Nikola (Kitanov) Atanassov


composer, pedagogue

25.10.1886 – 30.09.1969Kyustendil – Bulgaria

Nikola (Kitanov) Atanasov is a representative of the so-called “first generation” of Bulgarian composers, the author of the first Bulgarian symphony (1912), realized with compositional techniques typical of the classical sonata-symphonic cycle, as well as the first Bulgarian piano sonata (1911). He graduated from the Zagreb Conservatory under F. Dugan, W. Ruzic, K. Junek and W. Hummel (1906-12). He worked as a teacher in Stara Zagora (1912-22), Pleven (1915) and Sofia (1922-24). From 1923 he was a lecturer and later professor of music-theoretical disciplines (1929-58) and director (1934-37) at the DMA (now the DMA “Prof. P. Vladigerov”). Orchestral music predominates in his work. He is the author of 3 symphonies, 2 overtures and a musical painting “Doichin Voyvoda”; an overture for mandolin orchestra and various original pieces, including 5 sets of Bulgarian folk songs, 3 suites, 3 waltzes, Rachenitsa, Arabesque, Intermezzo, etc.; about 500 arrangements and orchestrations of overtures, hymns, songs by foreign authors, etc.; chamber works, a large number of choral and solo songs, etc. His best known works are Symphony No. 1 and Trio for violin, cello and piano.

Creativity

Works for symphony orchestra:
Symphonies:

Symphony N1 (1912);
Symphony N2 (1922);
Symphony N3 (1963).

Overtures:

Hristo Botev (1927);
The Moan of the Forest (1931).

Chamber Music:
Trio for violin, violoncello and piano (transcription for flute, bassoon and piano).

For piano:

Three sonatas;
Cycle of 9 plays;
Skerzo;
Invention;
Waltz;
Mazurka;
Three marches.

Vocal music: 10 songs for voice and piano, etc.

Selected literature on him (in Bulgarian):
Londev, Peter. “Nikola Atanasov” (S., 1963).