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Valentin ParnahRussian poet, translator, musician, dancer, choreographer
Date of Birth: 27.07.1891
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Content:
- Valentin Parnakh: Russian Poet, Translator, and Pioneer of Jazz
- Literary Career and Travels
- Return to Russia and Dance
- Jazz Pioneer and Soviet Era
- Evacuation and Cultural Contributions
- Legacy and Death
Valentin Parnakh: Russian Poet, Translator, and Pioneer of Jazz
Early Life and EducationValentin Parnakh (born Valentin Parnok) was born on July 26, 1891, in Taganrog, Russia, to a wealthy and assimilated Jewish family. His father was a pharmacist and respected citizen, while his mother was one of Russia's first female physicians. Parnakh excelled academically, earning a gold medal upon graduating from the Taganrog Men's Gymnasium.
In 1912, Parnakh enrolled at Saint Petersburg University, initially studying law before transferring to the Romanic languages department. Alongside his academic pursuits, he studied music under Mikhail Gnesin and drama under Vsevolod Meyerhold.
Literary Career and Travels
Parnakh's literary beginnings can be traced to the publication of his poems in Meyerhold's journal, "Liubov' k Tryom Apelsinam." Later, he published an essay on dance in the same journal. In 1915, Parnakh traveled to France, where he embarked on extensive journeys throughout the Middle East and Europe. He sought out and studied traces of ancient and medieval Jewish culture, discovering a rich corpus of poetry written by victims of the Inquisition.
During his time in Paris, Parnakh published his first poetry collections, illustrated by renowned artists such as Natalia Goncharova and Pablo Picasso. He translated a vast range of foreign poets, including Charles Baudelaire, Pablo Neruda, and Bertolt Brecht.
Return to Russia and Dance
In 1922, Parnakh returned to Russia and became known for his innovative dance performances and choreography at Meyerhold's theater. He also taught choreography at the Proletkult's drama studio, where he introduced Russian audiences to the word "jazz."
Jazz Pioneer and Soviet Era
Parnakh founded the "First Jazz Band of the RSFSR," introducing jazz music to Russia. Their debut concert in Moscow in 1922 featured exotic percussion instruments and a rare flexatone. Parnakh's jazz band even participated in government festivities.
In 1925, Parnakh published his only Soviet-era collection of poems, "Vstuplenie k Tantsam." He briefly returned to France in the late 1920s and 1930s, where he continued his literary work and became associated with the "Palata Poetov" literary group.
Evacuation and Cultural Contributions
During World War II, Parnakh was evacuated to Chistopol, where he crossed paths with Marina Tsvetaeva. He played a tragic role in Tsvetaeva's life by securing a job at a canteen, while Tsvetaeva was denied one.
Despite facing censorship, Parnakh managed to publish a selection of poems by Agrippa d'Aubigné, a prominent Huguenot poet, in 1949. Boris Pasternak praised Parnakh's translations as "very successful, and some of them superb in power, expressiveness, and accuracy."
Legacy and Death
Valentin Parnakh passed away on January 29, 1951, in Moscow. He was laid to rest at Novodevichy Cemetery. Parnakh's contributions to Russian literature, music, and dance left a lasting legacy, influencing generations of artists and intellectuals.
