Max Fishman

Max Shakhnovich Fishman (Polish: Mietek Fiszman /Fischman/, Romanian: Max Fişman, Russian: Макс Шахнович Фишман, known as Max Benovich Fishman), December 12, 1915, Warsaw, Poland — September 24, 1985, Chișinău, Moldova) was a Moldavian Soviet composer, pianist, and teacher, brought up on the basis of Jewish, Polish, and Russian culture.Макс Фишман http://moldova-inform.ru/?p=1547"Выдающиеся деятели культуры и искусства Молдовы" Электронная энциклопедия (Культура народов. Этнические сообщества Курской области). http://kurskonb.ru/our-booke/geo/ethnos/moldova/92-culture-famous-people.html
==Biography== 
===Life in Poland===
Max Fishman was born on December 12, 1915, in Warsaw, in the family of an entrepreneur and the head of the Warsaw synagogue Shahno-Beinish Fishman (1870 - July 1, 1936) and Esther Fishman, nee Bleiberg (1880 - presumably after 1940). He had six older sisters and a younger brother.
 
He studied at the Warsaw Conservatory with Józef Turczyński (piano) and Antoni Marek (composition).
As a student, he actively composed music and participated in concerts collaborated with popular Polish actresses Ida Kaminska and Lola Folman, hypnotist, and illusionist Wolf Messing, and performed at the famous orphan school Janusz Korczak, where he worked as an educator in the summer months.
In August 1939 he was drafted into the army, and during the attack of when Nazi Germany on Poland on September 1, he actively participated in the anti-fascist resistance.
Fleeing from Nazi persecution, on October 21, 1939, he swam crossed the Western Bug with his nephew Pavel Gruenspan (1920 - 2000, a Polish pianist, composer, and leader of the Jazz Orchestra) and ended up in the territory occupied by the Soviet Union under the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact. He was arrested by the NKVD, where, instead of the surname Metek, they wrote the name Max Fishman and put him in a camp.
===Life in the USSR===
Max Fishman was "lucky" in the spring of 1940, he was not shot in Katyn, but sent to the Labor army, (NKVD labor columns), in fact, the Gulag, with which he traveled most of the territory of the USSR working on construction sites, loggings, and in Aktyubinsk, in Kazakhstan), he dragged trolleys with chrome ore from deep mines.
In September 1944, after a concert of patriotic songs, where, under the leadership of Max Fishman, the group from the Labor Army sang patriotic songs, to improve the image of the USSR in the eyes of the Polish army on the territory of the USSR, he, with frostbite on his hands and poor health, was released and sent to study at the Saratov Conservatory. Later, for all his hard labor trials, he was awarded the Medal "For Valiant Labour in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945".
During the war, almost all of his relatives perished in the Warsaw ghetto. Many of them participated in the 1943 uprising. 
 
At the Saratov Conservatory, he studied piano with Professor E. M. Singer, from where he was transferred to the Minsk Conservatory in 1945. There he studied with Professor G. N. Petrov (piano) and listened to lectures on composition by Professor A.V. Bogatyrev, although formally he was not his registered student. 
In 1945 he married Lydia Axionov.
After graduating from the Minsk Conservatory, Max Fishman had great difficulties with his job in Minsk, since at that time in the USSR there was an extensive campaign against cosmopolitanism, with anti-Semitic essence. After working at the Musical College of Gomel, he and his wife were sent to Moldavia.
