 The
history of the town of Tikhvin. The museum building |
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The town of Tikhvin originates from the
village of Tikhvinsky Prechistensky Pogost (Tikhvinsky Virgin
Church-yard). It was founded in the 13th or 14th century on
the left bank of the Tikhvinka River that flows into Ladoga
Lake. The wooden Church of Assumption was built here in 1383.
As legends say, the miraculous Tikhvinskaya Icon appeared
from the heavens and has been kept in this church since then.
In 1515 the stone Uspensky (Assumption) Cathedral was erected
by appointment of Moscow Grand Prince Vassily. In the mid
16th century his son, tsar Ivan Grozny (the Terrible), visited
the Tikhvinsky Monastery. This
event strengthened Tikhvin's position of a social and cultural
center.
In the 17th century Tikhvin became a significant
economic center on a level with Novgorod or Pskov due to its
favorable location on commercial routes.
Construction of the Tikhvin water system in the first half
of the 19th century added to the development of the town and
region. Cultural life was quite active in the town. In the
1830-ies it was centered round the circle organized by a local
public leader Andrei Rimsky-Korsakov, father of future composer
Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.
The house of the Rimsky-Korsakovs was thought
to be built by Nikolai's grandfather Piotr in the early 19th
century. Here Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov was born on March 18,
1844 and spent his childhood. In 1872, after his father's
death, the family sold the house and left the town.
No essential alterations in the building
design were made by the next owners. However, it greatly suffered
in the 20th century — during German occupation of Tikhvin
in 1941.
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The
father's study |
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Andrei Rimsky-Korsakov was the civil governor
of Volynskaya province in 1831-1835. After being dismissed
from this post for his liberal views he settled in Tikhvin.
The last years of his life were spent with the family. Much
time was devoted to the upbringing of his younger son Nikolai.
Andrei Rimsky-Korsakov's personalia are
the heart of the study exhibit. His roomy "Voltairian"
elbow-chair made by serf craftsmen, desk clock, paperweight,
two writing cases bearing the arms of the Rimsky-Korsakovs
family etc. are of special interest.
The two portraits on the walls attract attention.
One of them is an original picturing Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov,
the composer's uncle, a vice-admiral and participant of the
war against Napoleon. Another painting (copy by N.Lebedev
of the watercolor by A.Bogolyubov) shows the composer's elder
brother Voin.
By the moment of Nikolai's birth Voin Rimsky-Korsakov (1822-1871)
already graduated from the Naval College. Later on, he achieved
fame as a navigator, teacher and reformer of naval education.
In 1853-1856 he was in the command of the "Vostok (East)"
schooner participating in the Admiral Putyatin's expedition
to Japan. His ship was the first to go through and explore
the Tatarsky Strait. His name was given to the group of islands
in the Peter the Great Gulf of the Sea of Japan. In 1861-1871
Voin Rimsky-Korsakov was the Director of the Naval College
and it was thanks to his efforts that the college gained the
status of an institution of higher education. He published
many pioneer articles on education and nautical topics. More
information on his activities can be found on the web.
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The
red drawing-room |
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The red drawing-room was the place where
the family members got together in the evenings. They used
to recite poetry, play musical instruments and sing here.
Portraits of Nikolai's parents — Andrei and Sofia Rimsky-Korsakovs
painted in the 1820-ies are on display. The authentic white
tiled stove adds to the cosiness of the room. A bird cage
is still preserved to remind of the parrot that was known
to live in the Rimsky-Korsakovs house and sing a special song.
The composer used this melody as a leitmotif of the tsar Dodon's
parrot in his opera "Golden Cockerel".
The original sheet music - hand written
claviers - can be seen on the piano. Nikolai has been taught
to play piano since the age of 6. When he was 11years old,
he wrote first music of his own - an overture and duo "Butterfly".
Other family relics displayed here are the
albums of poems, drawings and silhouettes that belonged to
Sofia Rimskaya-Korsakova.
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The
second drawing-room |
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The museum exhibit is centered round the
materials depicting the composer's childhood. The "Nika's
corner" (Nika was the family name for Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov)
is recreated in the second drawing-room. Memorabilia of the
future composer when a child including his drawings, belongings,
a strap to mark his height are preserved with great care.
The school manuals and books popular among kids of those days
are displayed on the table and secretaire.
Prints and drawings belonging to the family
of the Rimsky-Korsakovs, paintings "The Family of the
Rimsky-Korsakovs" by N.Lebedev (1984) and "The Battle
for Grenham" by V.Fedotov (1984) are presented on the
walls.
The rosewood grand piano used by Nikolai
Rimsky-Korsakov for more than 30 years and his favorite lamp
are placed in the center of the room. The instrument made
by the famous piano factory "Becker" was bought
by Nikolai and his wife Nadezhda in 1872. It was delivered
to their apartment in Shpalernaya Street in St.Petersburg
where musicians - members of the "Moguchaya kuchka (Mighty
Handful)" group - used to have their meetings. (reference:
The group was also known as the Balakirev's Circle and New
Russian Musical School. That was a community of fellows -
Russian composers whose creations made a whole epoch in Russian
and world music. The head of the group was Mikhail Balakirev.
Aleksandr Borodin, Tsezar Kyui, Modest Mussorgsky and Nikolai
Rimsky-Korsakov were among its members. The group emerged
in the late 1850-early 1860-ies and existed till the mid 1870-ies.
The name "Mighty Handful" was given to the community
by musical critic Vassily Stasov, their ideologist.) The grand
piano followed the composer when he moved to other apartments.
It was his companion and co-author of many of his creations.
His friends and students, including Mikhail Balakirev, Modest
Mussorgsky, Aleksandr Dargomyzhsky, Aleksandr Glazunov, Igor
Stravinsky, Piotr Tchaikovsky played this instrument. In 1903
the composer presented the grand piano to his elder daughter
Sofia and bought another one for himself. In 1963 the memorial
grand piano was bought by the museum and later restored at
the Accord factory of musical instruments.
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The
mother's room |
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Sofia Rimskaya-Korsakova (born Skaryatina)
dedicated her life to her husband and children. She was keen
in housekeeping, skillful in cooking, knitting and embroidering.
Her personal belongings including a shawl, mirror, embroideries
of her own, albums, perfume bottles are displayed in the room.
The original photo of Sofia and Andrei Rimsky-Korsakov and
his portrait at the age of 9 years old can be seen here too.
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