User:Artur Ruar

Mikhail Gennadievich Chekalin

Biography
Mikhail Chekalin (born in Moscow at 1959) "certainly, is one of the most radical and innovative synthesists around, not only in Russia but globally" (Audion, 6/1993 UK). A composer of symphony and chamber music, keyboardist, artist, he follows along many different lines. Toward the end of the 80s M. Chekalin turnes out to be one of the most productive, genre-versatile, multifaceted electronic music composers not only in Russia but also abroad.

He started to compose in 1973 and began his education traditionally – at 10 years he entered music school, then music college and after graduating from it, he entered the Institute named after the Gnesins.

However, towards the end of the 70s, a smooth enough progress of his career has been interrupted by “art experts in plain clothes”; he has been cast out of the academic precincts "for political indifference and propaganda of alien musical culture", that is to say, because of Mikhail Chekalin being much taken with Ives, Bartok, Stravinsky, Lutoslavsky… not to mention other trends of new music, burgeoning within the bosom of rock culture or free jazz improvisational scene. From now on being all on his own with his creative search M. Chekalin makes the professional scene. Having been stripped of any career opportunity along the formal lines of so called serious music, he perseveres at his artistic explorations within the informal milieu (by which fact M. Chekalin sets a paradoxical precedent for academic underground ). At the same time he is engaged as keyboardist and arranger in many pop- or rock-bands of different kinds, “The Samotsvety” Vocal-Instrumental Ensemble is the best-known among them at Soviet popular music scene of the period (1978). As for his own sound-recordings he is forced by the circumstances to manage it in semiclandestine.

And at last in 1982 “having made it his aesthetic, social and political concept not to conform, mix or collaborate with anyone else” (The Wire, 2002, UK) M. Chekalin is now completely immersed in his independent electronic experiment "bricking himself up in his studio" (Improjazz, April 2002). As Keyboard, a review sacred to keyboarders, states as early as 1991, "Melodia Records and Mikhail Chekalin don’t get along. The 32-year old synthesist never bought the Soviet version of the corporate line; though the monopolistic lable produced his first two albums, 'Vocalise in Rapido' and 'Post-Pop – Non-Pop', he refused to record in their state-owned facilities. Now he has taken a further step toward artistic self-sufficiency by arranging with Moscow’s avant-garde M’Ars Art Gallery to release a set of 12 albums of original music…"

Career
On authority of “Audion” magazine, via his “Melodiya - M'ars” 12 LP albums series M. Chekalin has “taken the art of synth music way beyond it’s generic form" (Audion 25,6/93, UK) "He has startled many with his bizarre sonic creations. "During 1990-91 a 12 LP collection more or less cataloguing all his major works from 1980's was released in cooperation with the Modern Art Gallery "M’Ars". The Gallery exhibitions that took place each Spring at Malaya Gruzinskaya ulitsa in Moscow downtown became a major attraction. The various different exhibition spaces, along with the art displays would also feature M. Chekalin’s "soundscapes". A unique and different concept to the usual silence of a modern art gallery! Ten out of the twelve albums in this series are what I'd class as uniquely innovative classics of synthesizer/multi-instrumental music. "Meditative Music for the Decomposed Electro-Organ" series came as a huge surprise. These are possibly 90% organ performances that, like most of his work, are performed live, obviously with the aid of much trickery, delay lines, echo devices and such-like. These bizarre excursions often hint at the pioneering music of Oskar Sala, the very early Klaus Schulze, and elements as diverse as contemporary classical music or the more atmospheric and of the systemic field of Terry Riley or Peter Michael Hamel. involving organ and other instruments. Talking of contemporary classical - further releases have the words Symphony or Concerto in the title. All these other Mars series releases are quite extraordinary really, with a special accolade going to the weirdest of the lot CONCERTO GROSSO 1 & 2." (Alan Freeman, Audion#58); "From 1979-99 Chekalin has produced a series of albums that are extraordinary to say the least." (Eurock on the Web, USA).