 
Since 1952, he worked at the Chisinau Conservatory (later renamed the Chișinău Institute of Arts named after G. Muzicescu, currently the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts) as an accompanist, and piano teacher. He also taught piano at the Calarasi Pedagogical College and at the music school in the village Carpineni. Tamara Melnik, associate professor, PhD in the study of arts, "Studying the composer’s creation of the Repulic of Moldova in the context of scientific and methodological activities of the complementary piano department of the Academy of Music, Theatre and Fine Arts in the 50s-60s of the 20th century (based on the documents from the National Archive of the Republic of Moldova). Studiul artelor și culturologie: istorie, teorie, practică – Nr. 1 (21), 2014. (Тамара Мельник, доцент, доктор (кандидат) искусствоведения "Исследование творчества композиторов Республики Молдова в контексте научно-методической деятельности кафедры общего фортепиано Академии Музыки, Театра и Изобразительных Искусств 50-60-х годов ХХ века (по материалам Национального Архива Республики Молдова". Studiul artelor și culturologie: istorie, teorie, practică – Nr. 1 (21), 2014) https://revista.amtap.md/wp-content/files_mf/151740156922_melnict_IssledovanietvorchestvakompozitorovRespublikiMoldovavkontekstenauchnometodicheskoydeyatelnostikafedryiobschegofortepiano.pdf
Max Fishman was actively involved in composing.
Dozens of different genres remained in the creative portfolio: 4 concertos for piano and orchestra, sonata for clarinet and piano, sonata for violin and piano, trio, pieces for piano and various instruments, and symphonic and choral works.Илана Елизарова "Без права творить. К 100-летию композитора, пианиста, педагога Макса Фишмана". 
Max Fishman died on September 24, 1985, in Chisinau. He was buried at the Chisinau cemetery of St. Lazarus (also called "Doina").Tamara Melnik, associate professor, PhD in the study of arts, "Composer and professor Max Fishman". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice 2011, nr. 1-2(12-13). (Тамара Мельник, доцент, доктор (кандидат) искусствоведения "Макс Фишман: композитор и педагог". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice 2011, nr. 1-2(12-13) https://ibn.idsi.md/sites/default/files/imag_file/Max%20Fisman_profesor%20si%20compozitor.pdfIlana Elizarova "The Enchanting Abyss..." (about Moldovan composers Vasily Zagorschi, Zlata Tkach, Max Fishman). "International Jewish Newspaper" March 26, 2015. (Илана Елизарова "Чарующая бездна…" (о молдавских композиторах Василии Загорском, Злате Ткач, Максе Фишман). "Международная еврейская газета" 26 марта 2015) https://web.archive.org/web/20160304092508/http://jig.ru/charuyushhaya-bezdna/#.VtlUeHbP203
===Family===
===Personality===
“…Max Fishman is an outstanding musician, and composer, who could produce great music from the piano even with broken hands. His encyclopedic mind, excellent education in Warsaw, Saratov, and Minsk, his kind heart attracted students, teachers, and technical staff of the Conservatory and just music lovers to him. He was open to everyone and helped with everything he could ... Max Benovich was the soul of any company, it was very interesting with him. I could enjoy a conversation with him for hours…” - from a speech at the funeral of Max Fishman, Moldavian conductor, People's Artist from the Republic of Moldova, Professor Boris Milyutin (1985). (Journalist and art critic Olga Bulychevskaya cites this message in the article "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." (Музыка возрождает жизнь. К 100-летию композитора Макса Фишмана.) AVA.MD November 4, 2015.Olga Bulychevskaya "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." https://ava.md/2015/11/04/muzyka-vozrozhdaet-zhizn-k-100-letiyu/
“…He was my close friend back in the days in Warsaw, where we studied at the conservatory… He was a brilliant pianist. He was the leader of any company, a dreamer, an ardent debater, an athlete, a humorist, and a wonderful storyteller. He had burning big eyes, hair with a reddish tint, he was slender, mobile ... Mietek himself was like music…” - from a letter with Belarusian composer, People's Artist of Belarus, Professor Heinrich Wagner to Lidia Axionova (1986).
