Gedike, Aleksandr Fedorovich

Born Feb. 20 (Mar. 4), 1877, in Moscow; died there July 9, 1957. Soviet composer, organist, pianist, and teacher. People’s Artist of the RSFSR (1946). Doctor of art studies (1940).

In 1898, Gedike graduated from the Moscow Conservatory, where he studied piano under V. I. Safonov. He won the composition prize at the A. G. Rubinstein International Competition in Vienna in 1900. He became professor of the piano class in 1909 at the Moscow Conservatory, professor of the chamber ensemble in 1919, and professor of organ in 1923. Gedike was the founder and head of the Soviet school of organists. From 1922 his concert performances contributed to popularizing the playing of organ music in the USSR. His transcriptions for organ of the works of Handel, Liszt, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, and Wagner broadened the field of organ music. As a composer Gedike relied on the traditions of Western European and Russian classical music. Among his works are four operas, three symphonies, cantatas, chamber instrumental ensembles, works for the organ and the piano, art songs, and pieces for children. Gedike won the State Prize of the USSR in 1948 for concert performances. He was awarded four orders as well as medals.