Songs of Our Days (Prokofiev)

Songs of Our Days, Op. 76 (Russian: Песни наших дней), is a rarely performed cantata for mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1937, during the height of Stalin's regime. With rousing marches and text extolling (somewhat unrealistically) Russian virtues and Stalin's magnanimity, the work is composed in a much more approachable style than one would expect in Prokofiev's music during this period.

The total work contains eight songs:

March - A Russian march for the full orchestra only.
Over the Bridge, Cavalry Song - for the male chorus.
Goodbye! - Solo baritone and chorus.
Golden Ukraine, Folksong - Full chorus.
Brother for Brother - Solo baritone and chorus.
Girls - Solo baritone and chorus.
A Twenty-year old - Solo baritone and chorus.
Lullaby - Mezzo-soprano and Chorus.
October Flame - Full orchestra and chorus.

The text contains many references to Stalin, and later on during the so-called 'Khrushchev thaw', all the references were removed from the text.

The work was first premiered in Europe with the original text by the Goldsmiths Sinfonia and Chorus in London, conducted by Alexander Ivashkin.

Sergei Prokofiev

Operas

Ballets

Ala i Lolli
Chout
Trapeze
Le pas d'acier
The Prodigal Son
On the Dnieper
Romeo and Juliet (Montagues and Capulets)
Cinderella
The Tale of the Stone Flower

Symphonies

Concertos

Piano	Piano Concerto No. 1 in D♭ major Piano Concerto No. 2 in G minor Piano Concerto No. 3 in C major Piano Concerto No. 4 in B♭ major Piano Concerto No. 5 in G major Piano Concerto No. 6 (unfinished)

Other	Violin Concerto No. 1 in D major Violin Concerto No. 2 in G minor Cello Concerto in E minor Symphony-Concerto for Cello in E minor Cello Concertino in G minor (unfinished)

Orchestra works

Film music

Vocal music

Chamber music

Piano music

Sonatas	Piano Sonata No. 1 in F minor Piano Sonata No. 2 in D minor Piano Sonata No. 3 in A minor Piano Sonata No. 4 in C minor Piano Sonata No. 5 in C major (orig & rev) Piano Sonata No. 6 in A major Piano Sonata No. 7 in B♭ major ("Stalingrad") Piano Sonata No. 8 in B♭ major Piano Sonata No. 9 in C major Piano Sonata No. 10 (unfinished) Piano Sonata No. 11 (unrealized)

Other	Toccata in D minor Visions fugitives March and Scherzo from The Love for Three Oranges Three Pieces from War and Peace Ten Pieces from Romeo and Juliet Three Pieces & Six Pieces & Ten Pieces from Cinderella

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