“…Next to him, it was very cozy, warm, and interesting. You could immediately feel the breed, great life experience, and the tragic severity of the events experienced by Max. Even then, among us, students and many teachers of the Belarusian Conservatory, he enjoyed authority and respect. I really enjoyed his friendship and the opportunity to learn from him... Many years later, in one of the concerts in Minsk, I managed to hear the piano works of Max Fishman filled with lyrical and romantic expression, bright optimism, and tragedy, in a virtuoso performance by your son Artur Aksenov. I thought that evening that the years lived by him in Chisinau were not in vain and conveyed to us the opportunity to hear wonderful, poignant music…” - from a letter by Belarusian violinist, People's Artist of Belarus, Professor Lev Gorelik to Lidia Axionova (1986).
“Fishman was one of the largest composers of Moldova, although he was not formally a member of the Union of Composers. But, to be honest, Max Fishman did not need the Union of Composers, but the Union of Composers needed him. He was frank, uncompromising, honest, subtle, charming... His music did not leave any listener indifferent. Even obvious ill-wishers and there were many of them, I think, noted his originality and modernity, taking origins from the depths of either Moldovan or Jewish Melos. This uncertainty particularly annoyed them. His suggestions, advice, and analysis of the works of colleagues have always been kind, interesting, and well-reasoned. The main thing for him was to help and not to harm ... - from an interview with Moldovan composer, Honored Art Worker of the Moldavian SSR Vladimir Slivinsky to music critic, and journalist Serghei Pojar (2004). (Journalist and art critic Olga Bulychevskaya cites this message in the article "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." (Музыка возрождает жизнь. К 100-летию композитора Макса Фишмана.) AVA.MD November 4, 2015.Olga Bulychevskaya "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." https://ava.md/2015/11/04/muzyka-vozrozhdaet-zhizn-k-100-letiyu/
“...It was comfortable and informative with him. He was a man from the West... Around 1963, after graduating from the conservatory a pianist Gita Borisovna Strakhilevich suggested that I learned Sonata for Clarinet and Piano by Max Benovich. I immediately fell in love with this music and we performed it on the radio. Then followed the Scherzino for Clarinet and Piano... His music simultaneously weeps and laughs, sad and dances, disturbs and calms, and besides, it gives the performers the opportunity to show their best qualities. Many of my students at Conservatory have grown up playing this music.” – from an interview with Moldavian clarinetist, People's Artist from the Republic of Moldova, Professor Evgeny Verbețsky to music critic, journalist Serghei Pojar (2004). (Journalist and art critic Olga Bulychevskaya cites this message in the article "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." (Музыка возрождает жизнь. К 100-летию композитора Макса Фишмана.) AVA.MD November 4, 2015.Olga Bulychevskaya "Music enlivens life. To the 100th anniversary of the birth of composer Max Fishman." https://ava.md/2015/11/04/muzyka-vozrozhdaet-zhizn-k-100-letiyu/
==Works==
*	4 piano concertosTamara Melnik, associate professor, PhD in the study of arts, "The concerto for piano and orchestra es-dur by M. Fishman in the romanticism traditions context". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice Nr. 4 (17), 2012. (Тамара Мельник, доцент, доктор (кандидат) искусствоведения "Концерт для фортепиано с оркестром es-dur М. Фишмана в контексте традиций романтизма". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice Nr. 4 (17), 2012) https://ibn.idsi.md/sites/default/files/imag_file/Kontert%20dlea%20fortepiano%20s%20orkestrom%20ES_Dur%20M%20Fismana.pdf
*	Suite for large symphony orchestra (1961)
*	Jazz Overture
*	Piece for oboe and symphony orchestra (until 1961)
