofia radio." The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, London 2001, Vol. 21, p. 177 After the war he studied music graduating in 1950 from the Bulgarian State Conservatoire majoring in composition under Prof. Pancho Vladigerov and Prof. Veselin Stoyanov; and piano under Prof. Dimitar Nenov.s. cover of Balkanton record BCA 1300/430 - Stefan Remenkov - Sofia, 1980: "graduated... majoring in piano under Prof. Dimitar Nenov and composition - under Prof. Pancho Vladigerov and Prof. Vesselin Stoyanov." He taught Musical Forms at the Bulgarian State Conservatoire from 1950 - 1955 as assistant-lecturer to Prof. Veselin Stoyanov, then specialised for a year at the Moscow Conservatory under Aram Khachaturian.Frank, Paul; Altman, Wilhelm. "Kurzgefasstes Tonkünstler Lexikon", volume 2, edition 15, Wilhelmshaven 1978, p. 214. : "Stud: Kons. Sofia u. Kons. Moskau (Chatschsturjan). Komp. W: Sinfon, Suiten, Klvkonz, KaM, KlvM."
After that he lived and worked as a composer in Sofia, writing more than 86 compositions.Radev, Valcho (Радев, Вълчо). "Belezhiti Silistrenzi", Silistra 2006, p.388: "Стефан Ременков е автор на повече от 86 опуса..." Some of these received awards, for instance "Prelude and Dance" (1957).The British Library's Sound Collection. Prelude And Dance/Remenkov Sofia State Philharmonic Orchestra/Vlady Simeonov (recording) Most were publishedPublishing house Nauka i Izkustvo - Наука и изкуство, Sofia; Publishing house Muzika - Музика, Sofia. and many of Bulgaria's top musicians, orchestras, and choirs performed them. Balkanton released over the years three long playing vinyl records (LP's) with music by Stefan Remenkov, the last one in 1980.Balkanton BCA 1300/430 - Stefan Remenkov - The Bulgarian Composers Records Collection, Sofia 1980. Further recordings are in the archives of the Bulgarian National Radio, which broadcast them. Among his works are one opera, one operetta, a musical, a ballet; many instrumental works - symphonies,Hollfelder, Peter. "Das grosse Handbuch der Klaviermusik", Hamburg 1996, p.801. "Remenkov tritt hauptsächlich mit Bühnen- und Orchesterwerken (5 Symphonien) sowie mit Klaviermusik hervor..." concertos for piano and orchestra,Schönewolf, Karl. "Konzertbuch", volume 2, Leipzig 1967, p. 657: "Künstlerische Quialitäten besitzen auch die Klavierkonzerte von Alexander Rajtschew und Stefan Remenkow... " ( "..the piano concertos of Alexander Raichev and Stefan Remenkov possess artistic merit ...) for violoncello and orchestra, for violin and orchestra, sonatas for piano, for violin and piano,British Library. Соната за цигулка и пиано. Sonate pour violin et piano. (Score and part.) 2 pt. Държавно издателство "Наука и изкуство": София, 1955. g.896.b.(4.) for flute, oboe, and piano, suites, preludes, divertimento, rhapsody, piano quintet, string quintet, string quartets, trios, film music; as well as solo, choral, and children's songs.
Characteristic for his music is the melodic brightness "rhythmic inventiveness, emotional immediacy and clear formal procedure. His orchestral works are notable for their dynamic vitality and complex combinations of folk rhythms.The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, London 2001, Vol. 21 p.177
Works
Stage Works Opera "Ганем" (Ganem), 1967 Operetta "Грешките са наши" (Greshkite sa nashi - The errors are ours), libretto by Radoy Ralin, 1966 Musical "Принцът и просякът" (The Prince and the Pauper), libretto based on Mark Twain's novel "The Prince and the Pauper", 1973 Ballet "Непокорените" (Nepokorenite - The Untamed), 1971
Instrumental works Symphony in the Classical Style (Симфония в класически стил), 1960 Sinfonietta, 1960 Children's Symphony (Детска симфония), 1961 Symphony No.3, 1965 Phaeton symphonic poem (Симфонична поема Фаетон), 1966 Symphony No.4, 1968 Symphony No.5, 1971 Suites (1952, 1970) Suite "From Distant Lands" (От далечни страни), 1958 Suite for flute and piano, 1976 Divertimento, 1962 Concerto for piano and orchestra No.1, 1953 Concerto for piano No.2, 1969 Concertino for piano and chamber orchestra, 1980 Concerto for violoncello and orchestra, 1964 Concerto for violin and orchestra, 1980 Concert-rhapsody for piano and orchestra, 1981 Rhapsody for clarinet, 1975 Ten preludes for piano, 1956 Prelude and Dance, 1957 Three pieces for piano - Panorama (Панорама), Butterfly (Пеперуда), Hay Wagon (Колата със сено), 1966 Piano quintet String quintet String quartets (1959, 1960) Trio for flute, oboe, and bassoon, op. 54 Sonata for violin and piano, 1955 Sonatina for violin and piano, 1972 Sonatina for piano No. 4, 1984 Sonata for flute, oboe and piano, 1979 Watercolour and Humoresque for violin (or viola) and piano, 1950 Six sonatas for piano (1944, 1948, 1949, 1958, 1959–62, 1980)
Film music Димитровградци (Dimitrovgradtsy) (1956) Н.Й. Вапцаров (N. J. Vapzarov) (1954), documentary Ропотамо (Ropotamo) (1958), documentary
Vocal Hyperion chorus and orchestra 1966, poem Mihai Eminescu Solo songs Choral songs Children's songs (1968)
Awards
Orden Cyril and Methodij - Орден Кирил и Методий, 2-ра степен
Bibliography
Bakers Biographical Dictionary of Musicians, Eight Edition, Schirmer Books, New York 1992 British Library. Remenkov (Stefan) Соната за цигулка и пиано. Sonate pour violon et piano. (Score and part.) 2 pt. Държавно издателство "Наука и изкуство": София, 1955. g.896.b.(4) British Library's Sound Collection. Prelude And Dance/Remenkov Sofia State Philharmonic Orchestra/Vladi Simeonov (recording) Frank, Paul; Altman, Wilhelm. Kurzgefasstes Tonkünstler Lexikon, Bd. 2, Ausgabe 15, Wilhelmshaven 1978 Hollfelder, Peter. Das Grosse Handbuch der Klaviermusik, Hamburg 1996 The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians, Second Edition, Vol. 21, Macmillan Publishers, London 2001 Radev, Valcho (Радев, Вълчо). Бележити Силистренци (Belezhiti Silistrenzi - Notable People from Silistra), Silistra 2006 Schönewolf, Karl. Konzertbuch, Bd. 2, Leipzig 1967
References
External links Union of the Bulgarian composers - Stefan Remenkov Stefan Remenkov - Playlist YouTube