Sulkhan Tsintsadze

(1925 – 1991)

SELECTED WORKS

MUSIC FOR THE THEATER

1945 – “The Golden Fleece” – Opera in 3 Acts – (libretto – G. Gelovani, P. Gruzinski)

1945 – “Gandegili” (“Hermit “) – Opera in One Act – (libretto – S. Tsintsadze)

1958 – “Demon” – Ballet in 3 Acts – (libretto – V. Chabukiani)

1963 – “Poem” – Ballet in One Act – (libretto – A. Chichinadze)

1974 – “Antique sketches” – Ballet in One Act and 6 Scenes – “Narcissus”, “Pan and Syringa”, “Polyphemus and Galaea”, “Hephaestus”, “Zeus and Europa”, “Nadim of Dionysus” – (libretto – G. Aleksidze)

1977 – “Dali And The Hunter” – Ballet in 2 Acts – (libretto – G. Aleksidze)

1982 – “Rivers” – Ballet in 2 Acts – (libretto – A. Chichinadze, A. Nikolaev)

1979 – “Rivares” – Film-Ballet – director – Bidzina Chkheidze

1960 – “Ablabuda” (“Web”) – Operetta in 3 Acts – (Libretto – P. Gruzinski)

1968 – “Song In The Forest” – Operetta in 3 Acts – (Libretto – L. Chubabria)

1976 – “Shveik, Sveik, Sveik” – Musical Comedy in 2 Acts – (Libretto – B. Ratzer)

ORCHESTRAL MUSIC

1952 – Symphony N 1

1962 – Symphony N 2

1969 – Symphony N 3

1978 – Symphony N 4 “Reminiscences”

1985 – Symphony N5

1960 – Suite from the Ballet “Demon” – for Symphonic Orchestra

1976 – Suite from the Ballet “Antique Sketches” – for Symphonic Orchestra

1979 – Suite from the Ballet “Rivares” – for Symphonic Orchestra

1978 – “Fantasia” – for String Quartet and Chamber Orchestra

1947 – Concerto for Cello and Symphonic Orchestra N 1

1960 – Concerto for Cello and Symphonic Orchestra N 2

1964 – Concerto for Cello and Symphonic Orchestra N 3

1972 – Concertino for Cello and Chamber orchestra N 4

1952 – Concerto for Piano and Symphonic Orchestra N 1

1968 – Concerto for Piano and Symphonic Orchestra N 2 “Contrasts”

1954 – Fantasy for Piano and Symphonic Orchestra

1954 – Concertino for Piano and Symphonic Orchestra

1947 – Concerto for Violin and Symphonic Orchestra N 1

1968 – Concerto for Violin and Symphonic Orchestra N 2

1956 – “Georgian Rhapsody” – Violin and Symphonic Orchestra

1986 – 24 Preludes – for Solo Violin and Chamber Orchestra

CHAMBER-INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

1947 – 1991 – 12 String Quartet

1949 – Suite N 1 – for String Quartet

1950 – Suite N 2 – for String Quartet

1955 – Suite N 3 – for String Quartet

1945 – 1991 – Miniatures for String Quartet

• Miniatures on Georgian Folk Themes (21 Miniatures)
• Miniatures on Jewish Folk Themes (5 Miniatures)
• Miniatures on the Themes of Peoples of the World (6 Miniatures)
• Miniatures on Georgian Topics (8 Miniatures)

1971 – 24 Preludes for Piano

1980 – 24 Preludes for Cello

1948 – 2 Pieces for Solo Viola

1949 – “Khorumi” – for Viola and Piano

1949 – “Melody” – for Violin and Piano

1950 – 5 Pieces – for Cello and Piano

1966 – “Poem” – for Violin and Piano

1976 – Sonata – for Solo Cello

VOCAL-INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC

1949 – Cantata for Tenor, Mixed Choir and Symphonic Orchestra – (text – I. Snegova, T. Nikolaevskaya)

1957 – “Farewell Song” – Cantata for Soloists, Choir and Symphonic Orchestra – (text – P. Gruzinski)

1976 – “Way of Glory” – Cantata for Soloists, Chorus and Symphonic Orchestra – (text – P. Gruzinski)

1969 – “Immortality” – Oratorio for Soprano, Chorus and Symphonic Orchestra

1974 – 5 romances – for Voice and Piano – (text – P. Gruzinski)

1984 – “The Undertaker” – for Bass and Piano – (text – G. Tabidze)

FILM AND THEATER MUSIC

MUSIC FOR THE THEATER

THE AUTHOR OF MUSIC FOR MORE THAN 40 PLAYS.  BETWEEN THEM:

“Don Cesar de Bazan”, “The Spanish Priest”, “Typhoon”, “The Merchant of Venice”, “The Seagull”…