"Orchestral, symphonic and modern classical in style, with much use of piano, classical and folk voices, quirky percussion instruments, a lot of echo and effects, and some electronic and musique concrete textures. This all dates from 1989, while the bonus pieces comprise a contemporary fragment of film music using analog synthesizer and water sounds, plus from 1990 the 28-minute 'Dream to Accompaniment with Voice and Symphonic Transformation', a rather serious piece combining elements of Karlheinz Stockhausen, Arvo Pärt, the soundtrack for '2001' and modern classical piano music. Overall this is ['Concerto Grosso # 2'] a challenging and quite demanding release, with much of it sounding like a Klaus Schulze album in his classical operatic mode, though coming from a very, very different direction." - as Mark Jenkins puts it. "Mikhail Chekalin is frequently compared with Klaus Schulze, and on the surface it’s not a bad comparison. This music really lies in between Schulze or early Tangerine Dream and the more Classical Electronic realms of Morton Subotnik or the non-melodic early works of Wendy Carlos." (Fred Trafton, New Gibraltar Encyclopedia of Progressive Rock, Updated 11/18/07).

"Then he turns towards an even higher plain of weirdness when he begins to ramble formlessly, adding percussives, and more voices, to what comes across as an avant band improvisation. Credit him certainly for destroying your expectations! Subsequently he shifts the mood towards a droning gothic vibe, with aleatoric rumbling and grumbling noises that may induce the listener to want to turn the lights back on. (He) adds vocals in what is a near copy of Pink Floyd ’s ‘Great Gig in the Sky’. Finally his singing integrates well with the instrumentation! The effect is stunning and makes perfect musical sense. Then he goes microtonal for an interlude; and at last returns to his favorite mode which is experimental, dissonant, and quick to elicit impatience." (Mike Ezzo, Exposé). "It is the kind of piece that headphones were made for, as a casual listening doesn’t capture every nuance… Chekalin paints his musical landscapes, starscapes, with various textures. For those seeking music that is constantly intriguing, that seems to push the envelope out a little bit further, then explore"; "It's not of the usual stuff that I rave about, and it quite a contrast to the metal I've been listening to of late. This is progressive in the truest sense, And finally published in the U.S. in the period from 2006 to 2013 complete Collection - MIrRecords/Eurock CD catalog includes works 70s - 90s records. The point is that Chekalin’s music - are phonograms i.e. the records, which exist as the only form of composing and performing by the author. And like the writer’s way to the reader is only through the book, that kind of composing style is addressed to recording companies, by means of which Chekalin’s music only could get in touch with the listeners. "Shostakovich for the Electronica Generation", "CDs by Mikhail Chekalin of Post Symphonic music that transcend the boundaries of Electronic, Neo-Classical & Jazz Fusion!", "Arguably he is the most influential modern composer of the last 35 years in the former USSR, now Russia. His work was experimental; in fact his creative intent was specifically to break new ground stylistically." (A.Patterson, Progression magazine #51. USA).

Mikhail Chekalin MIR Records Reissues & New Music A. Patterson: "Between 2005 and 2010, MIR Records in the USA released eight productions devoted to works by Mikhail Chekalin. The label produced 4 CDs and 4 DVDs bringing his work to an entirely new worldwide audience. The MIR label now embarks on an ambitious new project, beginning with a series of six CDs, titled the Historic Edition, featuring previously unreleased material from his personal archives. That is followed by his entire back catalog of previously released albums, as well as unreleased archival recordings and brand new music. The Historic Edition series focuses on music from the middle of the 1970’s through the early 1980’s. It does not include any of the previously available Melodiya releases, but instead features material not released before in any way. In addition, MIR has now released a new installment of 28 albums that feature both new post-Millennium music and re-mastered reissues by Chekalin. They include a selection of influential albums produced for the state owned Melodiya label in the late 1980’s & early 1990’s. The music covers a wide stylistic spectrum from diverse experimental beat influenced electronic music and avant-garde post-symphonic experiments, to dense, ambient, neo-classic space music compositions for keyboard and synthesizer. Over the span of all 39 albums released to date by the MIR records/Eurock label, you can hear the strikingly high level of creativity and innovative spirit of the music Mikhail Chekalin has been producing over the span of his entire career. As the listener experiences Chekalin’s musical progression through the years, they will in fact be hearing an audio documentation of the history of experimental music by one of the premier Russian musicians and composers over the last half century. The social and political dynamic of making art, music and real life is clearly evident in the intensity and emotional power of the music Mikhail Chekalin made."

