Liubomir Pipkov

Born Sept. 6, 1904, in Lovech; died May 9, 1974, in Sofia. Bulgarian composer, music and public figure, and teacher. People’s Artist of the People’s Republic of Bulgaria (1952). Hero of Socialist Labor (1967). Member of the Bulgarian Communist Party from 1944.

Pipkov studied in Sofia from 1919 to 1926 and then in Paris with P. Dukas from 1926 to 1932. He worked in Sofia as an orchestral and choral conductor and helped found the Contemporary Music Society in 1933. From 1944 to 1948 he served as director of the Sofia People’s Opera, and from 1947 to 1957 he was first secretary of the Union of Bulgarian Composers. In 1948 he became a professor of choral singing at the State Musical Academy (since 1954 the Bulgarian State Conservatory). He made frequent visits to the Soviet Union, the first of which was in 1949.

Pipkov’s compositions are characterized by an organic use of the meter, rhythm, mode, and harmony of Bulgarian folk music in combination with modern music-writing techniques, especially in his compositions of the late 1950’s. Many of his works are devoted to antiwar and antifascist themes; examples include Oratorio on Our Times, the musical drama Antigone-43, and his popular songs. Other compositions include the operas The Nine Brothers of Ianina (1937) and Momchil (1948), cantatas, four symphonies, concertos, instrumental chamber music, choral works, piano pieces, including some for children, and music for films. Pipkov was awarded the Dimitrov Prize in 1950,1951, and 1952.