Dukelsky, Vladimir (1903–1969)

Russian-born US composer. Influenced by George Gershwin he wrote light music under the name of Vernon Duke and became well known for his stage and film scores. He also continued to write classical music, cultivating an advanced modern style under his own name. His concert music was promoted by Sergei Koussevitsky.

He studied at Moscow and Kiev, where his teachers included Reinhold Glière. He went to live in Constantinople, Turkey, in 1920 and settled in New York, USA, in 1922, where he wrote a piano concerto for Artur Rubenstein. In Paris, France, he wrote the ballet Zéphir et Flore for Sergei Diaghilev and he wrote stage music in London, England, 1926–29. From this point on he tended to use his original Russian name for his serious music and his adopted name for his more popular works. His best-known song was probably ‘April in Paris’ from the revue Walk a Little Faster (1932), while his best-known musical was Cabin in the Sky (1940).

Works Stage operetta Yvonne (1926); ballets Zéphir et Flore and Public Gardens.

Oratorio The End of St Petersburg (1937).

Orchestral four symphonies; piano concerto.

Vocal Dédicaces for soprano, piano, and orchestra; song cycle Triolets of the North (Feodor Sologub); Three Chinese songs and other songs.

Chamber string quartet; violin sonata.