Alexander Ivanovich Kuprin wrote the story “Taper” in 1900. A summary of the work will allow the reader to save time and get acquainted with the plot in five minutes.
Meet the characters of the work: the Rudneva sisters
The story “Taper”, a summary of which you are reading, begins with an introduction to the Rudnev family. This is, first of all, Tina - a 12-year-old girl, the daughter of the owner of the house.
The girl ran into the room where the maids were dressing her sisters. Tina was very worried, she wanted the Christmas celebration to go well. She shared
With my concern with my sisters, telling them that there was no tapper.
The older sister, who was already respectfully called Lydia Arkadyevna, was, on the contrary, too calm. She reprimanded Tina, telling her not to burst into the room like that.
Then Tina asked her second sister Tanya to come with her to help prepare for the celebration. After all, in an hour they were supposed to light the Christmas tree.
Next we learn about the younger sister Katya. She and Tina, along with their peers, were previously locked in the nursery and were not allowed to set up the Christmas tree. But this year Tina was involved in the upcoming magic for the first time, which is why she
I was so worried – I wanted everything to work out.
Father mother
The Rudnev family was large and noisy. The girls had brothers. Friends always came to visit the children, so it was always fun in the house. But this joy was not shared by the children’s mother, Irina Alekseevna. She was a princess and before her marriage had the surname Oznobishina. The woman boasted of her noble origin and rarely left the room, considering it beneath her dignity to talk to a noisy crowd. She communicated only with equally noble and “petrified” descendants of ancient families. We learn about all this from the story “Taper”. The summary of the work will introduce the reader to the head of the family.
Despite her aristocracy, the woman was jealous of her husband, and she could have reasons for this. Although Arkady Nikolaevich was already over 50, the man was distinguished by his easy character and special charm. He was a patron of ballet art, a player, and often disappeared into the English Club. When he returned home after winning, he invited his friends and his children’s girlfriends for horseback riding outside the city.
And friends of the Rudnev children were constantly in their house. That's why the buffet was never locked here, because anyone who came might want to have a snack at an inopportune hour. Sometimes the children asked the cook to cook something tasty, and he did not immediately, but agreed. Everyone rarely gathered at the table together. Usually someone had already had lunch, and someone was just coming for morning tea. Such a cheerful and slightly chaotic atmosphere reigned in this hospitable house.
It is not surprising that it was planned to celebrate Christmas with a large friendly company. Dad was the main adviser and friend for the children. When the older children did not know what to give their friend Kolya Radomsky, the father said - a cigarette case. The head of the family was also involved in the musical arrangement of the evenings. A brief summary of the story “Taper” will also tell you.
Music
The story roughly takes place in 1885. Arkady Nikolaevich usually invited Ryabov’s orchestra to his house for the holidays. However, this year, due to misunderstandings, they did not have time to do this - the musicians were already busy. They couldn’t find another orchestra either.
That's why Tina tried to find out about the tapper, to find out who would play the piano on the holiday? But the housekeeper Olympiada Savichna and the valet Luka found an excuse for themselves why they did not invite the musician, and the maid Dunyasha swore that she had not even heard that the pianist was supposed to come. The summary of the story will tell about further events.
Guests
Tanya, Tina’s sister, who was respected, sent Dunyasha to look for a piano player (taper), and at that time guests had already begun to arrive. Two large families came - the Maslovskys and the Lykovs, and other guests came, but the musician was still not there.
But then Luka approached Tatyana Arkadyevna and asked her to go into the hallway. Tatyana saw Dunya and some small figure there. Dunya began to whisper in the owner’s ear so that she would not scold her: she could not find a musician anywhere, she only found this little guy and did not even know for sure whether he could play.
Tatyana realized at first sight that the boy was poor, proud and shy. He was ugly, with thin features, and looked to be 11 or 12 years old. But the boy said that he was 14. He assured that he knew how to play and had considerable experience.
Talented child
Lydia tried to tease the pianist, mockingly asking if he knew how to play polka, quadrille, lancier, but Tanya asked her in French to stop behaving like that. The summary of the story “Taper” comes to an interesting point. Kuprin further says that Tina was on Tatyana’s side, she decisively took the boy by the hand and led him into the hall. The guests began to be perplexed, but soon surprise gave way to tenderness. As soon as the child’s fingers touched the keys, unusually beautiful sounds poured out and he was applauded.
