Vladislav Blazhevich (1881-1942)

Biography

Vladislav Mikhailovich Blazhevich was born in Tregubovko, in the government of Smolensk, on 3rd August 1881. He was a trombonist, teacher, conductor and composer.

After obtaining his diploma at the Moscow Conservatoire in 1905, he bacame principal trombone in the Bolshoi Theatre Orchestra, where he remained until 1928.

He was professor of trombone at the Moscow Conservatoire until his death on 10th April 1942. In 1937 he was appointed head of the department of wind instruments in the military faculty of the Moscow Conservatoire and conductor of the state wind band.

Blazhevich was one of the founders of the Soviet trombone and tuba schoool. He was a remakable performer, a superb teacher and an outstanding composer. He remained very active troughout his life. As a composer he left many works of all kind. We might mention the "Collective Playing Method for Wind Instruments" (1939), the "Trombone and Tuba Method" and 13 concertos, pieces and studies for different instruments and wind band.

His works mark an important stage in the development of musical performance for trombone and tuba players and are essential for music college libraries.