The concert-simphony for balalaika and Russian orchestra by Yuri Gontsov: specifics of the themes and forming

The second Astrakhanian concert of Yuri Gontsov is a piece unique in its kind. In the very naming by author there are some guidelines on the mix of different styles and genres. The composer defines the genre of the piece as a concert-symphony. With this Gontsov lets us know that its content is beyond the concert, virtuos genres, folklore, but keeps deep meaning. Yuri Gontsov is a deep believer, he's author of lots of pieces with spiritual themes, composer treats with respect all religions. As is known, Kalmyks are the only nation in Europe who primordially exercises buddhizm. Composition made with using of Kalmyk folklore, must touch somehow Buddhist ideas. Orchestra score of the second Astrakhanian concert looks traditional. Composition is a classical three-part form (fast-slow-fast), the score contains a lot of contrasts between solo and tutti. But more detailed review discovers structural originality of the concert-symphony. Besides, structural originality appears in a lack of pauses between parts: all the parts follow each other Attaca, generating unified indivisible composition. This unity of all parts caused with concert's imagery - epic narrative of Kalmyk singers-storytellers. Speaking about symphonic principles in this concert, we may state rather epic kind of symphony based not on confrontation but on chiaroscuro. The orchestra satisfies this special imagery. First of all, it's balalayka solo. What is more, sound of balalayka likened with Kalmyk dombra. For balalayka it's available to play both lyric themes and energetic rythmes of Kalmyk dances - chicherdyk, tovshur. In the second place, Gontsov includes in Russian folklore orchestra woodwinds: flute, oboe and clarinet. Sound of these instruments connected with lyric-narrative images, sometimes reminding Buddhist pipes or throat singing. If speak about concert as an emulative genre, in this composition competitive spirit appears not only in solo-tutti contrasts, but also in a competitive game between balalayka strings and woodwinds. It's necessary to mark extended percussion group, playing meanful role in creating concert's imagery. In the very beginning of compostion sound-depiction of percussions re-creates boundless Kalmyk prairies, howl of the wind, grass rustle. The second Astrakhanian (Kalmyk) concert of Yuri Gontsov for balalayka and Russian folklore orchestra is a bright example of mixed genres. Author's definition concert-symphony takes us beyond concert genre to wide ideological content. This concept caused with imagery of composition and its bound with Kalmyk epos Dzhangar. That's why we may observe blurring form, parts submitted to chiaroscuro logic, themes development based on variation principle - it's all satisfies epic narrative concept. This type of epic symphonism originates in Borodin's Bogatyrskaya symphony.

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