Arkady Nikolaevich praised the boy, whose name was Yuri Azagarov, and asked him to play “Faust,” and the Christmas tree was lit to the sounds of this march. Then Yura played a polka and a waltz. At this time, the owner of the house was talking with some important gentleman. It turns out that it was Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein, a talented composer. He became Yura Azagarov's teacher.
This ends the story written by Alexander Kuprin - “Taper”. Brief summaries of works help the reader quickly learn their plot and form an impression of them.
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Twelve-year-old Tinochka Rudneva ran into the room where her older sisters were preparing for the holiday. She asked excitedly where the tapper was. The eldest sister, Lidia Arkadyevna, a beautiful slender girl, looked angrily at the child. She didn't like noise, and her little sister annoyed her.
Lidia Arkadyevna said that you shouldn’t run around like crazy and create a mess in the house.
Tina didn't pay attention to the remark. She turned to another sister, Tatyana Arkadyevna, and asked to go with her because it was time to light the Christmas tree.
This year Tina was allowed to participate in setting up the Christmas tree for the first time. Previously, she and the younger children were forced to stay in the nursery. That is why Tinochka was so excited now.
The girl's family was noisy and hospitable. Their house was large, and there were supposed to be many guests in it today.
The owner of the house, Irina Alekseevna Rudneva, nee Princess Oznobishina, came from a noble and wealthy family. She tried to spend as little time as possible with her children and husband. Their company seemed boring and vulgar to her. Therefore, she communicated mostly with descendants of noble families like her.
Her husband, Arkady Nikolaevich, was a cheerful and loving person. Even in his fifties, he was very handsome and elegant. Therefore, his wife was secretly jealous of him. Arkady Nikolaevich was also rarely at home, because he loved to have fun. He carelessly spent his property without thinking about the future.
Arkady Nikolaevich really liked the Christmas holidays, he gladly took part in the celebration at the Christmas tree. He came up with gifts that would please friends and relatives. This year he ordered to find a good tapper.
But for some reason his order was not carried out.
Tinochka has already managed to excite everyone. Household members and servants tried to find out who was supposed to find the tapper. Dunyasha, a maid, was sent after him. Suddenly the bell rang. Two large families arrived - the Lykovs and the Maslovskys. Dunyasha has not returned yet. And Tina was very worried. She asked her sister Tatyana what they should do. Tatyana approached Lydia and asked: “I can’t figure out what to do. I’ll have to ask Aunt Sonya to play a little... And then I’ll somehow replace her myself.” Lydia objected that Aunt Sonya would then constantly remind her of this favor. Lydia spoke disapprovingly of Tatiana’s performance.
Suddenly a servant came up and said that Dunyasha was asking to come out to her. The sisters asked if she had brought a tapper. It turned out that a boy had arrived with Dunyasha. Dunyasha apologized and said that she couldn’t find anyone else.
The boy was dressed in a real school uniform. It was clear that he was very embarrassed. Tatyana realized that the boy was poor, but very proud. His face was ugly, but expressive. He looked no more than 12 years old. Tatyana asked if it was true that he had to play at the evenings. The boy answered in the affirmative. He said that he was 14 years old and that he was used to playing all day black
Lydia Arkadieana contemptuously asked if the boy knew how to play square dance. The boy said he could. She also asked if he could play a waltz, polka, or lancier. Tatyana asked her sister to stop teasing the child. But the boy suddenly boldly and even mockingly replied: “If we please, mademoiselle, then, in addition to polkas and quadrilles, I also play all of Beethoven’s sonatas, Chopin’s waltzes and Liszt’s rhapsodies.”
Lydia self-confidently expressed doubt that the boy was playing well. But he asked permission to play something. Tina began to ask Tatyana to allow the boy to show his art. And so he found himself at the piano. The boy opened his music book and chose Liszt’s “Hungarian Rhapsody.”
“The boy carefully placed his hands on the keys, closed his eyes for a moment, and from under his fingers flowed the solemn, majestic chords of the beginning of the rhapsody. It was strange to see and hear how this little man, whose head was barely visible from behind the music stand, produced such powerful, bold, full sounds from the instrument. And his face seemed to immediately transform, brighten and become almost beautiful; the pale lips parted slightly, and the eyes grew even larger and became deep, moist and shining.”
Listeners appeared in the hall. Even Arkady Nikolaevich left the office. He asked Tatyana where they found this boy. When Arkady Nikolaevich found out that this was a pianist, he was very surprised.
He felt it was wrong to force such a small boy to play.
But Tanya told her father everything - both about Lydia’s ridicule and the fact that the boy himself was determined to play all night. His father agreed that he should stay and play.
