Mikhail Vasilyevich Isakovsky: a short biography

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Famous Russian poet, author of words for a number of songs popular among the people ("Katyusha", "Migratory birds are flying", "Oh, viburnum is blooming", etc.) … Mikhail Isakovsky. A brief biography of the poet presented in this article will introduce you to the main milestones of his life and work. Mikhail Vasilievich believed that one should write in a clear, clean, folk language. That is why his creations are perceived by many as folklore.

Origin, childhood

January 19, 1900 Mikhail Isakovsky was born. A brief biography of the poet will be of particular interest to his countrymen. Isakovsky's homeland is the Smolensk region, the village of Glotovka (Vskhodsky district). The poet came from a poor peasant family. Nevertheless, he studied at the gymnasium for some time. Due to the difficult financial situation, the future poet dropped out of school in the 6th grade to go to work.

Work andsocial activities

The later years of Mikhail Vasilyevich's life were marked by the fact that he was a teacher and also took part in the activities of the Council of Peasants' Deputies. Mikhail Isakovsky joined the RCP(b) in 1918. During the October Revolution, he actively participated in public life. The future poet was the secretary of the Volost Council, and then, from 1919, he took the post of editor of the Yelnya newspaper. In the period from 1921 to 1930, Mikhail Vasilyevich lived in Smolensk, where he worked in the newspaper "Working Way". Being already a well-known poet, in 1931 Isakovsky moved to the capital. Here for some time he was the editor of the Kolkhoznik magazine.

First works

Isakovsky, whose biography and work deserve careful study, began writing poetry as a child. His first work was published when he was 14 years old ("A soldier's request" in the newspaper "Nov"). However, Isakovsky himself believed that the beginning of his literary activity dates back to a later period, when ten years later such poems as "Native", "Podpaski", etc. were published. In Moscow in 1927, the book "Wires in the Straw" was published. (author - Isakovsky). A brief biography of the poet since that time has been marked by the creation of many famous works. It must be said that the book "Wires in the Straw" was highly appreciated by M. Gorky himself.

Poems of the Moscow period

The period of life in Moscow includesthe following collections of poems by Mikhail Vasilievich: "Province" (published in 1930), "Masters of the Earth" (in 1931) and "Four Desires" (published in 1936). These collections contain poems devoted mainly to the Soviet village. It was she who inspired at that time such a poet as Isakovsky. A brief biography of Mikhail Vasilyevich, however, also testifies to his interest in military topics. No wonder, because 1941-45. - an important page in the history of our country. Therefore, at this time, works dedicated to the Great Patriotic War occupied a significant place in the work of Isakovsky. The war years were spent in evacuation in the city of Chistopol Isakovsky Mikhail Vasilyevich. The biography summarized in this article assumes an acquaintance with the creative heritage of the poet. We will talk about him now.

Isakovsky's creative heritage

Mikhail Isakovsky for half a century of creative activity has created about 250 poems. The poetry of this author continues the folklore tradition, as well as the line of Nekrasov, Koltsov, Oreshin, Nikitin. Mikhail Isakovsky, in letters addressed to young writers, urged them to write in a clear, pure, folk language. It must be said that the poet himself created poems and songs not only in his native Russian language. Also engaged in translations from Belarusian, Ukrainian, Serbian, Hungarian, Latvian, Polish, Tatar, Ossetian and Italian Isakovsky Mikhail Vasilyevich. The biography (briefly stated) does not imply a detailed acquaintance with his translation activities, although it must be said that she is part of his creative legacy.

Mikhail Isakovsky is one of the most famous and revered poets of the Soviet era. "A Word to Comrade Stalin" is a work by this author, which many Soviet schoolchildren read and learned by heart. Mikhail Isakovsky's poem "Cherry" was also known to all Soviet children.

