Lev Zhurbin

Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin
Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin performing in Moscow, 2005
Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin performing in Moscow, 2005
Background information
Birth nameLev Aleksandrovich Zhurbin (Лев Александрович Журбин)
Also known asLjova
Born (1978-08-18) August 18, 1978 (age 46)
OriginMoscow, Soviet Union
GenresClassical, folk, chamber jazz, Film Music, Gypsy, World
Occupation(s)Musician, arranger, film composer, producer
Instrument(s)Viola, Fadolín
Years active1990–present
LabelsKapustnik, Sony Classical
Deutsche Grammophon, Nonesuch Records, Fat Cat
Member ofLjova and the Kontraband

Lev Zhurbin (born August 18, 1978, in Moscow, Soviet Union) is a composer[1] and violist.[2][3]

Biography

[edit]

Lev Zhurbin immigrated to the United States in the year 1990. He is often credited simply as "Ljova", the diminutive of his formal name.[4] He is the son of the composer Alexander Zhurbin and the poet/lyricist/writer Irena Ginzburg.[5] He is the author of over 70 original compositions for classical, jazz, and folk music ensembles.[6] He has also contributed musical scores to numerous documentaries, features, shorts and animated films.[7][3]

Zhurbin received commissions from the Louisville Orchestra,[8] the City of London Sinfonia,[9] a string quartet for Brooklyn Rider[10] and a commission for Yo-Yo Ma and the Silk Road Project;[11] arrangements for the Los Angeles Philharmonic,[12] Brooklyn Philharmonic,[13] tenor Javier Camarena, conductor Alondra de la Parra, songwriters Natalia Lafourcade and Ricky Martin, composer/guitarist Gustavo Santaolalla,[14] The Knights,[15] and collaborations with choreographers Aszure Barton,[16] Damian Woetzel,[17] Christopher Wheeldon,[18] Katarzyna Skarpetowska (with Parsons Dance Company),[19] and Eduardo Vilaro (with Ballet Hispanico).[20] In 2018, he was on the faculty of the Atelier program at Princeton University, teaching a course on collaboration with the puppeteer Basil Twist[21]

Ljova released his debut solo CD, Vjola: World on Four Strings, in July 2006 on his own label, Kapustnik Records.[22] "Mnemosyne", the debut album of his ensemble, Ljova and the Kontraband, featured Frank London, William Schimmel and other special guests.[23] His third album, "Lost in Kino", focuses on his film music, featuring Ljova's cues from collaborations with films by Francis Ford Coppola, James Marsh, Robin Hessman, Josef Astor, Lev Polyakov, Roman Khrushch, Sean Gannet and Basia Winograd.[24]

In 2012, Ljova released his fourth album, "Melting River", featuring music created for a dance piece by choreographer Aszure Barton.[25] It was initially released as a download-exclusive on Bandcamp, but has since been issued on limited edition vinyl with bonus tracks.[26]

2014 saw the release of "No Refund on Flowers", the second album by Ljova and the Kontraband, crowdfunded through a 34-second campaign on Kickstarter.[27]

2015 and 2016 saw the releases of soundtrack albums to Ljova's scores for "Finding Babel" and "Datuna: Portrait of America". 2017 saw the release of "Footwork", dedicated to Ljova's collaborations with Parsons Dance Company and Ballet Hispanico.[28] In 2019, he released his tenth album, "SoLò Ópus", focusing on music for the fadolín and looper effects.[29]

During 2020-2021 pandemic, he has released a number of works for the solo fadolín through his website and social media channels.[30] In 2022, he released two albums -- "Enter The Fadolín" (focusing on solo music for the fadolín, including music by J.S. Bach and Ljova's father, composer Alexander Zhurbin, and a second collection of film scores, "Lost in Kino 2".[31] He is presently performing and developing new repertoire with Trio Fadolín, a new chamber group featuring the violin, fadolín, and cello. [32]

Ljova is married to Inna Barmash, an attorney and musician.[33]

Selected Compositions

[edit]

Filmography

[edit]

Feature Film Scores

  • 2020 Alberto and the Concrete Jungle [60]
  • 2009 Black Lamb[61]
  • 2006 Mother
  • 2003 Daddy[62]
  • 1999 Serpent's Breath[63]

