Lev Zhurbin

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

Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin
Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin performing in Moscow, 2005
Background information
Birth name	Lev Aleksandrovich Zhurbin (Лев Александрович Журбин)
Also known as	Ljova
Born	(1978-08-18) August 18, 1978
Origin	Moscow, Russia
Genres	Classical, folk, chamber jazz, Film Music, Gypsy, World
Occupation(s)	Musician, arranger, film composer, producer
Instruments	Viola
Years active	1990–present
Labels	Kapustnik, Sony Classical Deutsche Grammophon, Nonesuch Records, Fat Cat
Associated acts	Ljova and the Kontraband, Romashka, Yo-Yo Ma, Kronos Quartet, Osvaldo Golijov, Jay-Z, Bond, Nina Nastasia, Dawn Upshaw, Alondra de la Parra, Brooklyn Rider, Kayhan Kalhor, Guy Sigsworth, Mary Wilson, Alan Pierson, Brooklyn Philharmonic

Biography

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, the Mexican songwriter Natalia Lafourcade, 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] He is presently on the faculty of the Atelier program at Princeton University [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]

Ljova is married to Inna Barmash, an attorney and musician.[29]

Selected Compositions

Orchestral and Soloists 2019 Cellostatus [30][31] 2016 Current[32] 2016 Elegy[9] 2015 Throw The Book[33] Vocal Chamber Music 2013 The First Rite[34] 2010 Niña Dance[35] 2005 By the Campfire[36] Instrumental Chamber Music 2018 Meditation on Kol Nidrei [37] 2017 Clarinet Quintet: The Refugee[9] 2016 Rockaway Baby[38] 2015 An Appalachian Wind[39] 2014 Gi-gue-ly[40] 2013 Lullaby & Memory[41] 2013 Click 2012 String Quartet: Culai[10] 2011 Everywhere is Falling Everywhere[42] 2005-2008 The Vjola Suite[43] 2000 Sicilienne[44]

Music for Solo Instruments 2020 Voices (for piano and historical recordings),[45] an expansion of Sirota[46] 2012 Greenway (for violin)[47] 2011 Sirota (for piano and cantorial recording)[48] Music for Dance 2017 Do You Like Me Now?[49] 2016 Atlas Kid (co-composed with Mikael Karlsson)[50] 2015 Almah[19] 2014 Emin[51] 2013 Hogar[52] 2013 Budget Bulgar (Memphis Hora)[17] 2012 Awáa (co-composed with Curtis Macdonald)[16] 2009 Tales of Offenbach[53] 2009 Busk[54] 2004 White

Filmography

Feature Film Scores

• 2020 Alberto and the Concrete Jungle [55]
• 2009 Black Lamb[56]
• 2006 Mother
• 2003 Daddy[57]
• 1999 Serpent's Breath[58]

Documentary Film Scores

• 2019 Big Lies [59]
• 2015 Finding Babel[60]
• 2015 Datuna: Portrait of America[61]
• 2011 Lost Bohemia[62]
• 2010 My Perestroika[63]
• 2009 Alienadas[64]
• 2007 Three Soldiers[65]
• 2005 The Team[66]

Short Film Scores

• 2017 Do You Like Me Now?[49]
• 2016 How You Look At It[67]
• 2015 Grace[68]
• 2014 America 1979[69]
• 2014 6-Minute Mom[70]
• 2013 Penny Dreadful[71]
• 2012 The Visitors[72]
• 2012 For The Love of Nothing[73]
• 2011 Fantastic Plastic[74]
• 2010 Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle[75]
• 2009 American Hero[76]
• 2009 Spleen[77]
• 2009 The Heart of Battle[78]
• 2009 The One That I Want[79]
• 2008 Only Love[80]
• 2008 Cupcake[81]
• 2008 New People in Six Days[82]
• 2007 Transience[83]
• 2007 Dear Lemon Lima[84]
• 2005 Dinner at Marvin's[85]
• 2003 The Playground[86]
• 2003 Red Wagon[87]
• 2003 Gardening Tips for Housewives[88]

Discography

• Vjola: World on Four Strings, 2006 Kapustnik Records [22]
• "Mnemosyne", featuring Frank London and William Schimmel[23]
• "Lost in Kino", (film music)[24]
• "Melting River" 2012 [25]
• "No Refund on Flowers" 2014 [89]
• "Finding Babel" 2015 [90]
• "Datuna: Portrait of America" 2016 [91]
• "Footwork" 2017 [92]