Discography
LP:


 * 1988 — «Vocalise in Rapid» (1984-85) // Melodiya C60 27165
 * 1989 — «PostPop-NonPop» (1984, 1987-88) // Melodiya C60 28737
 * 1991 — «Meditative Music for Prepared Organ 1» (1981-82) // Melodiya C90 31373
 * 1991 — «Meditative Music for Prepared Organ 2» (1982) // Melodiya C90 31671
 * 1991 — «Meditative Music for Prepared Organ 3» (1981-83) // Melodiya C90 31673
 * 1991 — «Practical Music Making 1» (1982-85) // Melodiya C90 31679
 * 1991 — «Between Spring and Autumn with Stealth» (1986) // Melodiya C90 31675
 * 1991 — «Practical Music Making 2» (1984-87) // Melidiya С90 31677
 * 1991 — «Green Symphony (1988)» // Melodiya C90 31375
 * 1991 — «Borderline State» (1988) // Melodiya C90 31377
 * 1991 — «Symphony-Phonogram» (1989) // Melodiya C90 30665
 * 1991 — «Introduction into Intuition» (1989) // Melodiya C90 31681
 * 1991 — «Concerto Grosso 1» (1989) // Melodiya C90 30667
 * 1991 — «Concerto Grosso 2» (1989) // Melodiya C90 30669
 * 2018 — «Ecstatic Lullaby» 1979—1987 (reissue) // Gost Zvuk Russian Federation GAR 001. Rel: 24 Aug 18
 * 2018 — «A Bathroom For Esthete LP» (reissue) // Soviet Grail.

CD:


 * 1991 — «Russian Mystery» (1989) // Melody SUCD-60 00295
 * 1993 — «Night Pulsation» // Erdenklang (Germany) 30632
 * 1993 — «Фильм-музыка 1» (1991) // Russian Disc RDCD 00072
 * 1993 — «Double Album in New Age Style CD I» (91-92) // Russian Disc RDCD 00073
 * 1993 — «Double Album in New Age Style CDII» (91-92) // Russian Disc RDCD 00074
 * 1995 — «Album with Symphony» (82-92) // Solyd SLR 0040
 * 1996 — «Nonconformist» (2CD) (1983-96) // Tau TAU 00145/147
 * 1997 — «Analog Magie» (4CD) (1979-89) // Tau TAU 00150
 * 1997 — «Porcelain God» (1996) // Tau TAU 00151
 * 1999 — «Avoiding the Desire for Cutting and Piercing Objects» (1998) // Tau TAU 00157
 * 2000 — "Concerto Grosso 1 // Boheme CDBMR 009169
 * 2001 — "Concerto Grosso 2 // Boheme CDBMR 012189
 * 2001 — «Probability Symphony in Jazz Style in 5 Parts and 4 Composers» / Leo (UK) GY 407
 * 2001 — «Last Seasons / Последние времена года. (1998). Black Square / Чёрный квадрат (1996)» / CCn’C / DA-music (Germany) 01612
 * 2002 — «Saturn. Izdeliye №…» // Citadel CDL 885-02
 * 2003 — «Fortepiano» (2002) // Citadel CTCD 043
 * 2003 — «Meditative Music for Prepared Organ CD 1» (1979-83) // Citadel CTCD 045
 * 2003 — «Meditative Music for Prepared Organ CD 2» (1979-83) // Citadel CTCD 046
 * 2004 — «Symphony-Phonogram CD3» (1980—89) / Nex NG 4045
 * 2004 — «Green Symphony and Borderline State CD4» (1980—88) // Nex NG 4043
 * 2004 — «Between Spring and Autumn by Stealth CD 5» (1986—1993) // Nex NG 4044
 * 2004 — «Pagan Suite» (1990—91) // Nex NG 4046
 * 2004 — «Paradigm Transition» (1996) // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2004 — «Untimely» (2002—04) // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2005 — «Poruganie Patsifika» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2008 — «What is Po..."// Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2008 — «Kidnapping Europe» // CCn’C (Germany) 04614
 * 2010 — «Catharsis» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2011— «Blowing Off Inferno» // CCn’C (Germany) 04621
 * 2011 — «The Return Of The Inferno» // CCn’C (Germany) 04622
 * 2012 — «Living With The Inferno» // CCn’C (Germany).

