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Talk:Sergei Bortkiewicz/RFC on Ethnicity

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Latest comment: 6 months ago by Robert McClenon in topic RFC: Ethnicity of Sergei Bortkiewicz

RFC: Ethnicity of Sergei Bortkiewicz edit

Latest comment: 6 months ago1 comment1 person in discussion

{{rfc|media|bio|hist}} How should the ethnicity/nationality of Sergei Bortkiewicz be characterized in the lede sentence of this article and the short description? Please choose one of the options listed below. Robert McClenon (talk) 06:56, 7 November 2023 (UTC)Reply

Please provide your answer, of Option 1 through Option 4, with a brief statement in the Survey section. Do not reply to other editors in the Survey. That is what the Discussion is for.

Option 1: edit

  • Sergei Bortkiewicz; 28 February 1877 [O.S. 16 February] – 25 October 1952) was a Russian and Austrian Romantic composer and pianist of Polish origins/heritage/parentage/descent.

Pros

  • Presents birth and naturalized citizenships, as well as ethnicity, which are all facts cited in reliable sources on the composer and his music.[1][2][3][4]
  • Subject referred to himself as Russian[5][6] and a member of Russia's aristocracy.[7] He identified strongly with Russian culture[8] and viewed his birthplace as an appendage of Russia.[9] Surviving personal documents attest to his disdain for the political, cultural, and linguistic independence of Ukraine from Russia. According to him, the Ukrainian language was a "dialect" of Russian, their difference from each other comparable to that between High and Low German.[10]
  • Subject was also referred to as Russian by Hugo van Dalen [nl], his best friend and most important exponent during his lifetime;[11] Hans Ankwicz-Kleehoven [de], the founder of the Bortkiewicz Gemeinde,[12] a society that advocated for the composer's music;[13][14] and Bhagwan N. Thadani, who translated the composer's memoirs, and was the first pianist to record all of his music.[15]
  • Secondary sources repeatedly referred to subject and his music as Russian and Austrian during his own life,[16][17][18][19][20][21] at his funeral,[22] and have continued to do so in the 21st century.[23][24][25][26][27][28][29]
  • Although a number of theses and articles have been written about Bortkiewicz in the last 20 years, only two so far—by Ishioka Chihiro and Jeremiah A. Johnson—investigate the composer's nationality and self-identification. Both cite evidence from the composer's own memoirs, letters, and interviews affirming that he regarded himself as Russian and a product of Russian musical culture.[30][31]
  • There is no evidence that subject was ever under duress to identify as Russian. He continued to do so after the Russian Revolution;[32] and despite his repeated rebukes of the Bolsheviks, whom he blamed for the destruction of Russian culture.[33]
  • Stating that subject's birth nationality was other than Russian is potentially confusing. It also contradicts usage in similar composer articles. For example, Béla Bartók, Karol Szymanowski, and Richard Wetz are correctly respectively referred to as Hungarian, Polish, and German, despite that the birthplaces for each are now part of Romania, Ukraine, and Poland.

Cons

  • Lead sentence neither takes into account that subject's birthplace has since become part of independent Ukraine, nor that some modern sources claim him as Ukrainian.
  • Although subject identified as Russian and his music part of the development of Russian musical culture, his music was also influenced by elements of Ukrainian culture, which he did not acknowledge.

Comment-There are no scholarly sources that refer to Bortkiewicz as a Russian composer. Different musicologists interpret and stress the composer’s Russian affiliations and sentiments to various degrees but stop short of calling him a Russian composer.

Option 2: edit

  • Sergei Bortkiewicz; 28 February 1877 [O.S. 16 February] – 25 October 1952) was a Romantic composer and pianist.

Pros

  • Presents the essential facts about the subject and leaves potentially contentious matters of nationality to be discussed later.
  • Compromise to prevent future edit-warring over nationality. (See Copernicus and Maxim Berezovsky for similar solutions.)

Cons

  • Potentially confusing to readers unaware that subject's nationality is a contentious matter.
  • Omits facts which ought to be presented.


Option 3: edit

  • Sergei Bortkiewicz (28 February 1877 [O.S. 16 February] – 25 October 1952) was a Ukrainian Romantic composer and pianist.

