Almaz Monasypov

The symphony-poem Musa Jalil (Symphony II) and the vocal-symphonic poem In the Rhythms of Tuqay (tt-Cyrl) are recognized as Tatar national musical classics.

Almaz Monasypov studied at Kazan Conservatory. The recorded working language is Russian. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are symphonic. Works named in the authority record are In the rhythms of Tuqay. Distinctions recorded are Honored art worker of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic, State Prize named after Ğabdulla Tuqay, People's Artist of the Republic of Tatarstan and Medal "In Commemoration of the 1000th Anniversary of Kazan".

• Born — 11 July 1925 • Birthplace — Kazan, Tatar ASSR, USSR • Died — 22 July 2008 • Place of death — Moscow, Russia • Occupation — composer, conductor, cellist • Genre — classical, jazz, ethnic, pop music • Native Name — Almaz Zakir ulı Monasıypov • Years Active — 1953–2008

Almaz Monasypov was born on 11 July 1925, in Kazan. His family often played music, including his father who played the violin. At the age of eleven, Monasypov entered the children's music school in Kazan to study the cello. His teacher at the music school and later at the Kazan Music College was Ruvim Polyakov. In 1943 when Monasypov turned 18, he was drafted into the Red Army to serve on the Eastern Front. After the end of World War II, Monasypov entered the Kazan State Conservatory, where he graduated in 1950 as a cellist under Professor Alexander Brown. He returned to the Conservatory in 1952 to study composition. In 1956, he graduated from the Kazan Conservatory for the second time under Professor Albert Leman, and received a diploma as a composer. In 1964, Monasypov completed a post-graduate studies course at the Conservatory, specializing in opera and symphony conducting under Professor Isay Sherman. From 1959 to 1970, Monasypov worked as a conductor at the Tatar State Opera and Ballet House named after Mussa Jalil. From 1970 to 1973, Monasypov was the conductor of the Symphony Orchestra of the Tatar State Philharmonic named after G. Tuqay. From 1968 to 1973 and from 2000 to 2003, he taught at the Kazan Conservatory in the Department of Composition. Starting in 1972, Monasypov continued to participate in the musical life of the Republic of Tatarstan while living in Moscow through the work of the Union of Composers of Tatarstan and in the education of young composers. In 1991, he was awarded The State Prize of the Republic of Tatarstan, named after G. Tuqay. Monasypov died on 22 July 2008 in Moscow and was buried at the Mitinskoe Cemetery.

Monasypov's works include several symphonies; he also authored hundreds of songs, romances, music for solo instruments, and a violin sonata.

Dedicated to the famous Tatar poet-hero, the symphony-poem Musa Jalil (also Second Symphony, 1971) brought great success to Monasypov. The symphony-poem was intended to embody images of courage, heroism, and war.

In the Third Symphony (1974), Monasypov aimed to expand upon the philosophical themes of man's search for his place in the world and the necessity of resisting cruelty and violence. Embedded in the symphony's score is the rhythm from the Morse code SOS signal, which breaks through at climax zones in the development of the theme.

The Fourth Symphony "Dastan" (1978) is an example of Tatar symphonic music. Monasypov often utilized rhythms of ancient baits (tt-Cyrl) and munajats (tt-Cyrl), including them in his instrumental and vocal compositions. The symphony touches on themes of the spiritual world of Tatar culture.

Though he primarily created more serious pieces of music, Monasypov was also the author of many popular songs within the Republic of Tatarstan and far beyond its borders. One of his most popular works was the vocal-symphonic poem In the Rhythms of Tuqay, written in 1975. His compositions have also been performed by pop orchestras, including the Foxtrot "Hallar" ("Dreams"), which was included in the repertoire of a famous jazz orchestra under Oleg Lundstrem. In 1990, Musical offering to Salih Saidashev was written for the symphony orchestra, in which the author pays homage to the founder of Soviet Tatar professional music.

• In the Rhythms of Tuqay (1975) • Symphonies I – IV (1963, 1968, 1974, 1978) • "Musical offering to Salih Saidashev" (1990) • "Kryashen melodies" (1998) • Violin Sonata (1954) • Incidental music • More than 300 songs and romances with Tatar and Russian lyrics • Various pieces for solo instruments

• Монасыпов, А. Неразрывная связь: [воспоминания композитора о годах учебы в консерватории] Казань. – 2005 – No. 5 – С. 18–19. • Монасыпов, А. Как создать элиту. Оценки и прогнозы. Век ушедший и наступивший век. XX-XXI. Казань. – 2001 – No. 2 – С. 71. • Монасыпов, А. Неангажированный оптимист: [беседа с композитором накануне его юбилея] / Беседовала Т. Алмазова. Республика Татарстан. – 2001 – 20 января.