Nevertheless, M. Isakovsky, whose biography is still of interest to many in our time, entered the history of Soviet literature primarily as a talented songwriter. His poems were first set to music by Vladimir Zakharov, who was one of the leaders of the Choir. Pyatnitsky. In addition to him, such composers as Nikita Bogoslovsky, Matvey Blanter, Isaac Dunayevsky, Vasily Solovyov-Sedoy, Boris Mokrousov and others worked with the texts of Mikhail Isakovsky.

Let's briefly talk about some of the songs, the author of the poems for which is Isakovsky. The biography of the poet is marked by the creation of many famous texts. However, one song should definitely be mentioned separately.

Katyusha

"Katyusha" is, of course, the most famous song of the author we are interested in. It was for her that Isakovsky received the State Prize of the USSR. At present, "Katyusha" has become a truly folk song. There are more than 100 folklore adaptations and sequels of it. The heroine in them is both a fighter and a soldier's girlfriend, who is waiting for his return home, and a front-line nurse.

Matvey Blanterwrote the music for this song. He is also the author of music for the following verses of the author of interest to us: "Golden Wheat", "Better there is no other world", "In the forest near the front", "Goodbye, cities and huts".

It is believed that the fighting vehicles of the BM series were named after "Katyusha". Like the girl who "started the song", these machines went to combat positions and also sang their "songs".

The premiere of "Katyusha" took place in November 1938 in the House of the Unions. Valentina Batishcheva became the first performer of this song. Soon "Katyusha" became very popular. Other performers began to sing it - Lidia Ruslanova, Georgy Vinogradov, Vera Krasovitskaya, as well as amateur and professional choirs. "Katyusha" was included in the repertoire of many army ensembles. This song was sung in cities and villages, at festivities and demonstrations, as well as at the festive table, in the home circle.

Praskovya

Another fruit of the joint work of Matvey Blanter and Mikhail Isakovsky was the song "Praskovya", which is also known as "Enemies burned their own hut". It tells about the return of a Russian soldier from the war to his native village. The song "Praskovya" was written in 1945. It should be noted that at first it was severely criticized by the party for its tragic sound. "Praskovya" was actually banned for 15 years. The first who dared to include this song in hisrepertoire, became Mark Bernes. This happened in 1960. "Praskovya" immediately received recognition from the Soviet people. It became, perhaps, one of the most tragic songs dedicated to the Patriotic War.

Other songs of Isakovsky

Many poems were created by the poet Isakovsky. His biography is interesting in that a number of his works have become texts for songs. Many of them are probably familiar to you. In addition to those already mentioned, the following songs on the verses of Mikhail Vasilyevich received great fame: "Seeing", "Farewell", "Oh, my fogs …", "In the forest near the front", "Spark", "Lonely Accordion" and many others. Compositions from the film "Kuban Cossacks", released in 1949, were very popular. Among them, "Oh, the viburnum is blooming" gained particular fame. Another very popular song from this tape is "What you were, remained so" (M. V. Isakovsky). A brief biography of the poet is marked by collaboration with several composers. For example, Isaac Dunayevsky set music to the verses from this film. These songs immediately became popular, the author of the texts for which is M. Isakovsky. The biography of the poet was marked by national fame already during his lifetime. To this day, Isakovsky's songs are performed at solemn events and feasts.

Last years of life

The last years of Mikhail Isakovsky's life were marked by his social activities as a deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the RSFSR (4convocations). In the late 1950s and early 1960s, Mikhail Vasilyevich traveled abroad several times. He visited Italy twice, visited France and Czechoslovakia, saw Warsaw and Vienna. In a word, Isakovsky led an active, businesslike lifestyle.

Mikhail Vasilyevich's illness worsened in 1964 (pneumonia, heart attack). In 1970, the poet was forced to meet in the sanatorium named after Herzen, located near Moscow. Central television in January was preparing a program dedicated to the poet's seventieth birthday. Isakovsky himself took part in the filming. His biography ends on July 20, 1973. It was then that the poet died in Moscow.