Abstract: Christoph Flamm has released a fundamental scholarly work «Russian Composer Nikolai Medtner. Research and materials» in Berlin in 1995. Until now this is the best foreign book on Medtner. In the present paper the author is presenting Medtner’s book «The Muse and the Fashion» putting it into the broad context of esthetical ideas from early antique philosophers to German idealists. The scope of issues presented is very broad: Medtner’s literary writing, the story of «The Muse and the Fashion»’s creation as well as putting together Medtner’s literary and musical works. The narration is very intense and exceptional especially having in mind the deficiencies of Russian musicological research on Medtner. The translation is made in collaboration with the author and includes some corrections as compared with the first publication where some details need to be reconsidered.

Keywords: N.K. Medtner, «The Muse and the Fashion», Russian musical esthetics of the XXth century.

Abstract: The paper is about the attitude of a prominent XXth century composer Toru Takemitsu to painting in general and particularly to his favourite artists Odilon Redon, Paul Klee and Juan Miro. Diverse Japanese gardens are also among visual stimulus where he found inspiration that is also reflected in different aspects of his musical writing.

Keywords: Toru Takemitsu, painting, Odilon Redon, Paul Klee, Juan Miro.

Abstract: Musical prodigies as a phenomenon are known during several centuries while children appearing on concert stage are being used as a commercial product. There exists a supposition that such exploitation since early age could be the reason for their «burning out» when their talent fades away leading to various psychological traumas. The author argues that although such views are basically convincing it’s possible to offer another hypothesis based on psychological similarity of prodigies and so called «idiots-savants», autistic children and teenagers with extraordinary abilities. The author is offering various arguments to support her idea: according to the paper’s discourse «burned out» prodigies who failed to develop into outstanding musicians could share with idiots-savants autistic predisposition based on communication deficiencies connected in the to expressive ear for music. Expressive ear can be considered «communication centre» of musical talent referring to non-notational features of music.

Keywords: wunderkind, absolute pitch, savant, autism, expressive ear for music.

Abstract: The paper is a research on impressionistic features of «Russian» works by N.N. Cherepnin at the example of his sketches to the fairy tale on firebird «The Charmed Kingdom». Themes of the miniature being born out of one core, timbre and harmony with their picturesque atmosphere are the natural ground for the impressionistic landscape created by the music.

Keywords: impressionism, Russian music, N.N. Cherepnin, «Charmed Kingdom».

Abstract: The paper is describing philosophical and aesthetic views of Vladimir Minin, the choir conductor and outstanding musician of our time. At the example of Moscow Chamber choir the author is analyzing its repertoire strategy that is fostering the growth of the group’s mastery and professionalism. Vladimir Minin shares with the author his views on the prospects of modern choir singing, its artistic mission trying to express his vision of past, present and future of this popular kind of musicianship.

Keywords: V.N. Minin, artistic strategy, repertoire, conductor, choir genre, chamber music.