Muzyka v filme alexander nevsky from sovetskiy istoricheskiy film, moscow,1939, p. Made at the behest of the soviet government to bolster morale, the film reenacted a th century russian victory over invading teutonic knights. Sergei eisensteins alexander nevsky was spawned by world events, kept out of circulation due to changing political winds, and then enshrined as perhaps the most influential sovietmade historical film. The tale of the life of alexander nevsky history of. Screened from a 35mm print with a personal and anecdotal introduction from contemporary composer and dj gabriel prokofiev, grandson of the films composer sergei prokofiev, this was a rare opportunity to consider the film that reinvented eisenstein and had such an impact on the history of film and film music. The music is the movie alexander nevsky carnegie hall. Eisensteins first completed sound film, alexander nevsky features not just a score by sergei prokofiev, but a brilliant formal collaboration, a form of cinematic opera based on eisensteins theories of contrapuntal dynamics. Download itunes from apples website, then click download to download the itunes installer. He later adapted much of his score into a largescale cantata for mezzosoprano, orchestra and chorus, which was extensively performed and recorded. May 24, 2015 muzyka v filme alexander nevsky from sovetskiy istoricheskiy film, moscow,1939, p. The cantata alexander nevsky was based on the music of the film. In 1939 prokofiev reworked the music into a cantata for orchestra and chorus in seven movements the film tells the story of alexander nevsky, a historical figure who in 1242 led the russian forces against. James goodwin notes that lenin had viewed russian history in terms of class struggle and thus ignored individual roles and hardships indeed, although canonized in 1574 nevsky wasnt even mentioned in official texts of lenins time.
The subject of the film is the th century incursion of the knights of the livonian order into the territory of the novgorod republic, their capture of the city of pskov, the summoning of prince alexander nevsky to the defense of rus, and. After the teutonic soldiers take over an eastern russian city, alexander stages his stand at novgorod, where a major battle is fought on the ice of frozen lake chudskoe. If you cant install or update itunes for windows apple. Alexander nevsky is available to stream on the criterion channel. Together, they made two historically significant films. It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and their defeat by prince alexander, known popularly as alexander nevsky 12201263 eisenstein made the film in association with dmitri. Alexander nevsky film by eisenstein 1938 britannica. Other articles where alexander nevsky is discussed. The sonics, however, leave much to be desired, as the source tape is badly deteriorated. Musically, it is dark, dramatic, brilliant, and epic. Watch alexander nevsky 1938 online vimeo on demand. The biography of alexander nevsky is a work of the hagiographical genre. A russian knyaz, or prince, alexander nevsky, rallies the people to form a ragtag army to drive back an invasion by the teutonic knights. Live multicamera recording of a concert featuring prokofiev alexander nevsky and clips from the eisenstein film.
Made in 1938, this film transfigured the actual historical events, majestically leading to a final resolution that represented the triumph of collectivism. If you get itunes from the microsoft store, you shouldnt need to follow the rest of the steps in this article. Alexander nevsky article about alexander nevsky by the. Sergei eisensteins 1938 film alexander nevsky was the third film that prokofiev had worked on. Made on the eve of world war ii, the film, though set in 1241, had the authority of a contemporary documentary. In 1938, prokofiev collaborated with film director eisenstein on alexander nevsky. In may 1938, prokofiev was approached by the great russian director sergei eisenstein, who proposed they collaborate on a film about the thcentury military hero alexander nevsky. Nov 09, 2015 alexander nevsky stands today as one of the greatest examples of a nationalistic propaganda film. As prince of novgorod 123652 he earned his surname by his victory 1240 over the swedes on the neva river. The same motion found within the image composition of a shot sequence can be found in the complementary musical score for that sequence.
After alexander nevsky, eisenstein and prokofiev worked together in two more films, the two parts of ivan the terrible, with contrasting results. He successfully defended n russia against its western neighbors by defeating the livonian brothers of the sword livonian brothers of the sword. This is my second film from director, communist, innovator and cinema legend, sergei eisenstein. Sovietera films depicts the good, noble and heroic russian prince alexander nevsky who led the russians against an invasion by seedy, teutonic knights.
