Birth

 

Sergei Prokofiev was born in 1891 in Sontsovka, Russia to Sergei (an agronomist) and Marie (his first composition teacher).  Prokofiev was inspired by hearing his mother practicing the piano in the evenings – mostly works by Chopin and Beethoven – and composed his first piano composition at the age of 5.  At age 13 he entered the St. Petersburg Conservatory.  Several years younger than most of his class, Prokofiev was viewed as eccentric and arrogant, and he annoyed a number of his classmates by keeping statistics on the errors made by fellow students.

 

 

During His Lifetime

 

Prokofiev left Russia soon after the Russian Revolution in 1917 and did not return until 1934.  Upon his return, he got into trouble with the Russian government for writing music that was too complicated for the masses. Because of this, he was made an Enemy of the People, which resulted in his music being banned in the Soviet Union for a while.

 

Several things happened during Prokofiev's lifetime that you might have heard about before today.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Death

 

Prokofiev died at the age of 61 in 1953, the same day as Joseph Stalin. Since he had lived near Red Square, for three days the throngs that gathered to mourn Stalin made it impossible to carry Prokofiev's body out for his funeral service.

 

 

 

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Type of Music

 

Prokofiev was a composer during the Modern Period and is best known for his narrated musical story and ballets.  Below is a YouTube video that describes Prokofiev's life and music in more detail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Most Famous Music

 

Prokofiev's most famous music includes the narrated story Peter and the Wolf  as well as the ballets Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet.  Fun Fact: Prokofiev was commissioned by the Central Children's Theatre in Moscow to write a new musical symphony for children to help cultivate musical tastes in their first years of school. Intrigued by the invitation, Prokofiev completed Peter and the Wolf  in just four days!

 

 

Music in Pop Culture

 

Prokofiev's music has been used quite a few times in popular culture.  Click Prokofiev's pop art portrait to see video examples.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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Listening

 

These videos are great examples of Prokofiev's most famous music: Peter and the Wolf, Cinderella and Romeo and Juliet.