When the pianist finished the rhapsody, everyone applauded. Arkady Nikolaevich thanked the boy and said that he played great. He asked what his name was. The boy's name was Yuri Azagarov.
Arkady Nikolaevich said that he was worried that Yuri would get tired. But the boy continued the game. Finally, children began to enter the hall. The fun has begun. Tina asked the pianist to play a polka. The children began to dance.
Suddenly an elderly gentleman walked into the hall. Everyone present immediately turned their attention to him. This man behaved simply and at the same time majestically. It became clear that he belonged to the big world. “It was immediately clear that this man was used to feeling equally free in a small living room, in front of a crowd of thousands, and in the halls of royal palaces.”
The stranger and Arkady Nikolaevich went into the office. The owner of the house could be heard asking the guest for something. Meanwhile, Yura continued to play. Suddenly he saw that the stranger, whose name was Anton Grigorievich, was looking at him. And then Anton Grigorievich asked Yura to play Rhapsody No. 2 again.
The boy began to play. At first he played timidly, not very well. But then I began to play with the same inspiration. His performance was great.
“Yuri did not see how Anton Grigorievich’s gloomy brow gradually cleared up and how the stern expression of his lips gradually softened, but when he finished with general applause and turned in that direction, he no longer saw this attractive and strange man.”
Arkady Nikolaevich approached the boy, handed him an envelope and told him not to lose it under any circumstances. There was money in the envelope. Arkady Nikolaevich also told Yura to get ready and go with Anton Grigorievich.
Yura began to object that he would like to continue the game. But Arkady Nikolaevich asked if he didn’t recognize Anton Grigorievich? The boy could not guess who it was.
The owner of the house said: “Darling, this is Rubinstein. Do you understand, Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein! And I, my dear, congratulate you from the bottom of my heart and am glad that you received such a gift on my Christmas tree quite by accident. He is interested in your game..."
Since then, the boy has become known throughout Russia as a talented composer. Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein took part in his fate.
“But Azagarov never conveyed to anyone those sacred words that his great teacher spoke to him while riding with him in the sleigh on that frosty Christmas night.”
This story can rightfully be called a Christmas fairy tale. The little tapper boy is hardworking and talented. He was incredibly lucky that a famous musician paid attention to him. Thanks to this, his whole life changed. In this short story, we see both obvious contempt for the young musician (on the part of Lydia Arkadyevna), and attention and sympathy (on the part of Tinochka, Tatyana Arkadyevna and the recognized musician himself). The true generosity of the famous musician was manifested in the fact that he helped a talented child find his place in life.
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In 1990, A. Kuprin published his new work in Odessa News. “Taper” - a brief summary of the story is offered in the article - is about the problem of real art and its creators. The action takes place in Moscow and dates back to 1885. At first glance, this is an ordinary story of a poor musician. The author’s task was broader - to show how chance can change a person’s destiny, and diligence, hard work and true talent become the beginning of a life aimed at serving people.
Preparing for the New Year
In the Rudnevs' house they were preparing for the Christmas tree celebration. For the first time, twelve-year-old Tina took part in this, who was worried about the organization of the holiday. It is with her appearance that Taper begins his work; according to her, he still hasn’t arrived, but the guests should already be arriving. The eldest of the sisters - they put on their outfits - was Lydia. She noticed with displeasure that more noise and confusion in the house was happening because of Tina. All hope remained with Tatyana, who had a kind and gentle character.
House of Rudnevs
Disorderly, hospitable and noisy - this is how the family of Arkady Nikolaevich is characterized in the story “Taper” by Kuprin. The characters, with the exception of the hostess, warmly received friends and complete strangers at any time of the day. Someone always stayed with them for a long time. On holidays the table was not cleared: one crowd of guests, mostly young people, was constantly replaced by another.
Arkady Nikolaevich often disappeared into the English Club, and when he returned with good winnings, he organized fun trips out of town. His wife, Irina Alexandrovna, a rich and noble princess by birth, did not approve of such entertainment, so she almost never left her room. Meanwhile, she was jealous of her husband all her life, which was understandable. A merry fellow, a famous gourmet, a gambler, a lover of art, he looked handsome even after fifty and had a reputation as a ladies' man.
This is how Kuprin portrays his characters in the story.
