Birthdays
Alexander Porfiryevich Borodin (12 November 1833 – 27 February 1887) was a Russian Romantic composer, doctor and chemist. He was a member of the group of composers called The Five, who were dedicated to producing a specifically Russian kind of art music
Mikhail Ivanovich Chigorin (12 November 1850 – 25 January 1908) was a leading Russian chess player
I think it's necessary to say that A. Borodin was also a chemist! In this profession Borodin gained great respect, being particularly noted for his work on aldehydes. He worked in the laboratory of Emil Erlenmeyer working on benzene derivatives. He also spent time in Pisa, working on organic halogens. A related reaction known to the West as the Hunsdiecker reaction published in 1939 by the Hunsdieckers was promoted by the Soviet Union as the Borodin reaction. Borodin is co-credited with the discovery of the Aldol reaction, with Charles-Adolphe Wurtz. In 1872 he announced to the Russian Chemical Society the discovery of a new by-product in aldehyde reactions with alcohol-like properties, and he noted similarities with compounds.
ReplyDeleteUndoubtedly, Chigorin is the great person and as a proof of it, I'd like to write some quotes about him:
ReplyDeleteChigorin's talent is enormous, and possibly he is a real genius. At times the depth of his ideas can be inaccessible to mere mortals. - Alexander Alekhine.
(Chigorin) was a bundle of nervous energy and he constantly swung his crossed foot back and forth. Speaking only in his native Russian, he was handicapped in getting along with the other masters. - Frank Marshall
Once he fixated on an idea, his theoretical point became more important to him than winning, and this lack of competitive pragmatism prevented him from making it to the top. - Garry Kasparov
As the American Chess Bulletin wrote in 1908: 'A analyst and gentleman, who had done in particular so much for the advancement of the royal game in his own country.’ This quoatation proves that Chigorin was characterized by universal style, high technique of the realization of advantages. What is more, Chigorin is regarded as the founder of Russian chess school.He even contributed for the best and the prestige of chess in Russia by founding a chess club in St Petersburg, giving lectures in different cities of Russia!
ReplyDeleteBorodin was a part of the "Russian Five" or kutchka a group of five national composers in later 19th century Russia. Borodin was a chemistry professor, which left him little time to develop his musical genius. Many of his songs were unfinished, and completed by other writers. He also worked hard to provide for a sickly wife, and poor relatives. Franz Liszt was one of the first to recognize and like Borodin's first symphony.
ReplyDeleteHis Comic Operas:
Prince Igor (completed by Rimsky-Korsakov and Glazunov)
Polovtsian Dances (Themes from Prince Igor)
3 symphonies Numbers 1-3
2 String quartets