Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin
Lev 'Ljova' Zhurbin performing in Moscow, 2005
Birth name Lev Aleksandrovich Zhurbin (Лев Александрович Журбин) Also known as Ljova Born (1978-08-18 ) August 18, 1978 (age 45) Origin
Moscow ,
Soviet Union Genres
Classical ,
folk ,
chamber jazz ,
Film Music ,
Gypsy ,
World Occupation(s)
Musician ,
arranger ,
film composer ,
producer Instrument(s)
Viola , Fadolín Years active 1990–present Labels
Kapustnik ,
Sony Classical
Deutsche Grammophon ,
Nonesuch Records ,
Fat Cat Member of
Ljova and the Kontraband
Musical artist
Lev Zhurbin (born August 18, 1978, in
Moscow , Soviet Union) is a
composer
[1] and
violist .
[2]
[3]
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, songwriters
Natalia Lafourcade and
Ricky Martin , 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] In 2018, he was on the faculty of the Atelier program at
Princeton University , teaching a course on collaboration with the puppeteer
Basil Twist
[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] In 2019, he released his tenth album, "SoLò Ópus", focusing on music for the fadolín and looper effects.
[29]
During 2020-2021 pandemic, he has released a number of works for the solo fadolín through his website and social media channels.
[30] In 2022, he released two albums -- "Enter The Fadolín" (focusing on solo music for the fadolín, including music by J.S. Bach and Ljova's father, composer
Alexander Zhurbin , and a second collection of film scores, "Lost in Kino 2".
[31] He is presently performing and developing new repertoire with Trio Fadolín, a new chamber group featuring the violin, fadolín, and cello.
[32]
Ljova is married to Inna Barmash, an attorney and musician.
[33]
Orchestral and Soloists
Vocal Chamber Music
2013 The First Rite
[39]
2010 Niña Dance
[40]
2005 By the Campfire
[41]
Instrumental Chamber Music
2018 Meditation on
Kol Nidrei
[42]
2017 Clarinet Quintet: The Refugee
[9]
2016 Rockaway Baby
[43]
2015 An Appalachian Wind
[44]
2014 Gi-gue-ly
[45]
2013 Lullaby & Memory
[46]
2013 Click
2012 String Quartet: Culai
[10]
2011 Everywhere is Falling Everywhere
[47]
2005-2008 The Vjola Suite
[48]
2000 Sicilienne
[49]
Music for Solo Instruments
2020 Voices (for piano and historical recordings),
[50] an expansion of Sirota
[51]
2012 Greenway (for violin)
[52]
2011 Sirota (for piano and cantorial recording)
[53]
Music for Dance
2017 Do You Like Me Now?
[54]
2016 Atlas Kid (co-composed with Mikael Karlsson)
[55]
2015 Almah
[19]
2014 Emin
[56]
2013 Hogar
[57]
2013 Budget Bulgar (Memphis Hora)
[17]
2012 Awáa (co-composed with Curtis Macdonald)
[16]
2009 Tales of Offenbach
[58]
2009 Busk
[59]
2004 White
Feature Film Scores
2020 Alberto and the Concrete Jungle
[60]
2009 Black Lamb
[61]
2006 Mother
2003 Daddy
[62]
1999 Serpent's Breath
[63]
Documentary Film Scores
Short Film Scores
2017 Do You Like Me Now?
[54]
2016 How You Look At It
[72]
2015 Grace
[73]
2014 America 1979
[74]
2014 6-Minute Mom
[75]
2013 Penny Dreadful
[76]
2012 The Visitors
[77]
2012 For The Love of Nothing
[78]
2011 Fantastic Plastic
[79]
2010 Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle
[80]
2009 American Hero
[81]
2009 Spleen
[82]
2009 The Heart of Battle
[83]
2009 The One That I Want
[84]
2008 Only Love
[85]
2008 Cupcake
[86]
2008 New People in Six Days
[87]
2007 Transience
[88]
2007 Dear Lemon Lima
[89]
2005 Dinner at Marvin's
[90]
2003 The Playground
[91]
2003 Red Wagon
[92]
2003 Gardening Tips for Housewives
[93]
^
"Britt Orchestra / Opening Night / Ray Chen" . Brittfest.org. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^ Kozinn, Allan (2010-08-06).
