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              " ...   The technique of each conductor is individual. The conductor must be able to reflect the emotional state in his movements, his attitude to the content of the musical work . "  

                                                                   

                                                                        Ilya Musin  

   

Semyon Bychkov about his teacher Ilya Musin. From a 1991 interview :  

               

              " ...  He always perceives the music in the moment of its playing. Music is versatile for him. He does not assume a single interpretation, tempo or characteristic of music. He used to say music could breathe as a human being. "

                                        ***       

 

" ... As a great educator, he helps his students to develop their own attitude over the music. Only when a musician knows what they want to express is the process of creating music started."

                                                     

 

Semyon Bychkov.   Continuation :  

               

             " ... He is often open to various ideas. He sees different ways to interpret the compositions. He considers if it is harmonious or not, conclusive or not, etc. Beyond that, nothing else.

He understands the simple truth – interpretation is extremely individual. It makes no sense to perform music if everyone would interpret composition in the same manner.

One could simply record a standard performance of Beethoven, Mahler, or Bruckner’s symphonies for example.

      It reveals his incredible wisdom as an educator. He understands that all musicians are different as people! Of course, they are also different as interpreters.

  He believes that all conductors should find their own style and their own ways to express their feelings about the composition."                                                              

   

Anatolij Briskin. From the interview " Conversations with I. A. Musin», I. Ioanesyan, 1993: 

               

           " ... His honesty, intelligence, morality and integrity were not compatible with the conditions of that time.

... He supported those who had less. He used to give free lessons to the ordinary students who lost the right to study because of situations which were not their own fault.

 

           In ethic and aesthetic aspects, Ilya Musin is the successor of the Conservatoire’s greatest personalities. Time had no hold on him."        

                                                             

   

Valerij Gergiev. From the interview " Conversations with I. A. Musin», I. Ioanesyan, 1993:  

               

            " ... First of all he is a human blessed by the Lord to be a musician and to share music with a lot of people... He could discover the talents of his pupils instead of holding them back. He freely shared everything he knew with his students. He taught them to devote their creative and vital powers to their chosen path ..."   

                                                          

   

Yurij Temirkanov. From the interview " Conversations with I. A. Musin», I. Ioanesyan, 1993:  

               

            " ... Musin is so wonderful in that he finds and cultivates his students’ strengths. The key thing – he develops a distinct personality. This is very important for conducting and mastering this difficult and even shamanic profession ...

                                                          

   

Vasilij Sinajskij. From the interview " Conversations with I. A. Musin», I. Ioanesyan, 1993:  

               

            " ... I always bowed to his genius and talent. 

I remember almost everything which he said during the rehearsals with the orchestra and in the class. His thoughts and advice are always with me and I try to share them with my students. But the Musin method is still unsurpassed."   

                                                          

   

           

Ilya Musin. Excerpt from the Memoirs:

                 

             " ... When I went to Liteyny Prospekt, I met a man near a fence who was selling some sheet music. So I made my first music purchase.

   It was the Valkyrie clavier and the pocket score of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony.

       ... With what trepidation I opened the pages of the musical score! 

I didn't understand anything yet, but the knowledge that I had an outstanding work by a great composer in my hands filled me with pride. 

      ... This was my first musical score."   

                                            

                                                    

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