Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

Alfred Schnittke

Role / Field:

Influential Soviet/Russian composer known for polystylism and depicting modern spiritual struggle.

Born:

1934-11-24

Died:

1998-08-03

Century / Era:

1934s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

Alfred Garrievich Schnittke (24 November 1934 – 3 August 1998) was a Soviet and Russian composer. Among the most performed and recorded composers of late 20th-century classical music, he is described by musicologist Ivan Moody as a "composer who was concerned in his music to depict the moral and spiritual struggles of contemporary man in [...] depth and detail." Schnittke's early music shows the strong influence of Dmitri Shostakovich. He developed a polystylistic technique in works such as the epic Symphony No. 1 (1969–1972) and his first concerto grosso (1977).

Pivotal Works & Achievements

In the 1980s, Schnittke's music began to become more widely known abroad with the publication of his second (1980) and third (1983) string quartets and the String Trio (1985); the ballet Peer Gynt (1985–1987); the third (1981), fourth (1984), and fifth (1988) symphonies; and the viola concerto (1985) and first cello concerto (1985–1986). As his health deteriorated, Schnittke's music started to abandon much of the extroversion of his polystylism and retreated into a more withdrawn, bleak style. Schnittke's father, Harry Schnittke (1914–1975), was Jewish and born in Frankfurt. He moved to the...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• Abimael Guzmán — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Peruvian Maoist revolutionary leader, founder of the Shining Path.
• Aboul-Qacem Echebbi — Contemporary (Died in 1934) (1934): Influential Tunisian poet, celebrated for his passionate verses and nationalistic spirit.
• Alan Arkin — Contemporary (Born in 1934) (1934): Esteemed American actor, filmmaker, and musician with a seven-decade career.
• Aitana Bonmatí — Contemporary (Born in 1998) (1998): Star Spanish midfielder known for her decorated career with Barcelona and the Spain national team.
• Akira Kurosawa — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Master of Japanese cinema, known for dynamic style and epic storytelling.
• Alan Hodgkin — Contemporary (Died in 1998) (1998): Pioneering physiologist known for action potential theory and Nobel laureate.
• Arthur Hailey — Shared historical date (11-24 · Died) (2004): Plot-driven novelist known for stories set against various industries.
• Arundhati Roy — Shared historical date (11-24 · Born) (1961): Acclaimed Indian author and fierce political activist known for human rights advocacy.
• Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn — Shared historical date (08-03 · Died) (2008): Dissident author who exposed Soviet repression, notably the Gulag system.
• Alfred Lunt — Shared historical date (08-03 · Died) (1977): Esteemed American actor, celebrated for his stage partnership with Lynn Fontanne.
• 1934 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1934
• November 24 (11-24) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on November 24
• 1998 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1998
• August 3 (08-03) On This Day — Historical events and memorials on August 3

Frequently Asked Questions about Alfred Schnittke