The soundtrack factorys version of the score for sergei eisenstein s alexander nevsky is what it is. The first one of course being battleship potemkin urgently needs to reexperience that film, that i watched in january 2017. As well as being similar the tale and the chronicle also differ in terms of genre. Nikolai cherkassovs alexander is an exception, since both. Alexander nevsky 1938 embed for hosted blogs and item tags. The result is one of the rare occasions when a great film not only boasts a great score, but is made infinitely more powerful and meaningful by that score. A few months after alexander nevsky s original release, though, the molotovribbentrop pact affirmed peace between the. All structured data from the file and property namespaces is available under the creative commons cc0 license. Alexander nevskii article about alexander nevskii by the. Alexander nevsky, film score by sergey prokofiev for a patriotic epic of the same name directed by sergey eisenstein. Then, in 1938, prokofiev collaborated with film director eisenstein to create the score for the film alexander nevsky. Fortunately for eisenstein, the blame for the failure of bezhin meadow was ultimately pinned on someone else, the producer boris shumyatsky, who was then arrested, convicted of treason, and executed. Alexander yaroslavich nick name alexander nevsky is a genuine saint canonized by the russian orthodox church in 1547.
This story of teutonic knights vanquished by prince alexander nevskys tactical brilliance resonated deeply with a soviet union concerned with the rise of nazi germany. Today, prokofievs cantata alexander nevsky is listened to as a largescale. Director sergei eisenstein s epic alexander nevsky features some of the most beautiful imagery ever put on film, a majestic music score by prokifiev and a dazzling, climactic battle on a frozen lake. Files are available under licenses specified on their description page. This is a true story based on the actual battle at a lake near novgorod. Alexander nevsky in 1938, and ivan the terrible, parts 1 and 2 no. It is the th century, and russia is overrun by foreign invaders. Eisenstein drew on history, russian folk narratives, and the techniques of walt disney to create this broadly painted epic of russian resilience. He later adapted much of his score into the largescale cantata for mezzosoprano, orchestra and chorus featured on this recording. Like many of eisenstein s best films, alexander nevsky was conceived as a moralebooster, aimed at stirring up russian patriotism. Director sergei eisensteins epic alexander nevsky features some of the most beautiful imagery ever put on film, a majestic music score by prokifiev and a dazzling, climactic battle on a frozen lake. Alexander nevsky, directed by sergei m eisenstein film. When german knights invade russia, prince alexander nevsky must rally his people to resist the formidable force.
This is the beginning of the climatic battle on the ice. Sergei eisenstein had long admired the music of sergei prokofiev, believing him to be a kindred spirit who would understand his creative vision. One of the summits of prokofievs art was the production of his ballet romeo and juliet in leningrad. Eisenstein s alexander nevsky opens at the camea new films at paramount, criterion and rialto. Aleksandr nevskiy alexander nevsky is not central to eisensteins theory of montage and is not considered to be one of his most important works, at least critically.
Click here for download instructions for your convenience all the files for a specific voice part have been zipped together in one file. Kino klassika was proud to present sergei eisensteins alexander nevsky. Aleksandr nevsky was born in pereslavlzalessky one of the major strongholds in the vladimir principality. Alexander nevsky as a third film i went to see, directed by sergei eisenstein, was alexander nevsky from 1938. This is the public domain version that was first released on videotape, with the original, poorly recorded soundtrack of prokofievs music and subtitles. On a personal level the song serves as alexander nevskys identity, while on a transpersonal level it represents the russian people. Propaganda n a campaign of dissemination of mass communication designed to influence the minds and emotions of a society for a specific purpose, whether military, political or economic.
Media in category alexander nevsky film the following files are in this category, out of total. The soundtrack for the film was written by sergei prokofiev, who also reworked the score into a concert cantata. Like many of eisensteins best films, alexander nevsky was conceived as a moralebooster, aimed at stirring up russian patriotism. Alexander nevsky is a soviet historical drama film directed by sergei eisenstein. He was named after the christian martyr saint alexander, whose birthday was usually celebrated on june 9 ten days after aleksandr was born. Alexander nevsky is widely celebrated for its astounding 30minute. Alexander nevsky 1938 directed by sergei eisenstein.
