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Sofia Gubaidulina
 

Sofia Gubaidulina

Fact Sheet

Birthday24 October 1931 (76)
SignScorpio
Birthplace  Russia
Sofia Gubaidulina (born October 24, 1931) is a Russian composer of deeply spiritual music.

During her studies in Soviet Russia, her music was labeled "irresponsible" for its exploration of alternate tunings. She was supported, however, by Dmitri Shostakovich, who in evaluating her final examination encouraged her to continue down her "mistaken path".

Gubaidulina's first internationally known piece was her violin concerto "Offertorium", made popular in the West by Gidon Kremer, for whom it was composed. She later composed a homage to T. S. Eliot, using the text from the poet's spiritual masterpiece Four Quartets.

In 2000 Sofia Gubaidulina, along with Tan Dun, Osvaldo Golijov, and Wolfgang Rihm, was commissioned by the Internationale Bachakademie Stuttgart project to write a piece for the Passion 2000 project in commemoration of Johann Sebastian Bach. Her contribution was the Johannes-Passion.

Gubaidulina is a co-founder and performer in Astreja, a improvisational group which employs folk instruments.




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