*	Fantasy for small symphony orchestra
*	Variations for piano (1955)
*	Ten Miniatures for Piano on Moldavian Folk Melodies (1955)
*	The cycle of 5 preludes for piano (1956);
*	"Mazurka. Memories of Poland" (1956)
*	Two trios for piano, violin, and cello. (1954 - 1958)National Scientific Conference. Composing creation from the Republic of Moldova: past and present. Pleşcan Irina, vice-rector, Institute of Arts, Tiraspol, "The piano trio by M. Fishman as a sound document of its era" October 24, 2014. (Conferință ştiințifică națională. Creația componistică din Republica Moldova: trecut şi present. Pleşcan Irina, prorector, Institutul de Arte, Tiraspol, "Trio pentru pian de Max Fişman ca un document audio al epocii" 24.10.2014) https://infoamtap.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/conferinta-24-10-14_program.pdfPleşcan Irina, vice-rector Institute of Arts, Tiraspol, "The piano trio by M. Fishman as a sound document of its era" Studiul Artelor şi Culturologie: Istorie, Teorie, Practică – NR. 2 (25), 2015. (Ирина Плешкан, проректор Института искусств, Тирасполь, "Фортепианное трио М. Фишмана, как звуковой документ эпохи" Studiul Artelor şi Culturologie: Istorie, Teorie, Practică - NR. 2 (25), 2015) https://revista.amtap.md/2017/11/14/1267/
*	Capriccio E Minor for piano (1961)
*	Sonatina for clarinet and piano in B (1963)
*	Sonatina for piano (3 movements) (1963)
*	Romance (arrangement for trombone and piano, 1963),
*	5 Preludes for Piano (Remembrance, Spring is Coming, Estrada Echoes, On the Lake, On May Day)
*	Scherzino for clarinet and piano in B (1964)
*	Scherzo (arranged for trombone and piano, 1964)
*	4 studies for piano (1968)
*	Sonatina for piano d-moll (3 movements) (1968)
*	Ten Piano Pieces on Moldavian Themes (1969),
*	Prelude in e-moll for piano (1968)
*	Canon for choir (Moldovan folk song) (1973)
*	Polyphonic piano cycle Canons (1976)
*	Sonata for violin and piano in d-moll
*	4 studies 
*	Ten piano pieces on Moldovan themes (miniatures Dance, Variations, Olandra, Canon, Youth, Variations, Comic, Variations, Song, Jock)
*	Scherzino G-dur for piano,
*	Concert piece for violin and piano
*	Humoresque for violin and piano
*	Cantata "Glory to Young Eagles" (dedicated to young fighters against Nazism) to the words of S. Varelopulus 1959Pleşcan Irina, vice-rector Institute of Arts, Tiraspol. "Chamber ensemble with piano in composition creation in the Republic of Moldova: problem identification". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice Nr. 3 (20), 2013. (Ирина Плешкан, проректор Института искусств, Тирасполь. "Большой камерно-инструментальный ансамбль с участием фортепиано в композиторском творчестве Республики Молдова: постановка проблемы". Anuar ştiinţific: muzică, teatru, arte plastice Nr. 3 (20), 2013) https://revista.amtap.md/wp-content/files_mf/151377036912_plescan_Bolishoikamerno_instrumentaliniiansambli.pdfCuzneţova Nadejda, aspirant, Senior Lecturer "Cantata in the works of composers of the Republic of Moldova: history and typology (1910 – 1960s)" - the dissertation in Russian is available in the National Library of the Republic of Moldova, in the libraries of the Academy of Sciences of Moldova and the Academy of Music, Theater and Fine Arts – 2019. (Надежда Кузнецова, аспирант, старший преподаватель "Кантата в творчестве композиторов республики Молдова: история и типология (1910 – 1960-е гг.)" - диссертация на русском языке доступна в Национальной библиотеке Республики Молдова, в библиотеках Академии наук Молдовы и Академии музыки, театра и изящных искусств - 2019) http://www.cnaa.md/files/theses/2019/54941/nadejda_cuznetova_thesis.pdf
*	Choir "Autumn" ("What are you rocking…?") to the words of Mihai Eminescu. 1964.
*	Choir "Harvesting" to the words of Vasile Alecsandri.
===Discography=== 
In 2006, a disc was released with recordings of music by M. Fishman (from the radio funds, total time - 78:19.04), which included:
*	Variations for piano. Performed by Lyudmila Vaverco, recorded in 1956.
