Stefan Remenkov

Stefan Nikolov Remenkov (Bulgarian: Стефан Николов Ременков) (born 30 April 1923, Silistra - 30 October 1988, Sofia) was a Bulgarian composer and pianist. Remenkov comes from a family of teachers. His father Nikolay Remenkov taught history and philosophy, and was a headteacher. His mother Angelina was a chemistry teacher. He received piano lessons from an early age and began composing already in school. He completed his high school education in Constanta, Romania where the family lived at the time. During World War II he served as a soldier on the front with the Bulgarian army. After the war he studied music graduating in 1950 from the Bulgarian State Conservatoire majoring in composition under Prof. Pancho Vladigerov and Prof. Veselin Stoyanov; and piano under Prof. Dimitar Nenov. He taught Musical Forms at the Bulgarian State Conservatoire from 1950 - 1955 as assistant-lecturer to Prof. Veselin Stoyanov, then specialised for a year at the Moscow Conservatory under Aram Khachaturian.After that he lived and worked as a composer in Sofia, writing more than 86 compositions. Some of these received awards, for instance "Prelude and Dance" (1957). Most were published and many of Bulgaria's top musicians, orchestras, and choirs performed them. Balkanton released over the years three long playing vinyl records (LP's) with music by Stefan Remenkov, the last one in 1980. Further recordings are in the archives of the Bulgarian National Radio, which broadcast them.

Among his works are one opera, one operetta, a musical, a ballet; many instrumental works - symphonies, concertos for piano and orchestra, for violoncello and orchestra, for violin and orchestra, sonatas for piano, for violin and piano, for flute, oboe, and piano, suites, preludes, divertimento, rhapsody, piano quintet, string quintet, string quartets, trios, film music; as well as solo, choral, and children's songs.

Characteristic for his music is the melodic brightness "rhythmic inventiveness, emotional immediacy and clear formal procedure. His orchestral works are notable for their dynamic vitality and complex combinations of folk rhythms.