Eurock/MIR Records issued Mikhail Chekalin's work's 1970's - 2000's as exclusive CD series:


 * Historic Edition Vol. 1 [1970s-1980s] «A Well Prepared Electric Organ» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Historic Edition Vol. 2 [1970s-1980s] «Background — Underground» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Historic Edition Vol. 3 [1970s-1980s] «Free Piano» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Historic Edition Vol. 4 [1970s-1980s] «Just Bits and Pieces» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Historic Edition Vol. 5 [1970s-1980s] «Open Piano Psychedelic Nocturne…» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Historic Edition Vol. 6 [1970s-1980s] «Tercium Organum. Disturbances….» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Music For Film MCD1012 [1989] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Dissonata MCD1011 [1989] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Existentions MCD1013 [1990] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Reflections MCD1014 [1990] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * In Concert I MCD1017 [1993] Mikhail Chekalin / Alexander Eisenstadt //Mir Records Eurock USA
 * In Concert II MCD1018 [1993] Mikhail Chekalin / Alexander Eisenstadt // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Ad Marginum MCD1019 [1996] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Piano Variations MCD1020 [1998] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Incantation Songs MCD1021 [1999, mixed 2002] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * The PostElectric Symphony MCD1022 [2007] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Postrealism — 1 MCD1023 [2008] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Postrealism — 2 MCD1024 [2008] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Supremus Continue MCD1039 [2011-2012] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Requiem for Unofficial Moscow Artist / PostSymphony No. 12 MCD1040 [2014] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Symphony #13 MCD1042 [2014] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 *  Symphony MCD1043 [2014] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Mahavox Symphony — 1 MCD1044 [2015] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Mahavox Symphony — 2 MCD1045 [2015] // Mir Records Eurock USA; BiblioGlobus / Sony Music [2015] Mikhail Chekalin MahavoxSymphony 2CD
 * PIano No Concerto, Protest, Anthems MCD1046 [2015] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * Alive@50 MCD1048 [2016] rec. in may 2009 Live // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * NeoAmbient Postmeditative/ Are We Here Are We Long Gone MCD1049 [2016] // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * The Eurock Post-Symphony MCD1050 [2018] //Mir Records Eurock USA

DVD:


 * 2005 — «59 Poems about Love» // Direct Media
 * 2006 — «Osen nebozhitelya. Lebo Lyrics» // Direct Media
 * 2006 — «Leshiki» music fairy tale for children // Direct Media
 * 2007 — «Poruganie Pacifica» // Direct Media
 * 2007 — «Poruganie Patsifika» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2009 — «Video History of Light & Sound Vol.1» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2009 — «Video History of Light & Sound Vol.2» // Mir Records Eurock USA
 * 2009 — «Alive@50» // Mir Records Eurock USA

Various Artists:


 * 1992 — «Looking East — Estonia And Russia» // Erdenklang (Germany) 29612, tree pieces.
 * 1994 — "Various — New Age — EMI (LP). Track «Origin of Spices».
 * 1996 — «Deus Ex Machina» // Indigo (Germany) 1368-2, one piece.
 * 1999 — «Beautiful Morning — Wonderful Night. Romantic Vampires» // KOCH (Austria) 333 182, two pieces.
 * 2007 — «Music from Utopia — Reloaded» // Erdenklang (Germany) 971485, one piece.