Pros

  • Reflects a shift in the Western world to recognize Ukrainian people as a separate nation from Russia and refer to people from Ukraine as such.[34] [35][36][37][38][39][40]
  • As Bortkiewicz comes from a Ukrainian city of Kharkiv, which predates the Russian Empire and has remained one of the strongest centers of Ukrainian Culture throughout the centuries[41], he is considered “one of the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian musical culture” by Ukrainian scholars.[42] 
  • The most comprehensive and wide range of research on the composer comes from Ukraine, with scholars addressing his music, its performance practices[43][44]and its belonging to Ukrainian heritage[45][46] [47][48]as well as the fact that “Europeans largely did not yet distinguish Ukrainian musical culture separately.” [49]
  • The only extended biography of the composer available as a book “Sergei Bortkiewicz. A score of Life”[50]is written by Mykola Sukach, conductor of Chernikhiv Philharmonic Orchestra, who has performed all printed scores of Bortkiewicz. The book draws from the composer’s letters and describes Bortkiewicz’s life in great detail. The book draws from the composer’s letters and describes Bortkiewicz’s life in great detail. It introduces the composer to the reader as “the undeservedly forgotten Ukrainian composer” and “ outstanding Ukrainian composer of the first half of the 20th century”
  • Reflects a worldwide practice of musicians, music publishers[51][52]

[53][54]presenters, and news organizations[55][56][57][58][59][60]to present the subject to the public as such.

Cons

  • Potentially confusing to the reader as older sources refer to the subject as Russian
  • As separation of Ukrainian nation from Russia remains incomplete in certain spheres of western political and cultural discourse, some readers may interpret referring to Bortkiewicz as Ukrainian as simplifying the issue.

Comment - Characterizes him as born in Ukraine rather than as Ukrainian.

Option 4: edit

  • Sergei Bortkiewicz (28 February 1877 [O.S. 16 February] – 25 October 1952) was a Ukrainian-born Romantic composer and pianist.

Pros

  • While various sources give more weight to particular national influences and associations of the composer, most agree that the place of origin of the subject is Ukraine.
  • Acknowledges composer’s place of origin using its modern name.
  • Takes into consideration sources that view Ukraine as part of Imperial Russia while still specifying subject’s place of origin

Cons

  • doesn’t acknowledge the subject as belonging to Ukrainian cultural heritage
  • leaves room for further disputes

Comment - Characterizes him as Ukrainian, not merely born in Ukraine.


