Background
SHAPGRIN, Yuriy was born in 1887 in Glukhov, now Sumy Oblast.
SHAPGRIN, Yuriy was born in 1887 in Glukhov, now Sumy Oblast.
1906-1908 Philology Faculty, Kiev University, simultaneously Kiev Conservatory. 1913 graduated Law Faculty, St. Petersburg University. 1918 graduated Petrograd Conservatory.
1926-1930 Chairman, Association, for Modem Music. 1924-1932 board member, Drama Association. 1932-1936 Deputy Chairman, Leningrad Union of Soviet Composers.
1939-1948 member, Organization Committee, USSR Union of Composers. 1948-1952 board member, since 1952 Secretary, above organization. 1948 attended International Composers’ and Music Workers’ Congress, Prague.
1947 Popular Artist Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic. 1955 member, Soviet Committee the Defense of Peace. Works of late 1920's reflect influence of Stravinsky and modern Western composers.
Cantatas, oratorios and symphonic music are influenced by Borodin, and lyrical romances and chamber music by Tchaikovsky and Rakhmaninov. Criticized in 1946 at plenary session of Organization Committee, Union of Soviet Composers, for excessive leanings towards the past. 1918-1919 Musical Director, composer and conductor at Maly Drama Theater, Petrograd.
1919-1928 and 1928-1934 Leningrad Academy Drama Theater (now Pushkin Theater) and 1926-1930 Management, "Triton” Music Publ. House; 1939-1940 teacher. Since 1940 Professor, composition class, Moscow Conservatory.