"Ljova's Quirky Career Includes Playing Weddings" . The New York Times .
ISSN
0362-4331 . Retrieved 2019-07-30 .
^
a
b
"Lev Zhurbin - Classical Music Composers" . Pcmsconcerts.org. 1978-08-18. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
"Lev Zhurbin" . IMDb . Retrieved 2019-07-30 .
^
"LJOVA — New Dialect" . Newdialect.org. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
"El Mariachi Cocek - Romashka Live at Joe's Pub" . YouTube. 2007-03-05.
Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
Lev Zhurbin at
IMDb
^
"2016-17 Concert Broadcasts" . The Louisville Orchestra. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b
c
"Dorico showcase: Ljova's Clarinet Quintet scored in Dorico – Dorico" . Blog.dorico.com. 2017-02-18. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b
"Classical Commissioning Program | Chamber Music America" . Chamber-music.org. 2018-09-01. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
"The Silkroad Ensemble: Canal by Ljova" . YouTube. 2014-01-06.
Archived from the original on 2021-12-21. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^ 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 .
^ By VIVIEN SCHWEITZERNOV. 4, 2011 (2011-11-04).
"BROOKLYN PHILHARMONIC - The New York Times" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-09-20 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
"Ljova Zhurbin" . Lewis Center for the Arts .
^
"Ljova Archives - Naumburg Orchestral Concerts" . Naumburgconcerts.org. 2014-07-23. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b Kozinn, Allan (2014-10-03).
"Choreographer and Composers Win New Dance Prize - The New York Times" . Artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b
"Tiler Peck dances with Lil Buck & Sergei Polunin - 2013 Vail Int'l Dance Festival" . Dance Watch. 3 August 2013. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
"Surprises in store for 'Nutcracker' audiences" . The Gazette. 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b Kourlas, Gia (21 January 2016).
"Review: David Parsons Shares the Stage at Joyce Theater - The New York Times" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^ By BRIAN SEIBERTNOV. 25, 2013 (2013-11-25).
"Ballet Hispanico Performs at Apollo Theater - The New York Times" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-09-20 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
"Lewis Center for the Arts presents "Sorry About the Mess – Portraits in Music" " . 19 February 2018.
^
a
b 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 . {{
cite web }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
a
b James Manheim.
"Mnemosyne - Kontrabando, Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin | Songs, Reviews, Credits" . AllMusic. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
a
b By ALLAN KOZINNJAN. 6, 2012 (2012-01-06).
"Lev Zhurbin's 'Ljova: Lost in Kino,' a CD of Movie Scores - The New York Times" .
The New York Times . Retrieved 2018-09-20 . {{
cite news }}
: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (
link )
^
a
b Kahler, Valerie (20 August 2014).
"New Classical Tracks: Ljova, 'Melting River' " .
^
"Melting River, by Ljova" . Ljova .
^
"Ljova and the Kontraband: new album, tour & sing-along" . Kickstarter .
^
"Footwork, by Ljova" . Ljova .
^ May, James (2019-02-27).
"Ljova's SoLò Ópus Explores Improvisation with Fadolín and Loop Pedal" . I CARE IF YOU LISTEN . Retrieved 2021-01-20 .
^
"Keep Connected with Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin" . Strings Magazine . 2020-08-31. Retrieved 2021-01-20 .
^
https://theartsdesk.com/classical-music/classical-cds-masses-maths-and-memories
^
https://trio.fadolin.com
^
"Inna Barmash, Lev Zhurbin" . The New York Times . 12 August 2007.
^ Doolittle, Bill (17 April 2019).
"Nicholas Finch performs three new cello concertos — written for him to premiere" . Insider Louisville . Retrieved 30 July 2019 .
^ Zhurbin, Lev (March 2019).
"Cellostatus (2019)" . LJOVA . Retrieved 30 July 2019 .
^
"Orlando Philharmonic returns money after Pulse flap - Orlando Sentinel" . 10 August 2020.