Survey edit

Discussion edit

References

  1. ^ Schwarz, Boris (20 January 2001). "Bortkiewicz [Bortkievich], Sergei [Sergey] Eduardovich". Grove Music Online. revised by Sigrid Wiesmann (8th ed.). Oxford University Press. doi:10.1093/gmo/9781561592630.article.03637. ISBN 978-1-56159-263-0. Austrian pianist and composer of Russian origin.
  2. ^ Johnson, Jeremiah A. (October 2016). Echoes of the Past: Stylistic and Compositional Influences in the Music of Sergei Bortkiewicz (Doctor of Musical Arts). University of Nebraska–Lincoln. pp. i, 26.
  3. ^ Kościelak-Nadolska, Agnieszka (2016). "Życie i twórczość Sergiusza Bortkiewicza (1877–1952), cz. I: Sylwetka artysty". Notes Muzyczny (in Polish). 1: 95–99.
  4. ^ Ishioka, Chihiro (2017). セルゲイ・ボルトキエヴィチ研究 ー自筆資料に基づく生涯・音楽観・ピアノ作品の考察ー (Doctor of Musical Arts) (in Japanese). Tokyo College of Music. p. 68.
  5. ^ Johnson 2016, pp. i, 71–72.
  6. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 82.
  7. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 68.
  8. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 93.
  9. ^ Johnson 2016, p. 18.
  10. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 97.
  11. ^ Levkovych, Yevhen Oleksandrovich (2021). "Фортепіанна спадщина Сергія Борткевича у актуальному просторі виконавського мистецтва ХХ – початку ХХІ століття" (PDF). Ukrainian National Tchaikovsky Academy of Music (in Ukrainian). pp. 50, 153. Archived (PDF) from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023.
  12. ^ Johnson 2016, p. 28.
  13. ^ Ishioka 2017, pp. 84, 88.
  14. ^ Johnson 2016, pp. 86–87.
  15. ^ Thadani, Bhagwan N. (March 2000). "Sergei Bortkiewicz: The Forgotten Romantic". MusicWeb International. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. [Bortkiewicz] was a Russian, and no mention is made of him in books on music published in Russia... The outbreak of the war in 1914 shattered Bortkiewicz's life. Being a Russian alien in Germany he was suspected of being a spy and placed under house arrest... In 1928 he went to Paris for half a year and then to Berlin, a city which he loved; but again he had to leave because, being a Russian, he was persecuted by the Nazis and his name was deleted from all musical programs... It seems Bortkiewicz was on the wrong side of the fence wherever he went. Though he spoke German fluently and even wrote his 'Erinnerungen' in this language, he was not looked upon too kindly in Austria, perhaps because of his Russian origin...
  16. ^ Johnson 2016, p. 87.
  17. ^ "Woodland Sketches Will Be Played by Orchestra Today". Minneapolis Star Tribune. p. 54. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. [Jessie Weiskopf] is to play with the orchestra the B-flat major pianoforte concerto by Sergie [sic] Bortkiewicz, a young Russian composer of whom little is known in this country.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  18. ^ Goetz, Phillip Becker (May 9, 1925). "Comment". Buffalo News. p. 6. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. From time to time we have with pleasure drawn attention in this column to the piano compositions of that gifted Russian, Serge Bortkiewicz.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  19. ^ Bridle, August (February 5, 1938). "Toronto Sends New 'SOS': It's 'Save Our Symphony'". Toronto Star. p. 16. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. If the E-flat piano concerto of Bortkiewicz of Russia is no more interesting than the violin concerto by Szymanowski of Poland played last week, its first production here should be its last.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  20. ^ Eversman, Alice (December 21, 1942). "Frances Nash Applauded as Symphony Soloist". Washington Evening Star. p. 29. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. Frances Nash, soloist with the National Symphony at yesterday's concert at Constitution Hall, demonstrated once again her fine pianistic talent in a concerto by a fairly unknown composer, the Russian, Sergei Bortkiewicz.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. ^ "Matinee Music Club Convenes". Allentown Morning Call. June 3, 1948. p. 21. Retrieved November 13, 2023 – via Newspapers.com. The Matinee Music Club of Slatington met Saturday afternoon ... when an all-Russian program was presented, devoted chiefly to compositions of Bortkiewicz.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 88.
  23. ^ Schwarz 2001.
  24. ^ Thadani 2000.
  25. ^ Fifield, Christopher (October 2, 2002). "The Romantic Piano Concerto: Volume 4". MusicWeb International. Archived from the original on March 29, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. Sergei Bortkiewicz was not in the same virtuoso league as many other pianist/composers of his day but managed a living as a teacher and composer, mainly in Vienna from 1922 after leaving his native Russia because of the Bolshevik revolution.
  26. ^ Byzantion (February 12, 2012). "Sergei Bortkiewicz: Piano Works, Volume 6". MusicWeb International. Archived from the original on November 13, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. This is the sixth of a projected eight volumes ... of Russian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz's complete music for piano... Bortkiewicz was born in the Ukraine, at that time part of the Russian Empire.
