Soviet composer, Sofia Gabaidulina (1931 – ) attended the Kazan Conservatory “before moving to Moscow in 1954 where she completed (her) postgraduate studies with Shebalin”. Born into a Tatar-Russian family, Gabaidulina’s religious freedom was very limited in the Soviet Union. From a young age, Sofia discovered spiritual ideas being conveyed through the works of composers such as Bach, Mozart and Beethoven, which paved the way for her devotion to the Russian Orthodox Church.
She used techniques such as unusual instrumental combinations (e.g. In Erwartung), intense chromatic motives, micro-chromaticism and frequent glissandi, to “transition to another plane of existence”. Overall, Gabaidulina composed a wide set of works, ranging from orchestral to solo, from concertante to choral. She composed a large range of chamber and ensemble pieces, as well as three film scores.
Sofia has lived in a “small village outside of Hamburg, Germany” since 1992, and has received many awards (e.g. Sonning Award in Denmark, 1999). In the early 1980s, Gabaidulina’s music became internationally recognized through a performance of her violin concerto Offertorium by violinist Gidon Kremer:
Sofia Gubaidulina – Offertorium, posted by Precipotato
References:
https://www.polarmusicprize.org/laureates/sofia-gubaidulina/
https://www.bbc.co.uk/music/artists/fc69035e-f525-4648-9089-5943db021fc5#p053hbm6
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