Obscure Music Monday: Akimenko's Idylle for Flute & Piano

Théodore Akimenko (also known as Feodor, Fedir, and Fyodor) has been featured long ago on Obscure Music Mondays, but we're visiting another work of his, this time the Idylle for Flute & Piano, Op. 14. Akimenko was born in Ukraine, near the currently troubled city of Kharkiv, before studying in St. Petersburg, relocating to Paris, teaching in Prague, and returning to Ukraine (thus the numerous spellings of his name we see). His time in Paris clearly influenced his musical compositions as we hear a very clear influence of the impressionistic French composer in his works much more than the style of his Russian teachers.

The Idylle begins with an extended introduction by the flute alone with an improvisational feel, marked Pastorale, before the piano starts a more traditional introduction in a very impressionistic style. The flute joins with the main theme and is followed with a flowing piano line with interjections from the flute reminiscent of bird songs.

While Akimenko studied in Russia and is best known as Stravinsky's first composition teacher, his voice is truly unique and worth a listen!