  27. ^ "Powerful Post-Romantic Piano Concertos by Sergei Bortkiewicz". WTJU. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. Russian pianist and composer Bortkiewicz was a contemporary of Sergei Rachmaninoff and Nicolai Medtner.
  28. ^ Miller, Michael (September 30, 2016). "Nadejda Vlaeva Plays Piano Music by Vladimir Drozdoff and Sergei Bortkiewicz, with Schubert and Liszt at Zankel Hall". New York Arts. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. A plentiful audience at Zankel Hall last week enjoyed Nadejda Vlaeva's program of attractive salon pieces by two forgotten Russian exiles, Vladimir Drozdoff and Sergei Bortkiewicz...
  29. ^ "Sergej Bortkiewicz". Schott Music. Archived from the original on November 14, 2023. Retrieved November 13, 2023. Country of origin: Russia
  30. ^ Johnson 2016, p. 42.
  31. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 170.
  32. ^ Ishioka 2017, pp. 31, 37.
  33. ^ Ishioka 2017, p. 98.
  34. ^ Chen, YI Jing (August 2021). "The First Movements of Sergei Bortkiewicz's Two Piano Sonatas, Op. 9 and Op. 60: A Comparison including Schenkerian Analysis and an Examination of Classical and Romantic Influences": 4. Sergei Bortkiewicz was a renown Ukrainian composer and pianist {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  35. ^ Zonova, Barbora (2018). "„Piano work of Sergei Bortkiewicz"" (PDF) (Brno: Janáčkova akademie múzických umění v Brně): II. The Bachelor thesis „Piano work of Sergei Bortkiewicz" deals with life and artistic activities of the Ukrainian pianist and composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952). {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  36. ^ Scanlon, Emma (October 2017). "Pianism Reimagined: an analytical inquiry of left- hand piano through the career and commissions of Paul Wittgenstein" (PDF). Department of Music Maynooth University: 70. Sergei Bortkiewicz.The Ukrainian born composer was forced into nomadic way of life in the early part of the century due to the Russian revolution and the ensuing World War.
  37. ^ Simakova, Svitlana (April 2020). "Sergei Bortkiewicz as an Outstanding representative of Ukrainian National Music Performance". THEORETICAL FOUNDATIONS OF MODERN SCIENCE AND PRACTICE. Melbourne, Australia: 418. Sergei Bortkiewicz as an Outstanding representative of Ukrainian National Music Performance" "outstanding Ukrainian composer of Polish origin. pianist and teacher Sergei Bortkiewicz
  38. ^ Library of Congress place of origin Kharkiv, Ukraine
  39. ^ In the book Composer GenealogyBortkieiwicz country of origin is listed as Ukraine
  40. ^ In the book Classics Alive. Vol.3 Bortkiewicz place of origin is listed as Ukraine
  41. ^ Plohky, Serhii (2021). The Gates of Europe: a History of Ukraine. Basic Books. p. 150. ISBN 978-0-465-05091-8. The birthplace of Ukrainian romanticism was a city of Kharkiv
  42. ^ Levkulych, Y.O. (2021). "Piano heritage by Sergei Bortkiewicz in the actual space of the performing art of 20th – beginning of 21st centuries" (PDF): 5. "Bortkiewicz is one of the most prominent representatives of the Ukrainian musical culture of the first half of the XX century and a bright representative of the romantic art of this period" {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  43. ^ Klochko, Anastasia (2021). "PIANO ETUDE IN THE WORK OF UKRAINIAN COMPOSERS: HISTORY AND PERFORMANCE" (PDF). Sumy State Pedagogical University: 26. For quite a long time, the work of the outstanding Ukrainian composer, pianist, teacher, the last romantic, Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952) was unknown in Ukraine.
  44. ^ MOLCHKO, Ulyana (2022). "PIANO COMPOSITION «BALADA» OP. 42 BY SERHII BORTKEVYCH: PERFORMING ASPECT" (PDF). Education and Researcher Musical Art Institute of Ivan Franko Drohobych State Pedagogical Univeristy: 4. The research provides a musical-aesthetic and interpretive analysis of the work for piano of the Ukrainian diaspora outstanding composer Serhii Bortkevych. The personal creative contribution of the artist to the development of European culture is revealed. There are covered in the research the life of S. Bortkevych and pianistic activity both in Ukraine and abroad.
  45. ^ Levkulych, Yevhen (2016). "THE ISSUE OF NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION STYLE OF SERGEI BORTKIEWICZ" (PDF). MUSICOLOGY OF KYIV. 54: 16–18. The article examines issues of style and national identification of creativity by composer S. Bortkiewicz. Since opinions of modern researchers about composers belongs to Ukrainian or Russian music culture are different, we propose to investigate this question more attentively." "In accordance with the criteria set out in the definition of «national identity» in the beginning, it can be said that S. Bortkiewicz is really representative of the Ukrainian culture. S.Bortkiewicz has made a significant contribution to the development of national art, creating outstanding examples of Ukrainian musical romanticism of the first half of the twentieth century