References

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. "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. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
7. Lev Zhurbin on IMDb
8. "2016-17 Concert Broadcasts". The Louisville Orchestra. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
9. "Dorico showcase: Ljova's Clarinet Quintet scored in Dorico – Dorico". Blog.dorico.com. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
10. "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. 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. By VIVIEN SCHWEITZERNOV. 4, 2011 (2011-11-04). "BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. 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. 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. "Tiler Peck dances with Lil Buck & Sergei Polunin - 2013 Vail Int'l Dance Festival". Dance Watch. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
18. "Surprises in store for 'Nutcracker' audiences". The Gazette. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
19. "Review: David Parsons Shares the Stage at Joyce Theater - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
20. By BRIAN SEIBERTNOV. 25, 2013 (2013-11-25). "Ballet Hispanico Performs at Apollo Theater - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
21. "Lewis Center for the Arts presents "Sorry About the Mess – Portraits in Music"". 19 February 2018.
22. By ALLAN KOZINNAUG. 13, 2006 (2006-08-13). "CLASSICAL RECORDINGS; A French-Canadian Pianist, a Minimalist and a Russian Violist - The". New York Times. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
23. AllMusic Review by James Manheim. "Mnemosyne - Kontrabando, Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin | Songs, Reviews, Credits". AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
24. By ALLAN KOZINNJAN. 6, 2012 (2012-01-06). "Lev Zhurbin's 'Ljova: Lost in Kino,' a CD of Movie Scores - The New York Times". Nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
25. Kahler, Valerie. "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. "Inna Barmash, Lev Zhurbin".
30. Doolittle, Bill (17 April 2019). "Nicholas Finch performs three new cello concertos — written for him to premiere". Insider Louisville. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
31. Zhurbin, Lev (March 2019). "Cellostatus (2019)". LJOVA. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
32. "A Profound Use Of Music - Arts-Louisville Reviews". arts-louisville.com.
33. "A Far Cry adeptly blends invention, preparation - The Boston Globe".
34. "Ljova and Fireworks Ensemble Revisit and Reinvent the Rite of Spring". 11 August 2013.
35. Kozinn, Allan. "At Carnegie Hall, Dawn Upshaw and Osvaldo Golijov Join Forces".
36. "Ljova And The Kontraband: Tiny Desk Concert".
37. "High Holidays features performances by Cassatt, soloist". OA Online. 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019.
38. "Quintet of the Americas - Concerts". quintet.org.
39. "Heather Killmeyer". etsu.edu.
40. "OUTLIERS: a world premiere recording of 11 works written for Sybarite5".
41. "International Composer - Lev Zhurbin". jamesarts.com.
42. "Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma - Adrienne Arsht Center". arshtcenter.org.
43. "Ravinia Festival - Official Site - A Far Cry". ravinia.org.
44. Kozinn, Allan. "'Portals,' From Tim Fain, at Symphony Space".
45. https://schoolofmusic.ucla.edu/event/inna-faliks-performs-ljova-premiere/
46. https://www.ljova.com/voices/
47. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2017-12-17.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
48. "2018 International Keyboard Institute & Festival - 20th Annyversary!". ikif.org.
49. "Info". nowness.com.
50. "Atlas Kid". New Dialect.
51. "Emin". New Dialect.
52. "Musings on Identity, From the Assimilated Exile to the Meaning of 'Maria'".
53. "ATTPAC: Winspear gala -- The best till last". 16 October 2009.
54. "Review of Aszure Barton's BUSK - DANCEworks". 18 January 2010.
55. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt9354432/
56. "Chornyy baran" – via www.imdb.com.
57. "Daddy" – via www.imdb.com.
58. "Serpent's Breath" – via www.imdb.com.
59. "The Filmmakers". Big Lies. 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2019-07-30.
60. "Finding Babel" – via www.imdb.com.
61. "Datuna: Portrait of America" – via www.imdb.com.
62. "Lost Bohemia" – via www.imdb.com.
63. "My Perestroika" – via www.imdb.com.
64. "Alienadas" – via www.imdb.com.
65. "Three Soldiers" – via www.imdb.com.
66. "The Team" – via www.imdb.com.
67. "2016 Woodstock Film Festival online schedule and tickets". woodstockfilmfestival.com.
68. "Grace" – via www.imdb.com.
69. "Cast & Crew - America 1979".
70. "6-minute Mom" – via www.imdb.com.
71. "Penny Dreadful" – via www.imdb.com.
72. "The Visitors" – via www.imdb.com.
73. "For the Love of Nothing" – via www.imdb.com.
74. "Fantastic Plastic" – via www.imdb.com.
75. "Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle" – via www.imdb.com.
76. "American Hero" – via www.imdb.com.
77. "Spleen" – via www.imdb.com.
78. "The Heart of Battle" – via www.imdb.com.
79. "The One That I Want" – via www.imdb.com.
80. "Only Love" – via www.imdb.com.
81. "Cupcake" – via www.imdb.com.
82. "New People in Six Days" – via www.imdb.com.
83. "Transience" – via www.imdb.com.
84. "Dear Lemon Lima" – via www.imdb.com.
85. "Dinner at Marvin's" – via www.imdb.com.
86. "The Playground" – via www.imdb.com.
87. "Red Wagon" – via www.imdb.com.
88. "Gardening Tips for Housewives" – via www.imdb.com.
89. "404Captions.content404". Microsoft.com. Archived from the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2018-09-20.
90. "Music". FINDING BABEL.
91. "Datuna: Portrait of America - official soundtrack, by Ljova". Ljova.
92. "Discography". http://samsadigursky.com. External link in |website= (help)

Sources

• Ljova Catalogue of Works
• Ljova Discography

External links

• Ljova's Official Website
• Ljova and the Kontraband, Ljova's performing ensemble.
• Ljova and the Kontraband on NPR Tiny Desk Concert
• Ljova's releases on Bandcamp
• Ljova's releases on Soundcloud
• Review of Ljova's debut solo CD in New York Times
• Zhurbin on NPR
• Zhurbin on WFMU
• Inna Barmash, Ljova Zhurbin
• Interview with Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin
• Free scores by Lev Zhurbin at the International Music Score Library Project (IMSLP)