Mikhail Isakovsky

The recorded working language is Russian. The field of work recorded is poetry, translating activity and opinion journalism. Subjects and genres recorded for the work are poetry. Places of work recorded in the authority are Smolensk and Moscow. Distinctions recorded are Stalin Prize, Order of Lenin, Hero of Socialist Labour and Order of the Badge of Honour.

• Name — Mikhail Isakovsky • Born — 19 January 1900 • Birthplace — Glotovka village, Smolensk Governorate, Russian Empire • Died — 21 July 1973 • Place of death — Moscow, Russian SFSR, Soviet Union • Occupation — Poet, lyricist, translator, editor • Notable Works — "Katyusha" "Lonely Accordion" "Enemies burnt the dear house down"

• Illustration — Mikhail Isakovsky's first rhyme Просьба солдата published in newspaper Nov (Новь). in 1914 Mikhail Isakovsky was born in Glotovka, Yelninsky Uyezd, Smolensk Governorate, to a poor peasant family of ethnic Russians. A local priest taught him to read and write. Later he studied at a gymnasium for two years. His first poem, Просьба солдата, was published in 1914 in Russian newspaper Nov (Новь). In 1918, he joined the Communist Party of the Soviet Union. From 1921 until 1931, he worked in Smolensk newspapers. In 1927, his first book of poems, Провода в соломе, was published. In 1931, he left for Moscow. Many poems of Isakovsky are set to music. The most famous are "Katyusha (Катюша)" (music by Matvey Blanter), "The Enemy Burned My Native Hut (Враги сожгли родную хату)" (music by Matvey Blanter), "In the Frontier Forest (В лесу прифронтовом)", and "Migrant Birds Fly (Летят перелётные птицы)", and "Lonely Accordion (Одинокая гармонь)". His songs "What You Were Is What You Are (Каким ты был, таким ты и остался)" and "Oh, Arrowwood Is Blooming (Ой, цветет калина)", set to music by Isaak Dunayevsky, were used in the film Cossacks of the Kuban (Кубанские казаки) (1949). The song "The Enemy Burned My Native Hut (Враги сожгли родную хату)" (1945) was officially criticized for "pessimism" and was not printed or sung until 1956. As a result of cooperation with Vladimir Zakharov, Isakovsky's poems set to music appear in the repertoire of the Pyatnitsky Choir. The most widely known of them are "Along the Village (Вдоль деревни)", "Seeing Off (Провожанье)" and "You Can Never Tell (И кто его знает)". According to Alexandra Permyakova, chief musician of the Pyatnitsky Choir, these songs made the Choir famous. He twice received the Stalin Prize for his songwriting (1943, 1949). In 1970, he was awarded the title of Hero of Socialist Labour. He was also awarded four Orders of Lenin, in addition to other orders and medals. He also published a book on the subject of poetry, О поэтическом мастерстве ('On Poetic Mastery'). Mikhail Isakovsky died in Moscow on 20 July 1973, and he was buried in the Novodevichy Cemetery.

Mikhail Isakovsky worked in poetry, translating activity, opinion journalism and literary criticism. His work is associated with socialist realism. He belonged to USSR Union of Writers. He worked at Smolensk and Moscow.