Early in his career, Nikita Demidenko developed a passion for discovering and performing rarely played music. His journey began with the discovery of 12 etudes by Adolf von Henselt and piano miniatures by Antonín Dvořák. Over time, Nikita's repertoire grew to include works by more than twenty underappreciated composers, such as Anatoly Lyadov, Ernesto Lecuona, York Bowen, Sergei Lyapunov, and others. Nikolai Medtner, a composer whose works were largely neglected for over fifty years and have only recently begun to gain recognition, holds a special significance for Nikita. The Sonata-Reminiscenza from Medtner’s album Forgotten Melodies—which remains Nikita’s favorite piece—inspired him profoundly. This connection to Medtner, who embodies the very essence of underappreciated music, led Nikita to establish the Forgotten Melodies Society. This society aims to bring to light the beautiful yet overlooked works of other similarly underrepresented composers.
Reviving Forgotten Voices: Nikita Demidenko's Journey with the Forgotten Melodies Society
The Forgotten Melodies Society provides a performance platform for students from London conservatories, encouraging them to explore and perform lesser-known musical works. Since February 2024, Nikita has been hosting monthly concerts at Annunciation Church Marble Arch, where talented musicians showcase the rare pieces they have discovered. Each concert contributes to a growing list of previously unknown music, which is cataloged on the society’s website, forgottenmelodiessociety.com, attracting an ever-expanding group of musicians eager to broaden their repertoires.
Currently, the Society’s list includes over forty names of forgotten composers that every music lover should know, and it grows monthly. Nikita’s vision for the future is twofold. Firstly, he aims to expand the reach of the Forgotten Melodies Society beyond London and the UK, fostering a more diverse and inclusive concert program and repertoire globally. Secondly, his goal is to see the names of these undeservedly forgotten composers leave the Society’s list and achieve the recognition they merit.
