The Futurist Movement in Russia: Futurism's Role in the Work of Composer Alexander Mosolov

Authors

Tia L. Sprengel, Illinois Wesleyan UniversityFollow

Abstract

Since the beginning of the twentieth century, Russia has been known for its tumultuous political, social, and economic climates. Coups, revolutions, and uprisings were so commonplace that "the man on the street seemed to feel that it made no difference who was in charge, since things were so bad they could not possibly get any worse." While this volatility may have been a nuisance to the common man, it was both a blessing and a curse for Russian artists. While it sometimes encouraged them to explore different modes of artistic expression, it also often resulted in the brutal repression of artists' works, if not the artists themselves. Alexander Vasil'evich Mosolov, a Russian pianist and composer, is a prime example of this. While he is not usually labeled as a Futurist composer, Mosolov was renowned in the early half of his career for his experimentation with the Futurist music, and it was this connection with the Futurist movement that led to his downfall.

Recommended Citation

Sprengel, Tia L. (2013) "The Futurist Movement in Russia: Futurism's Role in the Work of Composer Alexander Mosolov," Constructing the Past: Vol. 14: Iss. 1, Article 9.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.iwu.edu/constructing/vol14/iss1/9