Efim Jourist (January 13, 1947 – January 13, 2007, born Yukhym Yukhymovych Yuryst)[a][1] was a Soviet and German composer, accordionist and bajan player.[2]
Life
Efim Jourist was born in Kamianets-Podilskyi, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union, graduated from the
Kamianets-Podilskyi City Children's Music School in 1961, and studied at the Khmelnytskyi Music School, now known as the Khmelnytskyi Music College named after Vladyslav Zaremba [uk], from 1962–1966.[1] From 1966 until 1971 he studied at the conservatory of Gorky where he made the acquaintance of the composer Nikolai Chaykin. This connection had a great influence on his musical development. After his graduation he became a soloist with the Krasnoyarsk Philharmonic orchestra and he started on an international career.[2]
Jourist came to Germany with his family in 1992, where he continued giving recitals. Jourist also founded the quartet Efim Jourist Quartett which consists of bajan, violin, guitar and double bass. With his quartet he has played on many international festivals, like the Rheingau Musik Festival in Germany. The quartet can be extended to the Efim Jourist Ensemble which consists of marimba/vibraphone and percussion in addition. During his life Jourist has arranged many compositions of mainly soviet composers for his ensembles and he has composed himself for bajan and orchestra.
Efim Jourist died from cancer on his 60th birthday in Hamburg, Germany.
Major works
Orchestra
Carmen-Fantasie (1998)
arrangement of Georges Bizet, for bajan and orchestra
Hommage à Astor Piazola (1996)
for orchestra
Hummelflug (Schwarzäugige Hummel) (1995, "Flight of the Bumblebee")
