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John FildIrish composer
Date of Birth: 26.07.1782
Country:  Ireland |
Content:
Biography of John Field
John Field, an Irish composer and the founder of the nocturne genre, was renowned as a virtuoso pianist. He spent a significant portion of his life in Russia.
Early Life and Musical Training
John Field was born into a family of Irish Protestants in Dublin in 1782. Coming from a musical background (his father was a violinist and his grandfather an organist), Field's musical talent was recognized at an early age. He gave his first concert in Dublin at the age of ten on March 24, 1792 (although the poster indicated that he was eight years old). The following year, his family moved to London, where Field began studying music under Muzio Clementi. In addition to his studies, Field worked as a salesman and demonstrator in Clementi's piano workshop. In February 1799, Field successfully performed a piano concerto at the Royal Theatre.
Career in Russia
In 1802, Clementi organized a European tour for Field. He performed in Paris and then in Vienna, before arriving in St. Petersburg in 1803. After his concerts in St. Petersburg, Field made the decision not to return and settled in Russia. In Russia, John Field became a popular composer and performer. From 1804, he regularly gave concerts at the St. Petersburg Philharmonic, and from the following year, he traveled to other cities within the Russian Empire for performances. He had many wealthy students, including Alexander Dubyuk (whom Field taught for free due to his exceptional talent), Mikhail Glinka, A. Verstovsky, A. Gurilev, N. Devitte, and Charles (Carl) Meyer. Glinka later fondly remembered his teacher, stating that Field's playing was energetic, refined, and precise. He described Field's fingers falling on the keys like raindrops, gliding like pearls on velvet. Glinka disagreed with Franz Liszt, who once claimed that Field played languidly. According to Glinka, Field's performance was always bold, unpredictable, and diverse, never distorting the art like a charlatan, as many popular pianists often did. The most fruitful period of Field's creativity was between 1815 and 1819. From 1822 onwards, Field lived in Moscow.
Later Years and Legacy
From 1832 to 1835, John Field embarked on a major tour of Europe, performing in cities such as London, Paris, Brussels, Lyon, and Milan. However, his health began to deteriorate during this time. In 1835, the ailing composer returned to Moscow. John Field passed away on January 11, 1837 (January 23, according to the old calendar), and was buried in the Vvedenskoye Cemetery in Moscow on January 15.
Field's son, Lev (Leon) Leonov, became a Russian tenor singer. John Field is credited with creating the nocturne genre as it is known today. While nocturnes in the 18th and early 19th centuries referred to musical compositions for wind instruments resembling cassations and instrumental serenades, it was John Field who established the nocturne as a genre of piano music. In addition to numerous piano pieces, including 18 nocturnes, several sonatas, variations, fantasies, rondos, and fugues, Field also wrote seven piano concertos.
During his lifetime, John Field was primarily known to his contemporaries as a virtuoso pianist. It was not until later that his skills as a composer were recognized. Today, his nocturnes and some of his other piano compositions are part of the repertoire of many leading pianists.
