Music of Choreographic Miniatures by Leonid Yakobson: Problems of selection and arrangement of materia

Abstract

The article is devoted to the study of aspects of the musical work of the outstanding choreographer of the twentieth century Leonid Yakobson related to the selection and editing of musical works for the production of choreographic miniatures. The criteria for selecting music and Yakobson’s composer preferences are determined, revealing the reasons for the choreographer to turn to a particular work, to the music of a certain era, style. The personalities of the musicians who guided Yakobson in the search, selection and editing of music for choreographic performances are determined. The issues of collaboration between Jacobson and his musical assistant, composer Timur Kogan, who held the position of musical director of the Choreographic Miniatures troupe, are explored. Jacobson’s fundamental attitude is revealed, which determines the techniques and principles of musical work: with all his enthusiastic interest and love for music, the choreographer in his work was always guided by the primacy of the plastic concept. This determined both the features of musical editing work (the creation and use of orchestrations instrumental pieces, making cuts and other edits, the use of phonograms) and the principles of production work. They were manifested in the emphasized musicality of the plastic language, sensitivity in following the intonation pattern of the musical fabric. The role of musical dramaturgy in the process of creating the artistic image of a choreographic miniature is noted.