The Russian Music Avant-Garde

“...in Times of War and Revolution” - Documentary in postproduction, available in early 2017 to mark the centennial of the October Revolution

“The Russian Music Avant-Garde in Times of War and Revolution” is dedicated to Russian composers of the late 10s and early 20s of the last century. The former "young wild ones" such as Arthur Lourié, Nikolai Roslawets, Alexander Mosolov, as well as Vladimir Deshevov, Sergei Prokofiev and Lev Termen remain to this day unjustly relatively unknown and their lives largely unexplored. However, this generation injected life into the musical world of that time, greatly leaving its mark. The young composers were adventuresome, flirted with futurism, wrote the first twelve-tone chord in history, invented the first electronic musical instrument, and created sounds previously unheard.

Rediscovering these composers who were banned, partly forgotten and erased from the musical landscape and providing room for their enchanting music, gives this documentary its purpose. By tracing their personal and artistic vitae, the political and cultural climate, as well as the reality of life in Russia in the early 20th century, the documentary aims to bring them to life once again and to reveal the links between art, society and politics.

A film by Anne-Kathrin Peitz.
Accentus Music in co-production with WDR/Arte.
Available in early 2017, length: 53 min.

Genre Documentary
English title The Russian Music Avant-Garde in Times of War and Revolution
Duration 53 min
Director Anne-Kathrin Peitz
Production Company Accentus Music
Co-Production Company WDR
Assoc. Prod. Company Arte