Documentary Film Scores

Short Film Scores

  • 2017 Do You Like Me Now?[54]
  • 2016 How You Look At It[72]
  • 2015 Grace[73]
  • 2014 America 1979[74]
  • 2014 6-Minute Mom[75]
  • 2013 Penny Dreadful[76]
  • 2012 The Visitors[77]
  • 2012 For The Love of Nothing[78]
  • 2011 Fantastic Plastic[79]
  • 2010 Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle[80]
  • 2009 American Hero[81]
  • 2009 Spleen[82]
  • 2009 The Heart of Battle[83]
  • 2009 The One That I Want[84]
  • 2008 Only Love[85]
  • 2008 Cupcake[86]
  • 2008 New People in Six Days[87]
  • 2007 Transience[88]
  • 2007 Dear Lemon Lima[89]
  • 2005 Dinner at Marvin's[90]
  • 2003 The Playground[91]
  • 2003 Red Wagon[92]
  • 2003 Gardening Tips for Housewives[93]

Discography

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "Britt Orchestra / Opening Night / Ray Chen". Brittfest.org. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  2. ^ Kozinn, Allan (2010-08-06). "Ljova's Quirky Career Includes Playing Weddings". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  3. ^ a b "Lev Zhurbin - Classical Music Composers". Pcmsconcerts.org. 1978-08-18. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  4. ^ "Lev Zhurbin". IMDb. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  5. ^ "LJOVA — New Dialect". Newdialect.org. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  6. ^ "El Mariachi Cocek - Romashka Live at Joe's Pub". YouTube. 2007-03-05. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  7. ^ Lev Zhurbin at IMDb
  8. ^ "2016-17 Concert Broadcasts". The Louisville Orchestra. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  9. ^ a b c "Dorico showcase: Ljova's Clarinet Quintet scored in Dorico – Dorico". Blog.dorico.com. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  10. ^ a b "Classical Commissioning Program | Chamber Music America". Chamber-music.org. 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  11. ^ "The Silkroad Ensemble: Canal by Ljova". YouTube. 2014-01-06. Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  12. ^ Mark Swed (2017-10-18). "At the L.A. Phil's CDMX festival, it's the women who point the way forward". LA Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  13. ^ Vivien Schweitzer (2011-11-04). "BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  14. ^ "Ljova Zhurbin". Lewis Center for the Arts.
  15. ^ "Ljova Archives - Naumburg Orchestral Concerts". Naumburgconcerts.org. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  16. ^ a b Kozinn, Allan (2014-10-03). "Choreographer and Composers Win New Dance Prize - The New York Times". Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  17. ^ a b "Tiler Peck dances with Lil Buck & Sergei Polunin - 2013 Vail Int'l Dance Festival". Dance Watch. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  18. ^ "Surprises in store for 'Nutcracker' audiences". The Gazette. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  19. ^ a b Kourlas, Gia (21 January 2016). "Review: David Parsons Shares the Stage at Joyce Theater - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  20. ^ Brian Seibert (2013-11-25). "Ballet Hispanico Performs at Apollo Theater - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  21. ^ "Lewis Center for the Arts presents "Sorry About the Mess – Portraits in Music"". 19 February 2018.
  22. ^ a b Allan Kozinn (2006-08-13). "CLASSICAL RECORDINGS; A French-Canadian Pianist, a Minimalist and a Russian Violist - The". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  23. ^ a b James Manheim. "Mnemosyne - Kontrabando, Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  24. ^ a b Allan Kozinn (2012-01-06). "Lev Zhurbin's 'Ljova: Lost in Kino,' a CD of Movie Scores - The New York Times". The New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  25. ^ a b Kahler, Valerie (20 August 2014). "New Classical Tracks: Ljova, 'Melting River'".
  26. ^ "Melting River, by Ljova". Ljova.
  27. ^ "Ljova and the Kontraband: new album, tour & sing-along". Kickstarter.
  28. ^ "Footwork, by Ljova". Ljova.
  29. ^ a b May, James (2019-02-27). "Ljova's SoLò Ópus Explores Improvisation with Fadolín and Loop Pedal". I CARE IF YOU LISTEN. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  30. ^ "Keep Connected with Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin". Strings Magazine. 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2021-01-20.
  31. ^ "Classical CDs: Masses, maths and memories". theartsdesk.com. November 19, 2022.
  32. ^ "Trio Fadolín". August 5, 2022.
  33. ^ "Inna Barmash, Lev Zhurbin". The New York Times. 12 August 2007.
