BLANTER, MATVEY ISAAKOVICH

BLANTER, MATVEY ISAAKOVICH (1903–1990), song-writer. Born in Pochep, Ukraine, Blanter studied violin, theory, and composition in various institutions in Kiev (1915–17) and Moscow (1917–21). His pieces and music for the Leningrad Satirical Theater attracted early attention. During the   period that he worked with the Krokodil miniature theater in Gorky, he developed an individual humorous style. He wrote for musical comedies, and his tune "Katyusha" attained popular success during World War II. His music, which made use of folk melodies, also shows an urban vernacular and jazz influences. -BIBLIOGRAPHY: V. Zak, Matvey Blanter (1973); L. Genina, in: Sovetskaya muzyka, 4 (1983), 4–7; Izvestia (28 Sept. 1990)