Thanh-Tam Le:

>Jos Janssen rightly quoted the (2nd) violin concerto among the works by
>Prokofiev which have some Soviet characteristics.

???? I think you are misquoting me....  Please explain to me the
"Soviet"character of this work.  I was rather referring to the 6th
symphony.

>Such composers were not radically incompatible with the principles
>of socialist art, although they sometimes suffered from the times as
>individuals (e.g.  Laszlo Lajtha), and I think that similar reasons might
>explain why the earlier return of Prokofiev to the USSR did not account for
>drastic change in his work and style.

Well put.  To me, the most "drastic changes" in Prokofiev's music (but I
admit I hesitate to call them "drastic") took place BEFORE he went back!

>Sorry for the lenghty message,

Don't apologise. There's is a wealth of solid good information in your post.

Mats Norrman:

>One might wonder why Prokofijev now did return.  Jos Janssen suggests
>that Prokofijev was naive, what to great part is true, at least he did many
>naive things in his life.  But Prokofijev was a gambler; he thought that
>his music should get more popular in the west if he composed it in Russia,
>as Russian music, in the wake of Sjostakovitj, was popular at that time in
>the west, meanwhile he has a "western" element in his music, with these
>jazzy rythms stuff and other things, which he thought should be more
>popular in the Soviet if he "stood on its ground", composing
>western-eastern music for the Soviets.

Hm.  I'll readily swap your description "gambler" for my "naive".  Sounds
better.  All the same, a composer no longer en-vogue in the west, going
back to Russia with the notion that he'll be more popular in the west just
by having "Soviet"stamped upon him? Not very convincing to me.  On the
other hand, your point about his popularity in the Soviet Union: I find
the reference to "jazzy rythms stuff"confusing.  Where's the jazz in
Prokofiev? I'll maintain that his views and dreams on writing "the" modern
Russian opera hold the clue.

>Prokofijev wrote a diary, a litterate one, I am not talking music here.
>Was this one ever published?

Yes it was.  Upon the appearance of this thread I've been doing my best to
dig up out of the boxes I have in the attic without luck so far.  I'll let
you know details if I find it.

greetings,
Jos
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