‘Overseas, as well as in Russia, they call
him a Russian national guitarist – such is his recognized status… A citizen of
Tula, Sergey Rudnev, is, perhaps, the only one in this country who has committed
himself to reviving and further developing Russian guitar culture…’
Born in Tula, in 1955, Sergey revealed his
extraordinary music talent at a very young age. In 1971, having graduated from a
music school with an honor diploma, he entered the Tula Music College named
after A. Dargomyzhsli, people’s instruments speciality to study bayan (Russian
accordion invented in Tula) and balalaika. By this time, having mastered the
essentials of guitar play on his own, and due to the lack of guitar class at the
College, he started taking private lessons from the Moscow professional
guitarists V.Slavin and P.Panin.
From 1975 to 1977, being a student of the
Tula Military College, he played for the garrison orchestra concurrently
studying the basics of the instruments play and arrangement for various
orchestras. Having done his service, he opened his own class of classical and
Russian guitar at school No 3 in Tula. There he educated a number of students
who continued their learning at Moscow music colleges. While pursuing the
teaching career for 7 years, he played the guitar in various groups, sic as
Rossiyane, Express, Molodye Golosa (Young Voices), and also worked as music
manager at the jazz-rock State Orchestra called ‘Slides’.
In 1980 in Moscow, Sergey met the notable
Argentinean Guitarist Maria Luisa Anido. The meeting made him modify his
attitude to guitar techniques, as well as alter the focus of activities. Since
then, S.Rudnev has been known as a guitar composer.
His first compositions were influenced by
Western music, especially by the harmonic jazz language. However, pretty soon
S.Rudnev diverted to Russian traditional music, particularly guitar music.
Feeling lack of music material, he created his first 20 arrangements based on
Russian folk songs and dances, which he used in his concerts.
He experiences success in Russia, France,
Poland, Hungary, Israel, Austria and in Spain. His personal contacts won him
practically all-best world guitar Schools. Having converged them, he has created
his individual style and, hence, his own guitar school, some methods and
imitations being uttely unique.
His first success confirmed the
appropiateness of the path he chose, and guitarist Rudnev dedicated himself
entirely to the guitar performance in a Russian style. Then numerous
compositions based on various folk themes appear.
After his concert at the Column Hall of
the Union House in Moscow, Rudnev got acquainted with Mr. Ophée, US publisher.
In 1994 his compositions were released in a Russian album. His pieces of music
are included into programs of notable performers. Among them are Vladimir
Mikulka, Paco de Lucia, Kazukhito Yamashita, and others. The 1990s have been the
period of probing. More interest in Russian folklore tradition, as well as in
the romance genre, has lead to new works. Together with the trio Yasnaya
Polyana, who won Grand Prix at All-Russian Romace Competition held in memory
of V.Zhemchuzhni, he released several CDs. He also wrote folk opera based on
N.Ostrovski’s Snow Girl using exclusively Tula folk material.
Since 1996, S. Rudnev has been working for
the Leo Tolstoy State Memorial Museum-Estate ‘Yasnaya Polyana’ as cultural
programs director, as well as music director of the Children’s State
Philarmonics. In 2002, he released his huge research comprising 208 pages called
The Russian Style of Classical Guitar. This work includes his know-how of
the Russian guitar technique and pieces of Russian guitarists that have never
been publishing before.
Currently, Sergey Rudnev also works as an
accompaniment guitarist for lead Russian pop singers. His second volume of a
guitar music called Heritage is been prepared.
Works edited by VP Music Media
Suite
on Personages of Alexander Pushkin's Fairy
Tales
for guitar
1. In the Lukomorie (Fairy Realm) Land
2. Swan Princess. Barcarolle
3. A Certain Kingtom, A Certain Realm (Prince Gvidon)
4. The Princess' Dream
5. The Priest and Balda