  34. ^ Doolittle, Bill (17 April 2019). "Nicholas Finch performs three new cello concertos — written for him to premiere". Insider Louisville. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  35. ^ Zhurbin, Lev (March 2019). "Cellostatus (2019)". LJOVA. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  36. ^ "Orlando Philharmonic returns money after Pulse flap - Orlando Sentinel". 10 August 2020.
  37. ^ "A Profound Use Of Music - Arts-Louisville Reviews". arts-louisville.com.
  38. ^ "A Far Cry adeptly blends invention, preparation - The Boston Globe". The Boston Globe.
  39. ^ "Ljova and Fireworks Ensemble Revisit and Reinvent the Rite of Spring". 11 August 2013.
  40. ^ Kozinn, Allan (11 May 2009). "At Carnegie Hall, Dawn Upshaw and Osvaldo Golijov Join Forces". The New York Times.
  41. ^ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (14 April 2017). "Ljova And The Kontraband: Tiny Desk Concert". NPR.
  42. ^ "High Holidays features performances by Cassatt, soloist". OA Online. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
  43. ^ "Quintet of the Americas - Concerts". quintet.org.
  44. ^ "Heather Killmeyer". etsu.edu.
  45. ^ "OUTLIERS: a world premiere recording of 11 works written for Sybarite5".
  46. ^ "International Composer - Lev Zhurbin". jamesarts.com.
  47. ^ "Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma - Adrienne Arsht Center". arshtcenter.org.
  48. ^ "Ravinia Festival - Official Site - A Far Cry". ravinia.org.
  49. ^ Kozinn, Allan (26 September 2011). "'Portals,' From Tim Fain, at Symphony Space". The New York Times.
  50. ^ "Inna Faliks Performs Ljova Premiere - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music".
  51. ^ "Voices (2011, 2019-2020)". 11 February 2020.
  52. ^ "Asmira Woodward Page | Australian World Orchestra". Archived from the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2017-12-17.
  53. ^ "2018 International Keyboard Institute & Festival - 20th Annyversary!". ikif.org.
  54. ^ a b "Info". nowness.com.
  55. ^ "Atlas Kid". New Dialect.
  56. ^ "Emin". New Dialect.
  57. ^ Burke, Siobhan (23 April 2014). "Musings on Identity, From the Assimilated Exile to the Meaning of 'Maria'". The New York Times.
  58. ^ "ATTPAC: Winspear gala -- The best till last". 16 October 2009.
  59. ^ "Review of Aszure Barton's BUSK - DANCEworks". 18 January 2010.
  60. ^ "Alberto and the Concrete Jungle (2020) - IMDb". IMDb.
  61. ^ "Chornyy baran" – via www.imdb.com.
  62. ^ "Daddy" – via www.imdb.com.
  63. ^ "Serpent's Breath" – via www.imdb.com.
  64. ^ "The Filmmakers". Big Lies. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
  65. ^ "Finding Babel" – via www.imdb.com.
  66. ^ "Datuna: Portrait of America" – via www.imdb.com.
  67. ^ "Lost Bohemia" – via www.imdb.com.
  68. ^ "My Perestroika" – via www.imdb.com.
  69. ^ "Alienadas" – via www.imdb.com.
  70. ^ "Three Soldiers" – via www.imdb.com.
  71. ^ "The Team" – via www.imdb.com.
  72. ^ "2016 Woodstock Film Festival online schedule and tickets". woodstockfilmfestival.com.
  73. ^ "Grace" – via www.imdb.com.
  74. ^ "Cast & Crew". America 1979.
  75. ^ "6-minute Mom" – via www.imdb.com.
  76. ^ "Penny Dreadful" – via www.imdb.com.
  77. ^ "The Visitors" – via www.imdb.com.
  78. ^ "For the Love of Nothing" – via www.imdb.com.
  79. ^ "Fantastic Plastic" – via www.imdb.com.
  80. ^ "Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle" – via www.imdb.com.
  81. ^ "American Hero" – via www.imdb.com.
  82. ^ "Spleen" – via www.imdb.com.
  83. ^ "The Heart of Battle" – via www.imdb.com.
  84. ^ "The One That I Want" – via www.imdb.com.
  85. ^ "Only Love" – via www.imdb.com.
  86. ^ "Cupcake" – via www.imdb.com.
  87. ^ "New People in Six Days" – via www.imdb.com.
  88. ^ "Transience" – via www.imdb.com.
  89. ^ "Dear Lemon Lima" – via www.imdb.com.
  90. ^ "Dinner at Marvin's" – via www.imdb.com.
  91. ^ "The Playground" – via www.imdb.com.
  92. ^ "Red Wagon" – via www.imdb.com.
  93. ^ "Gardening Tips for Housewives" – via www.imdb.com.
  94. ^ "No Refund On Flowers". Microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
  95. ^ "Music". FINDING BABEL.
  96. ^ "Datuna: Portrait of America - official soundtrack, by Ljova". Ljova.
  97. ^ "Discography". samsadigursky.com.
  98. ^ "January 2022 New Releases". newsounds.org.
  99. ^ "Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob Weisberg: Playlist from October 8, 2022". wfmu.org.

Sources

[edit]
  • [1] Ljova Catalogue of Works
  • [2] Ljova Discography
[edit]
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