Dmitry Kabalevsky
20th Century · 1904–1987
Dmitry Kabalevsky was born in St. Petersburg in 1904 and spent his working life in Moscow, where he taught composition at the conservatory and became one of the most visible official figures in Soviet music. Unlike colleagues such as Shostakovich, he stayed largely in favor with the state, writing in a bright, tuneful style that authorities approved of.
His deepest commitment was to children's music education. He wrote stacks of piano pieces for young players, designed school music programs used across the Soviet Union, and late in life went back to teaching schoolchildren himself to test his ideas. Generations of piano students worldwide have grown up on his short pieces. He died in Moscow in 1987.
Start with The Comedians, a quick, funny orchestral suite drawn from music he wrote for a children's play; its galop movement will likely sound familiar. Then try the Piano Concerto no. 3, subtitled Youth, written for student performers.
31 works in the catalog, across 4 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- Cello Sonata in B flat major, op. 71
- Improvisation, for violin and piano, op. 21
Keyboard
- 4 Preludes, op. 5
- 6 Preludes and Fugues, op. 61
- 24 Preludes, op. 38
- 30 Pieces for Children, op. 27
- Sonata no. 1 in F major, op. 6
- Sonata no. 2 in E flat major, op. 45
- Sonata no. 3 in F major, op. 46
- Sonatina in C major, op. 13, no. 1
- Sonatina in G minor, op. 13, no. 2
- Variations, op. 40, no. 1
Orchestral
- Piano Concerto no. 3 in D, op. 50, "Youth"
- Symphony no. 2 in C minor, op. 19
- The Comedians, suite for small orchestra, op. 26
- Cello Concerto no. 1 in G minor, op. 49
- Cello Concerto no. 2 in C major, op. 77
- Colas Breugnon,, op. 24a Suite from the opera
- Overture pathétique, op. 64
- Piano Concerto no. 1 in A minor, op. 9
- Piano Concerto no. 2 in G minor, op. 23
- Piano Concerto no. 4, op. 99, "Prague"
- Rhapsody for Piano and Orchestra, op. 75
- Romeo and Juliet, op. 56, Suite from the Incidental Music
- Spring, op. 65 Symphonic poem
- Symphony no. 1 in C sharp minor, op. 18
- Symphony no. 3 for chorus and orchestra in B flat minor, op. 22
- Symphony no. 4 in C minor, op. 54
- Violin Concerto in C major, op. 48
Vocal
- 10 Sonnets of Shakespeare for voice and piano, op. 52
- Poem of Struggle, for chorus and orchestra, op. 12
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