  46. ^ Statsyuk, Natalia (2021). "Sergei Bortkiewicz is a new page of Ukrainian musical culture of the 20th century". Volyn Vocational College of Culture and Arts: 1, 3. Sergei Eduardovych Bortkiewicz (February 28, 1877, Blagodatne - October 25, 1952, Vienna) is an outstanding Ukrainian composer of Polish origin, pianist and teacher
  47. ^ Legkhun, Oksana (2015). "STUDY OF PIANO WORKS BY SERHIY BORTKEVYCH IN THE CLASS OF THE MAIN MUSICAL INSTRUMENT" (PDF). CURRENT ISSUES IN HUMANITIES EDUCATION. Collection of Scientific Papers12: 35. During the 20th century, Ukrainian musical culture was created not only on the territory of the native land, but also far beyond its borders. The socio-political processes that took place in the country during the specified period did not contribute to scientific research into the cultural processes of the Ukrainian diaspora. The declaration of Ukraine's independence made it possible to study previously forbidden archives and foreign publications, periodicals, to establish contacts with foreign figures." "What is relevant today is the return of unknown and forgotten names of artists who developed Ukrainian musical culture far beyond the borders of their Motherland. Among this cohort, Serhiy Bortkevich stands out, who was called the "last romantic" - he became a talented imitator of the best romantic traditions in the art of music, although the heyday of his compositional activity falls on the period 1910 - 1945.
  48. ^ Yakubov, T. A. (2021). "Sergei Bortkiewicz and his violin music" (PDF). The dissertation for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy in the specialty 025 «Musical art» (field of study 02 «Culture and Arts»). — Ukrainian National P. Tchaikovsky Academy of Music, Ministry of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine, Kyiv, 2021.: 7. "In fact, the Violin concerto op. 22, written in Kharkiv between 1915–1918, is one of the first examples of the genre in the history of Ukrainian music."
  49. ^ Levkulych, Yevhen (2016). "Questions of National-Stylistic Identity in the work of Sergei Bortkiewicz" (PDF). КИЇВСЬКЕ МУЗИКОЗНАВСТВО No54. "Although in Ukraine at that time the process of maturing the national distinctive musical culture was underway, Europeans largely did not yet distinguish Ukrainian musical culture separately. It is worth noting that the formation of the Ukrainian national style in music followed the principle of synthesizing existing European and Russian musical achievements with the Ukrainian folkloric foundation, thereby creating a new synthesis from which a new and distinctive musical culture gradually emerged."p35
  50. ^ Sukach, Mykola (2016). Sergei Bortkiewicz. A score of Life (PDF). «Десна Поліграф». p. 34.
  51. ^ A publishing house "Melosvit", Bortkiewicz op.21 Sergei Bortkiewicz Ukrainian Composer https://melosvit.com.ua/noti-dlya-fortepiano/bortkevich-sergij-malenkij-mandrivnik
  52. ^ The Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952) had been unknown to me until his name arose in a conversation in Atlanta with Rudolf Firkusny, who stated that he had worked with Vaclav Talich on one of this composer’s concerted pieces.https://www.audaud.com/bortkiewicz-lyrica-nova-etude-in-d-flat-major-nocturne-esquisses-de-crimee-three-preludes-piano-sonata-no-2-a-soldano-p-divine-art/
  53. ^ Piano Classics release of piano concertos:“Recent years have seen a slow but steady revival of the music of Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877‐1952), Ukrainian composer and pianist” https://www.piano-classics.com/articles/b/bortkiewicz-piano-concertos-2-3/
  54. ^ STEINWAY & SONS releases A Letter | Une Lettre | Ein Brief, a survey of piano works of the Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz https://www.steinway.com/music-and-artists/label/a-letter-sergei-bortkiewicz-solo-piano-works-zhenni-li-cohen
  55. ^ The programme featured the Piano Concerto No.2 for the left Hand (1924) by Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz https://www.lamonnaiedemunt.be/en/mmm-online/2595-la-monnaie-in-solidarity-with-ukraine
  56. ^ an article from Euromaidan press. “musicians from 8 countries will play Ukrainian composer Bortkiewicz’s music online.” https://euromaidanpress.com/2020/12/24/christmas-with-bortkiewicz-free-online-concert-to-commemorate-ukrainian-composer/
  57. ^ 2017 article about a Festival in Kyiv dedicated to 140th year of the composer's birth, where he is described as a Ukrainian composer in the first sentence of the article: https://life.pravda.com.ua/culture/2017/03/21/223237
  58. ^ New York Concert Review from Merkin Hall Ukrainian-born Sergei Bortkiewicz (1877-1952) https://nyconcertreview.com/reviews/nadejda-vlaeva-piano/
  59. ^ Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz, who wrote ‘Les Rochers d’Outche-Coche’ in 1908 and was inspired by the mountain scenery in Crimea. https://www.bcu.ac.uk/conservatoire/about-us/news/margaret-fingerhut-ukraine-news-story-11-01-2023
  60. ^ three piano concertos by Ukrainian composer Sergei Bortkiewicz http://mus.art.co.ua/try-kontserty-dlya-fortepiano-z-orkestrom-serhiya-bortkevycha/
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