*	Trio on Moldovan themes for piano, violin and cello. Performed by Lyudmila Vaverco (piano), Oscar Dayn (violin), Vsevolod Dubrovsky (cello), recorded in 1958.
*	Piece for oboe and orchestra. Performed by Dmitry Rotar (oboe), MSSR Radio and Television Orchestra, conductor Alexander Vasechkin, recorded in 1961.
*	Sonatina for piano. Performed by Ghitlea Strakhilevich, recorded in 1963.
*	Concert piece for violin and piano. Performed by Lilia Neaga (violin), Ghitlea Strakhilevich (piano) recording in 1964.
*	Humoresque for violin and piano. Performed by Lilia Neaga (violin), Ghitlea Strakhilevich, (piano) recording in 1964.
*	Sonata for Violin and Piano. Performed by Lilia Neaga (violin), Ghitlea Strakhilevihi (piano) recording in 1964.
*	Sonata for clarinet and piano. Performed by Evgeny Verbețsky (clarinet), Ghitlea Strakhilevich, (piano) recording in 1964.
*	Scherzino for clarinet and piano. Performed by Evgeny Verbețsky (clarinet), Ghitlea Strakhilevich (piano) recording in 1964.
*	Capriccio for piano. Performed by Ghitlea Strakhilevich, recorded in 1964.
*	Etude in G major for piano. Performed by Ghitlea Strakhilevich, recorded in 1964.
*	Etude in D minor for piano. Performed by Ghitlea Strahilevici, recorded in 1964.
*	Choir "Autumn" ("What are you rocking…?") to the words of Mihai Eminescu. Performed by the Conservatory Choir, conductor Lidia Axionov, recorded on June 23, 1964.
*	Choir "Harvesting" to the words of Vasile Alecsandri. Performed by the Conservatory Choir, conductor Lidia Axionov, recorded in June 23, 1964.Within the framework of the musical project, two concerts will be held in Chisinau" - six works by composers of the last century - Solomon Lobel, David Fedov, Arkady Luxembourg, Max Fishman. "Information and analytical portal Point" January 23, 2018. ("В рамках музыкального проекта в Кишиневе состоятся два концерта" - шесть произведений композиторов прошлого века — Соломона Лобеля, Давида Федова, Аркадия Люксембурга, Макса Фишмана., "Информационно-аналитический портал Point" 23 января 2018) https://point.md/ru/novosti/obschestvo/v-ramkakh-muzykalnogo-proekta-v-kishineve-proidut-dva-kontserta/ Pavilhão Centro de Portugal " Concert – The Rediscovery of Moldovan Music" Concertos for Piano and Orchestra – Max Fishman – David Fedov, November 22, 2019. ("Concerto – A Redescoberta Da Música Moldava" Concertos para piano e Orquestra – Max Fishman – David Fedov, 24 de novembro de 2019) https://www.orquestraclassicadocentro.org/concerto-a-redescoberta-da-musica-moldavaCenter Classical Orchestra pays tribute to Moldovan classical music, Concertos for Piano and Orchestra – Max Fishman – David Fedov, November 22, 2019. (Orquestra Clássica do Centro faz tributo à música clássica Moldava, Concertos para piano e Orquestra – Max Fishman – David Fedov, 22 de Novembro 2019 https://www.campeaoprovincias.pt/noticia/orquestra-classica-do-centro-faz-tributo-a-musica-classica-moldava"Moldovan classical music will be played in Portugal" (Max Fishman, David Fedov). Moldovan news information portal Noi.md, November 14. 2019. ("Молдавская классическая музыка будет звучать в Португалии" (Макс Фишман, Давид Федов). Молдавский новостной информационный портал Noi.md, 14 ноября 2019) https://noi.md/ru/obshhestvo/moldavskaya-klassicheskaya-muzyka-budet-zvuchati-v-portugalii
Category:1915 births
Category:People from Warsaw, Poland
Category:Composers
Category:Pianists
Category:Teachers