It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th. Prokofiev composed some of his most brilliant and dramatic music. It is set in the th century, but the villainous teutonic. As a third film i went to see, directed by sergei eisenstein, was alexander nevsky from 1938. There has been a new movie made about alexander and the battle of the neva river but so far it has only been released in russian with no other languages or subtitles. The first part was much applauded, but the second did not receive stalins approval, representing as it did a leader afflicted by mental illness and tyranny. One of his ancestors was prince yury dolgoruky, the founder of moscow.
The film is about the invasion of novgorod in the th century, on one side the teutonic knights and the other side prince alexander. You can watch this film here is a more clear image mosfilm official, with subtitles by youtube. Alexander s son daniel was the first prince of moscow. Eisenstein had long been interested in the relationship between sound and image, and in alexander nevsky he produced his first sound film, with a score from sergei prokofiev. Alexanders son daniel was the first prince of moscow. Alexander nevsky 1938 topics seguei eisenstein, alexander nevsky. In a series of drawings entitled thoughts on music, eisenstein attempted to visualise the interplay between the visual and the aural, which he would later explain in an elaborate diagram produced for his. Widely imitatedmost notably by laurence oliviers battle of agincourt re. Freshly rejected by hollywood and under increasing pressure to return to stalinist russia, eisenstein arrives at the city of guanajuato. If you have windows 10, you can get the latest version of itunes from the microsoft store. Eisenstein seized upon alexander nevsky as a timely subject bound to please the soviet bureaucrats. The story of how a great russian prince led a ragtag army to battle an invading force of teutonic knights.
Finally eisenstein was given another chance to direct, which resulted alexander nevsky. In 1938, sergei eisenstein made one of his most acclaimed films, alexander nevsky, on alexanders victory over the teutonic knights. The a phrase emotes as a solemn anthem, while the b phrase offers a patriotic call to arms. Aleksandr nevskiy alexander nevsky 1938 rotten tomatoes. Sergei eisenstein s alexander nevsky was spawned by world events, kept out of circulation due to changing political winds, and then enshrined as perhaps the most influential sovietmade historical film. Chaperoned by his guide palomino canedo, he vulnerably experiences the ties between eros and thanatos, sex. First of all, in keeping with the canons of the genre, the author speaks of himself in the foreword, with exaggerated humility, using stock phrases. Video mix was done live and projected onto a large screen above the performers. The second theme is the song of alexander nevsky, which offers a classic aba construct. Update to the latest version of itunes apple support. Throughout alexander nevsky eisenstein strives for a complete correspondence between the movement of the music and the movement of the eye over the lines of the plastic composition. Yet the film exhibits a powerful folkloric spirit in its singleminded, patriotic call to unity in resisting german invasion. Prokofiev and the celebrated film director, sergei eisenstein 18981948, managed to survive the purges that decimated russian intellectual life under stalin.
Today the film is renowned for its extraordinary battle on ice sequence, which has served as. Alexander nevsky 1938 watch on the criterion channel or. Browse our collection of liturgical supplies, devotional items, books, icons and gifts. Depending on the version of itunes that you have, there are a few ways to. The soundtrack factorys version of the score for sergei eisensteins alexander nevsky is what it is. Alexander nevsky film score by prokofiev britannica. It depicts the attempted invasion of novgorod in the th century by the teutonic knights of the holy roman empire and their defeat by prince alexander, known popularly as alexander nevsky 12201263. Probably the best piece of cinematic propaganda i have ever seen. The subject of the film is the th century incursion of the knights of the livonian order into the territory of the novgorod republic, their capture of the city of pskov, the summoning of prince alexander nevsky to the defense of rus. Alexander nevsky 1938by sergei eisenstein kino klassika. If you dont have itunes installed on your computer, get it from the microsoft store windows 10 or download the latest version from apples website. With nikolay cherkasov, nikolai okhlopkov, andrei abrikosov, dmitriy orlov. Oct 08, 2009 eisenstein bunged it in to make the parallels with the nazis more obvious.
1395 331 1031 1183 1158 94 188 510 76 1194 889 926 457 525 339 678 429 636 411 1477 232 491 1288 515 1477 856 1490 366 652