Stepovoi, Iakov Stepanovich

(real surname, Iakimen-ko). Born Oct. 8 (20), 1883, in Khar’kov; died Nov. 4, 1921, in Kiev. Ukrainian composer and publicist.

Stepovoi graduated from the St. Petersburg Conservatory in 1909. He taught at various St. Petersburg Gymnasiums from 1909 to 1912 and at the Kiev Conservatory from 1917 to 1919. From 1912 to 1914 he worked as an editor of the Moscow journal Muzyka, and later he became head of the music department of the People’s Commissariat for Education of the Ukrainian SSR.

Stepovoi’s brilliant talent and mastery of his art are evident in his vocal works, especially his romances, which are filled with revolutionary spirit; notable examples include “The Stonecutters” and “My Land.” Stepovoi also wrote short works for piano and choral arrangements of Ukrainian songs.