“Taper”: summary of the episode about preparing for the Christmas tree
Tina had good reason to worry. Arkady Nikolaevich loved to arrange everything in the best possible way. However, this time there was a misunderstanding. They sent to Ryabov, who usually played with the Rudnevs, late, and his orchestra was already busy. The musician, who valued the respect of his family, hoped to find time, but was unable to. As a result, the head of the family ordered to find a good tapper, which was also not done. While the servants were looking for the last resort, Tatyana Arkadyevna appeared and immediately took everything into her own hands. She copied several addresses from the newspaper and sent the maid Dunyasha to them, notes Kuprin.
“Taper” - a summary of which you are reading - continues with a description of the first guests and the concerns of the Rudnevs, especially Tina. Finally, Tatyana decided that, as a last resort, she would play herself, alternating with Aunt Sonya, which caused an ironic remark from her older sister.
Little musician
At that moment they reported that Dunyasha was waiting in the hallway. Tatyana came out to her and saw next to the maid a thin and pale boy with an ugly but expressive face. Everything showed him to be a shy and proud person, notes Kuprin. The taper said that he was already fourteen, and he would cope with the task quite well, since he repeatedly spoke to the guests throughout the evening. When Lydia, with irony and distrust, began to ask what kind of music he could play, mockery and anger flashed in the boy’s eyes. Tatyana and Tina immediately tried to rectify the situation and pulled the pianist into the hall.
Great performance
Arkady Nikolaevich, who saw the musician, also doubted at first, but, having heard “Hungarian Rhapsody,” he approached him and affectionately asked whether it would be difficult for him to play all evening.
The celebration was in full swing when Arkady Nikolaevich and a stranger entered the hall, whose whole appearance spoke of the fact that he was powerful, stubborn and knew how to easily conquer any audience. He listened to the young musician play with a bored look, and Rudnev whispered something in his ear. At some point, Yura felt that a stranger was standing next to him. Then he asked to play the rhapsody again. The first chords sounded uncertain, but soon the tapper completely surrendered to the music and already realized that he had never performed better. And Anton Grigorievich’s gloomy face became lighter. When the rhapsody ended, the stranger was no longer in the hall, and Rudnev approached the boy and handed him an envelope. In response to Yura's objections, he said that the great Rubinstein was here now and was interested in his playing.
Soon the little musician in a worn uniform became known throughout the country, but he never told anyone what he said to him that winter evening - this is how A. Kuprin ends “Taper,” a brief summary of which is given here.
The story “Taper” by Kuprin was written and published in 1900 in the newspaper “Odessa News”. According to the author, the story he described was based on real events. The theme of art is one of Kuprin’s favorites, which he fully revealed in his story.
For better preparation for the literature lesson and for the reading diary, we recommend reading the summary of “Taper” online.
Main characters
Arkady Nikolaevich Rudnev– a hospitable, cheerful man, a gambler.
Tinochka Rudneva– a lively, emotional, kind girl.
Yuri Azagarov- a young pianist, a modest, poor boy, a talented musician.
Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein- famous composer, pianist and teacher.
Other characters
Irina Alekseevna- Rudnev’s wife, a reserved and arrogant lady.
Lydia- the eldest daughter of the Rudnevs, a beautiful and arrogant girl.
Tatiana- the middle daughter of the Rudnevs, reasonable and calm.
“Twelve-year-old Tinochka Rudneva” is extremely excited: “after all, soon it’s six o’clock, in an hour” they will light the Christmas tree, but no one in the house bothered to invite a pianist.
She turns to her older sister Lydia for help, but she treats the younger children “with cold and polite contempt” and ignores the agitated Tinochka.
The Rudnevs belong to “one of the most careless, hospitable and noisy Moscow families.” Close and distant relatives constantly visited their large house, friends of the younger Rudnevs paid daily visits, and a special, lively atmosphere always reigned in the mansion.
The owner of the house, Irina Alekseevna, belonged to a noble and wealthy family. She rarely left her own rooms, “except on particularly solemn, official occasions,” and ignored the company of her children and husband. However, this did not stop her from being jealous of her husband, Arkady Nikolaevich, who, despite his advanced age, still enjoyed the fame of “a ladies' man, admirer and conqueror.”
The head of the family always took great pleasure in preparing for the Christmas tree. He invariably invited Ryabov’s orchestra to his place, but this time “a whole series of fatal misunderstandings occurred with the music.” The Rudnevs came to their senses late in inviting the orchestra, and they found themselves without music for the holidays.
Tatiana, whom everyone loved “for her even character,” undertakes to settle the matter. She barely had time to give the necessary instructions when the house was filled with “talking, laughter, stamping of feet and ringing kisses” - the first guests arrived.
