S. I. Taneyev. Pyatigorsk, 1907
Sergey Ivanovich Taneyev was a Russian composer, pianist, teacher, music theorist and public figure, active in the sphere of music. In 1875 he graduated from the Moscow Conservatory with a gold medal as a pianist (a student of Nikolay Grigor’yevich Rubinstein) and composition (Pyotr Il’ich Tchaikovsky).
He performed in concerts as a solo pianist and in ensembles. He was the first performer of many piano compositions by Tchaikovsky, as well as his own compositions.
From 1878 to 1905 Sergey Taneyev’s activities have been continuously connected with the Moscow Conservatory, in which he taught various disciplines. Upon the insistence of Tchaikovsky, he was appointed as director of the Moscow Conservatory, the post of which he held until 1889.
His musical compositions include one opera, cantatas, symphonies, works for chamber ensembles, as well as choral, vocal and piano works.
He wrote unique works in the sphere of music theory – “Convertible Counterpoint in the Strict Style” and “Teaching of the Canon.”
