Songs of Our Days, Op. 76 (Russian: Песни наших дней), is a rarely performed cantata for mezzo-soprano and baritone soloists, chorus and orchestra composed by Sergei Prokofiev in 1937, during the height of Stalin's power. With rousing marches and text extolling (somewhat unrealistically) Russian virtues and Stalin's magnanimity, the work is composed in a much more approachable style than one would expect of Prokofiev's music during this period.
The total work contains eight songs:
March – a Russian march for the full orchestra only
Over the Bridge, Cavalry Song – for the male chorus
Goodbye! – solo baritone and chorus
Golden Ukraine, Folksong – full chorus
Brother for Brother – solo baritone and chorus
Girls – solo baritone and chorus
A Twenty-year old – solo baritone and chorus
Lullaby – mezzo-soprano and chorus
October Flame – full orchestra and chorus
The text contains many references to Stalin. These were subsequently removed during the Khrushchev Thaw.
The work was first premiered in Western Europe with the original text by the Goldsmiths Sinfonia and Chorus in London, conducted by Alexander Ivashkin.
References
^Booklet for CD, Prokofiev: On the Dnieper / Songs of our days, Chandos Records, CHAN10044.