FILMOGRAPHY

1954 – “Dragonfly” – director – Levan Khotivari, Simon (Siko) Dolidze

1956 – “Bashi-Achuk” – director – Leo Esakia

1956 – “Abezara” – director – Nikoloz Sanishvili

1956 – “Shadow on the Road” – director – – David Rondel

1957 – “Otaraant’s Widow” – director – Mikheil Chiaureli

1957 – “Woman’s Burden” – director – Nikoloz Sanishvili

1960 – “Dawn” – director – Karaman (Guguli) Mgeladze

1961 – “Treasure” – director – Rezo Chkheidze

1962 – “Sea Trail” – director – Rezo Chkheidze

1962 – “Dolls are laughing” – director – Nikoloz Sanishvili

1962 – “Mole” – director – Shalva Martashvili

1964 – “Soldier’s father” – director – Rezo Chkheidze

1969 – “Smile Boys” – director – Rezo Chkheidze

1973 – “Levan Khidasheli” – director – Vakhtang Tabliashvili

1975 – “Bird’s milk” – director – Nikoloz Sanishvili

1983 – “Magic Night” – director – Temur Palavandishvili

1987 – “Rivares” – film-ballet – director – Bidzina Chkheidze

 ANIMATION

1953 – “Otter Chuka” – director – Arkady Khintibidze

1954 – “Niko and Nikora” – director – Arkady Khintibidze

Sulkhan Tsintsadze

(1925 – 1991)

“Georgian music has reached important progress, due to Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s creative achievements.” – wrote Alex Machavariani, the composer. Sulkhan Tsintsadze is one of the composers who has successfully created Georgian professional music as a part of global musical processes. The composer worked in almost every genre of classical music, but quartet music became his main sphere of interest. He said a new word in Georgian and global music in general with his quartet creations. The composer worked in almost every genre of classical music, but quartet music became his main sphere of interest. He brought out a new word in Georgian and music in general with his quartet creations. He was only 22 years old when created three quartet miniature (1947). The transformation of the folk beginning into a quartet nuance, the endless imagination, the tonal qualities and the harmonious tendencies are captivated. Quartet miniatures have been based on folk song and dance melodies since the composer wrote them over a long period of time. Five quartet suites were created from the most of the miniatures. These works, so called “musical pearls,” continue to amaze listeners today.

12-string quartet was composed by Sulkhan Tsintsadze. One of the first scholars of his works, musicologist Gulbat Toradze pointed out about composer’s musical pieces – it is big differences, both chronologically and artistically, between Tsintsadze’s first and last quartets, but they are linked by a” transparent “thread of creative evolution.”

The composer’s search for new ideas has been evident in his works since the 1950s. Example of this discovery is the 4th Quartet (1955). Since the 1960s, there has been a powerful artistic break. This was the start of a new way of thinking in Georgian culture at the time. Tsintsadze’s works from this period of time, reflected changes in Georgian professional music in general. From that point on, Tsintsadze is known as conceptual thinker. It’s important to underline that composer took into account creative achievements of   the   twentieth- century’s famous composers, especially Bella Bartok and Dmitry Shostakovich. For Tsintsadze, Bartok’s influence was manifested in his free attitude toward folk material. Tsintsadze’s creative thinking was clearly revealed in the 5th Quartet (1963). Here were reflected both the composer’s new outlook beliefs and creative processes. This composition also served as a warm-up for the 6^th quartet. (1966). According to musicology, these works “strongly illustrate the transformation that happened in the spheres of Georgian art in the 1960s” like as – music, literature, film, and fine arts.

The composer’s last period, which belongs to the ’80s, was also fruitful in terms of his creative output. During this time, he composed the 10th Quartet, as well as the 11th and 12th Quartets (1984, 1986, 1991), one of the key pieces, “24 Preludes for the Violin and Chamber Orchestra” (1986), the vocal ballad “Mesaplave” (based on a poem by Galaktion Tabidze), and the 5th symphony. Georgian professional music is represented by Tsintsadze’s instrumental pieces like as: Tsintsadze’s instrumental concerts represent Georgian professional music: 3 cellos (1947, 1964, 1972), 2 piano-forte conc. (1949, 1968), violin (1968, 1977), 24 preludes for piano- forte (1971), (1980). Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s work in the field of operetta is significant. His ballets are also worth mentioning – “Demon” (1961), “Ancient Sketches” (1973), “Dali and the Hunter” (1977), “Rivares” (1982), and others. Tsintsadze wrote two operas: “Golden Fleece” (1952) and “Gandegili” (1954). (1972). Five symphonies have been written by the composer as well. (1952- 85). The composer became well-known for his work on motion pictures such as “Dragonfly” (1954), “Bashi-Achuk” (1956), “Abezara” (1956), “Tojinebi icinian” “Dolls Laughing” (1964), and others. His cinema music discovered new life on the concert stage, and his melody is also played in orchestral music (in Zurab Nadareishvili’s symphonic works). Nowadays, Sulkhan Tsintsadze’s works are worldwide image of the Georgian professional music.

Musicologist
Tamar Tsulukidze
English Language Translator
Tamar Kharadze