Meanwhile, a tapper is brought into the house - a thin, shy, poor boy of about twelve with delicate features and intelligent gray eyes. The Rudnev sisters are puzzled by this turn of events, but they have no choice - the house is full of guests, and everyone is expecting music and dancing.
As soon as he sat down at the luxurious piano, the boy began to confidently extract “powerful, bold, full sounds” from it. Arkady Nikolaevich, a great connoisseur of music, was surprised by such a masterful performance. He learns that the young tapper's name is Yuri Azagarov, and asks him not to get too tired and to take breaks from his playing.
During the game, Yura notices the appearance of a new important guest, who unexpectedly asks to play “Rhapsody No. 2” for him. Afterwards, Arkady Nikolaevich gives the boy an envelope with money and says that he received an amazing gift - his playing interested the great composer Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein. So the poor but incredibly talented boy acquired an excellent teacher, and over time became a famous composer.
Conclusion
Kuprin is confident that the fate of a talented person will only turn out well when a lucky chance comes to the aid of his ability to work and diligence, which is of great importance in the world of art.
After reading the brief retelling of “Taper,” we recommend that you familiarize yourself with Kuprin’s work.
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Retelling rating
Average rating: 4 . Total ratings received: 337.
Kuprin's story "Taper" belongs to the genre of so-called Christmas stories, the main events in which unfold on the eve or during the celebration of Christmas. By the way, it was published in December 1900, just before the New Year, in the Odessa News newspaper.
The author himself claimed that everything that was narrated in the work took place or, as they say nowadays, the plot was based on real events. However, research has shown that Alexander Ivanovich somewhat exaggerated the realism of “Taper”. However, on artistic
This in no way reflects the merits of this literary opus.
At the very beginning of the story, the reader meets the Moscow Rudnev family, which is distinguished by its hospitality, but at the same time terribly careless. All family members are extremely different people. Father - Arkady Nikolaevich - is almost never at home, preferring to visit society and have fun on the side. His wife, Irina Alekseevna, is his clear opposite, a homebody who almost never leaves the space of her rooms.
It is curious how the prose writer portrayed the three Rudnev sisters, daughters of Arkady Nikolaevich and Irina
Alekseevna. The eldest Lydia shuns any noise and fuss, has the character of Princess Nesmeyana. Average Tatyana, on the contrary, is a cheerful blonde. But the writer most vividly describes the youngest Tina, always excited, disheveled, and lively.
Christmas is approaching, and preparations for the holiday are underway in the Rudnevs' house. Twelve-year-old Tina, who was entrusted with arranging the Christmas tree for the first time, is more worried and worried than others. The girl fusses, rushes around the rooms, constantly getting under someone's feet.
Most of all, Tina is worried whether the tapper will come to them, because without him it won’t be as fun as usual, the holiday will lose its charm. Arkady Nikolaevich takes an active part in preparing the children's party. It was he who always successfully managed to choose a gift for each of those present at the Christmas tree.
Usually Ryabov’s orchestra was invited to play at the Christmas celebration, but this time they were late, and the orchestra was engaged by other contenders. Then the head of the family ordered to invite at least some kind of pianist. However, I still don’t remember who I ordered to invite him. They decided that if the musician did not show up, then one of the relatives or Tanya Rudneva herself would play the piano.
And now, finally, the pianist crosses the threshold of the huge house, they are eagerly awaiting him, because not only the Rudnevs themselves are great admirers of musical art, all their many guests are too. The pianist's name is Yuri Azagarov, he is about fourteen years old - a pale, thin boy in a second-hand high school uniform.
Everyone looks at the young performer with distrust, and Lydia openly mocks him and skeptically predicts his failure. Kind Tanya encourages the young man, and Tina drags the timid realist to the instrument.
The boy takes the notes and plays, and plays superbly, almost like an adult. The powerful sounds extracted from the piano magically captivate everyone present, including Lydia. Arkady Nikolaevich first protests that the home audience is being entertained by a teenager, but then listens with interest as he plays music.
The young pianist's performance attracted the attention of another adult. At that moment, a small Christmas miracle happened in the Rudnevs’ house: this interested person turned out to be the famous composer and musician Anton Grigorievich Rubinstein throughout Russia. He decides to invite the tapper to become his student.
It subsequently turns out that the student became one of the most talented composers of his time. The writer proves: a truly talented person will always wait for his finest hour. The classic of Russian literature produced a very soulful work!
