Who was Tikhon Khrennikov?
Q: Who was Tikhon Khrennikov?
A: Tikhon Khrennikov was a Russian musician, composer and pianist who was born in the Russian Empire in 1913 and died in Moscow in 2007.
Q: What did he do that made him particularly remembered?
A: He is particularly remembered for what he did at an unpleasant conference in 1948 when some of the most famous Soviet composers, including Shostakovich and Prokofiev, were made to say they were sorry for the music they had written and that they would compose better music in future.
Q: How did musicians have to be careful during the Soviet Union?
A: During the Soviet Union, especially under Stalin, musicians had to be very careful about what they composed since music was supposed to make people feel lucky to be living in a great country like the Soviet Union. If composers wrote music that the politicians did not like or understand, life became very difficult for them as their music could not be performed and they might even be sent to prison.
Q: What position did Tikhon Khrennikov hold from 1948-1991?
A: From 1948-1991 Tikhon Khrennikov held the position of Secretary to the Union of Soviet Composers while Stalin was dictator.
Q: How can we judge his actions fairly today?
A: It is difficult for us today to judge his actions fairly since he survived by doing what he was told by Soviet dictators. After the collapse of the Soviet Union he tried to say he was sorry for what he did but it is difficult to judge whether this apology was genuine or not.
Q: What kind of message did art need to convey during this time period?
A: During this time period art needed to convey a message that people should feel lucky living in a great country like the Soviet Union.
