In a history of music of XXth century there were many cases, when the products from repertoire of the geniuses of classical music sounded from a rock - stage. One of attempts to bring to a rock-and-roll in motives of classics was is undertaken by group Sigma 6 (part of structure of this project was transformed in Pink Floyd later), However history holds back the name of song, in which the theme of one Tchaikovsky composition is used, In Stand Up album by Jethro Tull - instrumental play, which basis is an E-moll suite of Bach, can be found, that makes a large honour to Ian Anderson, interpreter of a composition.
Londoners, Procol Harum, have thundered in national charts with a composition A Whiter Shade of Pale in 1967. The text of this mini-poem belonged to pen of Keith Rade, who was actively co-operating with Procol Harum, and music was borrowed from wonderful suite No3 D-major, also composed by the great German composer J.S.Bach.
Emerson, Lake and Palmer also promoted popularization of classics among public, having issued the third album " Pictures from the exhibition ". Interpretation of compositions of Russian composer Modest Musorgsky, professionally made by organist Keith Emerson, is still considered is a standard of art-rock.
Whole legion of English collectives: Van Der Graaf Generator, Gentle Giant, King Crimson, the Dutch Focus and great experimenter Frank Zappa, encroached on the composition of their favorite composers Edgar Vzrez and Igor Stravinsky, tried to enrich avant-garde music, operating with an invaluable heritage of the past. The same way went guitarist Richie Blackmore and Yngwie Malmsteen, synthesizing music of epoch of Baroque with sounding of an electroguitar.
Brandon Perry and Lisa Jerrard from a gothic-ethnic duet Dead Can Dance "dig deeper ": in their high-standard (from the point of view of the form, and also contents) albums they came to sources of classics. Dead Can Dance use ethnic musical instruments, sing on Gaelic and Latin languages, experiment with Gregorian choral.
There is a creative tandem in our city, which can be proudly called "the carrier and successors of ideas of great classics". The duet "Scherzo", which consists of Vyacheslav Walter Alexey Ulitin, was formed 8 years ago. It's remarkable, that its participants have leaned musical letter themselves and, applying tapping - techniques of fast playing electroguitar, play compositions of J.S.Bach, L.Beethoven, W.A.Mozart, A.Vivaldi, F.Chopin, etc.
Usually rehearsing room is thought to be a cellar in an urban 5-stored house or a garage somewhere in downtown. But in this case everything is different, having got acquainted with Alexey and Vyacheslav, we enter into a small room in one of usual Almaty apartments, where there will be a rehearsal. Alexey plays bass, Vyacheslav - guitar: the melody from amplifiers of impressive sizes causes strange sense of absence of time, the fingers of the musicians move on frets of signature stamps, like wings of the flitting butterflies in the air. It is almost impossible to analyze tens smallest nuances arising from the first listening of product: the very graceful and perfected performance speaks about constant exercises. At last, they finish playing and during conversation details of their creative life are found out.
Alexey and Vyacheslav have got acquainted at a concert, and subsequently, having great love and respect to classical music, have begun their joint creativity. The guys improve the skill, exercising after work daily about 4,5 hours.
Basic creative credo of "Scherzo" - "professionalism", "working on quality". Undoubtedly, enviable assiduity and the constant exercises bring them fruitful results. During our conversation Vyacheslav and Alexey have told that they also compose and perform their own creations. All creative process of work is under construction on mutual interest, the musicians try to find a golden middle and always come to the compromise. As a result, what they aspired to turns out.
Each time for joint playing keyboard player Semen Baev joins them. Earlier duet performed on a stage with several commands, and now "Scherzo" try to act solo. Musicians are going to record an album, but in view of financial difficulties they are not able to do it. Now they have only 'draft' demo of an album, and also video of one of concerts of amateur quality. And the clip on the basis of concert of Bach for 2 violins with an orchestra is in the process of completion.
At present solo programme of a duet "Scherzo" makes one hour: its repertoire, besides the compositions of the classical composers, includes also own products, Vyacheslav has shared with us with a secret: the electrical guitar has the large opportunities rather than traditional instruments, on which execute the compositions of classics. In process of adaptation of the notes on a guitar, one can give the composition more perfect completed colouring. Usually analysis of composition takes them the whole month, then there goes its "polishing". "When the complicated composition is being studied, looking back, you already perceive the previous compositions easier, but which seemed very difficult in earlier time.
The musicians who have got education in a conservatory, with the special interest observe creativity of a duet and sometimes are surprised: how it is possible to reproduce on an electroguitar complicated compositions of Johann Bach?!
As well as at any actors acting in public, duet has formed its audience. Their neighbours also do not object against their music, and show themselves in this situation from the best side, trying to not disturb "room" rehearsals of a duet "Scherzo".
For Vyacheslav and Alexey music is a vocation, and for long months of laborious, sometimes painful work, which earlier or later brings incomparable pleasure, the philosophy has crystallised. For "Scherzo" the result is most appreciable from realization of the opportunities in classical music. The purpose - for it exists result, and experiments without it doesn't make any sense. The guys never took part in the "collateral" or "alien" projects not to be wasted on trivialities: otherwise will be difficult to do what was thought to be done.
The musicians from "Scherzo" consider, that professionally played music presented as entertaining show is a pledge of success from the spectators. And "highlight" of such show are compositions of two-century prescription in electric sound and musicians dressed in costumes XVIII of century. The performance of classics with progressive techniques looks rather interestingly and spectaculous. And the shadows of the great composers of the past should not "worry" for results of their musical thinking, which time cannot rule. Because correct followers carefully will keep them from a ruthless hailstones of oblivion.
Our fascinating conversation gradually approaches to an end. In Alexey and Vyacheslav hands again appear guitars, and one more perfect melody of epoch of Revival, slowly floating in the air, is carried away in the gray July sky.

Seven Notes, No4 (6) 2000