Oleg Vitalyevich Timofeyev (russian: Оле́г Вита́льевич Тимофе́ев, ''Oleg Vital'evič Timofeev''; born January 12, 1963, in
Moscow
Moscow ( , US chiefly ; rus, links=no, Москва, r=Moskva, p=mɐskˈva, a=Москва.ogg) is the capital and largest city of Russia. The city stands on the Moskva River in Central Russia, with a population estimated at 13.0 million ...
), is an American
musicologist
Musicology (from Greek μουσική ''mousikē'' 'music' and -λογια ''-logia'', 'domain of study') is the scholarly analysis and research-based study of music. Musicology departments traditionally belong to the humanities, although some m ...
, specializing in
lute
A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
More specifically, the term "lute" can re ...
and
Russian guitar
The Russian guitar (sometimes referred to as a "Gypsy guitar") is an acoustic seven-string guitar that was developed in Russia toward the end of the 18th century: it shares most of its organological features with the Spanish guitar, although som ...
. He is best known for his pioneering work in the discovery, promotion, interpretation, and authentic performance of the repertoire for the 19th- and 20th-century
Russian seven-string guitar.
Biography
Studies
Timofeyev comes from a musical family, being the son of cellist Natalia Timofeyeva. He began his study of the classical guitar in the early 1980s under the tutelage of
Kamill Frauchi, about whom he later produced a documentary film, ''Frautschi'' . He holds an M.A. in Early Music Performance from the
University of Southern California
, mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it"
, religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist
, established =
, accreditation = WSCUC
, type = Private research university
, academic_affiliations =
, endowment = $8. ...
(1993), and a Ph.D. in Performance Practice from
Duke University (1999) . Since 1983 he has been performing early music on authentic instruments of the plucked family (
lute
A lute ( or ) is any plucked string instrument with a neck and a deep round back enclosing a hollow cavity, usually with a sound hole or opening in the body. It may be either fretted or unfretted.
More specifically, the term "lute" can re ...
,
guitar
The guitar is a fretted musical instrument that typically has six strings. It is usually held flat against the player's body and played by strumming or plucking the strings with the dominant hand, while simultaneously pressing selected string ...
). In 1989 his musical interests brought him to the U.S., where he studied with
Patrick O'Brien,
James Tyler, and
Hopkinson Smith
Hopkinson Smith (born December 7, 1946) is an American lutenist and pedagogue, longtime resident in Basel, Switzerland.
Smith was born in New York City, the son of architectural writer and photographer G. E. Kidder Smith. He graduated from Ha ...
.
Professional work
Revival of the Russian seven-string guitar
Since earning his doctorate he has worked for the revival of Russian music played with authentic technique on the seven-string guitar, often in collaboration with other artists, including the Russian
Roma
Roma or ROMA may refer to:
Places Australia
* Roma, Queensland, a town
** Roma Airport
** Roma Courthouse
** Electoral district of Roma, defunct
** Town of Roma, defunct town, now part of the Maranoa Regional Council
* Roma Street, Brisbane, a ...
guitarist
Sasha Kolpakov
Aleksandr Alexandrovich Kolpakov (russian: Александр Александрович Колпаков ; (born 15 February 1943 in Buzuluk, Orenburg Oblast, RSFSR, Soviet Union) is a Soviet and Russian guitarist, singer and composer.
Biogra ...
, the Kolpakov Trio (Timofeyev, Kolpakov Trio and Talisman 2005), and the American guitarist
John Schneiderman (Timofeyev and Schneiderman 2006). Among the fruits of his research has been his rediscovery and recording the music of
Matvej Pavlov-Azancheev (1888–1963), who was among the rare composers for the seven-string guitar in the first half of the twentieth century.
Timofeyev has performed and taught widely in Europe and the United States. A recipient of numerous scholarly awards, including
IREX and
Fulbright
The Fulbright Program, including the Fulbright–Hays Program, is one of several United States Cultural Exchange Programs with the goal of improving intercultural relations, cultural diplomacy, and intercultural competence between the people ...
fellowships, he has taught and lectured at Maimonides State Academy (Moscow),
Duke University, the
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas (KU) is a public research university with its main campus in Lawrence, Kansas, United States, and several satellite campuses, research and educational centers, medical centers, and classes across the state of Kansas. Tw ...
,
Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world.
Chart ...
,
Princeton University
Princeton University is a private research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the n ...
, the
University of Iowa
The University of Iowa (UI, U of I, UIowa, or simply Iowa) is a public research university in Iowa City, Iowa, United States. Founded in 1847, it is the oldest and largest university in the state. The University of Iowa is organized into 12 coll ...
,
Grinnell College
Grinnell College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Grinnell, Iowa, United States. It was founded in 1846 when a group of New England Congregationalism in the United States, Congrega ...
, and the
Smithsonian.
Bibliography
Scholarly publications
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Film- and discography
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External links
Олег Витальевич Тимофеев - Biography in Russian in the ''Illustrated Biographical Encyclopedic Dictionary: Guitarists and Composers'' by V. V. and S. V. Tavrovskij (В.В. и С.В Тавровские, ред., Иллюстрированный биографический энциклопедический словарь: Гитаристы и композиторы)
www.russian-guitar.com- Timofeyev's personal website
International Academy for Russian Musica, Arts, and Culture- Foundation for the promotion of the Russian seven-string guitar, its music, and tradition
''Iowa Roots'': Oleg Timofeyev, Russian Jewish Guitarist- Interview with audio files and text by the Iowa Arts Council
Mel Bay Artist's Profile: Oleg TimofeyevTalisman Ensemble
{{DEFAULTSORT:Timofeyev, Oleg
1963 births
Living people
American classical guitarists
American male guitarists
Russian classical guitarists
Russian male guitarists
American lutenists
Russian lutenists
Seven-string guitarists
Viol players
Torbanists
American performers of early music
Contemporary classical music performers
Musicians from Moscow
People from Iowa
American documentary filmmakers
American ethnomusicologists
Jewish American musicians
Klezmer musicians
American musicologists
USC Thornton School of Music alumni
Duke University alumni
20th-century American guitarists
20th-century American male musicians