^
"A Profound Use Of Music - Arts-Louisville Reviews" . arts-louisville.com .
^
"A Far Cry adeptly blends invention, preparation - The Boston Globe" .
The Boston Globe .
^
"Ljova and Fireworks Ensemble Revisit and Reinvent the Rite of Spring" . 11 August 2013.
^ Kozinn, Allan (11 May 2009).
"At Carnegie Hall, Dawn Upshaw and Osvaldo Golijov Join Forces" . The New York Times .
^ Tsioulcas, Anastasia (14 April 2017).
"Ljova And The Kontraband: Tiny Desk Concert" .
NPR .
^
"High Holidays features performances by Cassatt, soloist" . OA Online . 30 August 2018. Retrieved 30 July 2019 .
^
"Quintet of the Americas - Concerts" . quintet.org .
^
"Heather Killmeyer" . etsu.edu .
^
"OUTLIERS: a world premiere recording of 11 works written for Sybarite5" .
^
"International Composer - Lev Zhurbin" . jamesarts.com .
^
"Silk Road Ensemble with Yo-Yo Ma - Adrienne Arsht Center" . arshtcenter.org .
^
"Ravinia Festival - Official Site - A Far Cry" . ravinia.org .
^ Kozinn, Allan (26 September 2011).
" 'Portals,' From Tim Fain, at Symphony Space" . The New York Times .
^
"Inna Faliks Performs Ljova Premiere - The UCLA Herb Alpert School of Music" .
^
"Voices (2011, 2019-2020)" . 11 February 2020.
^
"Asmira Woodward Page | Australian World Orchestra" . Archived from
the original on 2018-09-21. Retrieved 2017-12-17 .
^
"2018 International Keyboard Institute & Festival - 20th Annyversary!" . ikif.org .
^
a
b
"Info" . nowness.com .
^
"Atlas Kid" . New Dialect .
^
"Emin" . New Dialect .
^ Burke, Siobhan (23 April 2014).
"Musings on Identity, From the Assimilated Exile to the Meaning of 'Maria' " . The New York Times .
^
"ATTPAC: Winspear gala -- The best till last" . 16 October 2009.
^
"Review of Aszure Barton's BUSK - DANCEworks" . 18 January 2010.
^
"Alberto and the Concrete Jungle (2020) - IMDb" .
IMDb .
^
"Chornyy baran" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Daddy" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Serpent's Breath" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The Filmmakers" . Big Lies . 2016-04-05. Retrieved 2019-07-30 .
^
"Finding Babel" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Datuna: Portrait of America" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Lost Bohemia" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"My Perestroika" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Alienadas" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Three Soldiers" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The Team" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"2016 Woodstock Film Festival online schedule and tickets" . woodstockfilmfestival.com .
^
"Grace" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Cast & Crew - America 1979" .
^
"6-minute Mom" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Penny Dreadful" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The Visitors" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"For the Love of Nothing" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Fantastic Plastic" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Dottie's Thanksgiving Pickle" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"American Hero" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Spleen" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The Heart of Battle" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The One That I Want" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Only Love" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Cupcake" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"New People in Six Days" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Transience" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Dear Lemon Lima" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Dinner at Marvin's" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"The Playground" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Red Wagon" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"Gardening Tips for Housewives" – via www.imdb.com.
^
"404Captions.content404" . Microsoft.com. Archived from
the original on 2017-12-26. Retrieved 2018-09-20 .
^
"Music" . FINDING BABEL .
^
"Datuna: Portrait of America - official soundtrack, by Ljova" . Ljova .
^
"Discography" . samsadigursky.com .
^ May, James (2019-02-27).
"Ljova's SoLò Ópus Explores Improvisation with Fadolín and Loop Pedal" . I CARE IF YOU LISTEN . Retrieved 2021-01-20 .
^
"January 2022 New Releases" . newsounds.org .
^
"Transpacific Sound Paradise with Rob Weisberg: Playlist from October 8, 2022" . wfmu.org .
[1] Ljova Catalogue of Works
[2] Ljova Discography
International National Academics Artists Other