Born: 15 May 1925 in Kosmodemhansk.
Education: At Moscow Conservatory from 1948-1953 (piano under Sofronitsky; composition under Rakov, Miaskovsky and Golubev). Postgraduate study under Aram Khachaturian from 1953-1956.
Principal Works: Nine symphonies, two piano concertos, four violin concertos, viola concerto, cello concerto, oboe concerto, symphonic dances, concerto for orchestra, two violin sonatas, piano compositions, ballets, songs and operettas.
Style: His musical expressive means are very unusual due to his usage of the folklore of his native Mari people. Typically his colourful orchestral sound seems to distill the essence of the natural world of the far north. He uses syncopated rhythms; his rhythms seem to be related to the music of Bartok. He uses often alternations of ostinato-tuttis and rhythmic shifts from folklore music.
Web: http://home.wanadoo.nl/ovar/eshpai.htm