Methods of musical, historical and graphic analyses applied to the spiritual legacy of Edison Denisov

The essay under consideration has been compiled focusing on the historical and graphic analyses of Edison Denisov's cultural heritage. The composer is one of the leading representatives of the Soviet post-war musical vanguard. The essay presents the typology of the research works on his legacy within the historical context. Three types of sources are specified and analyzed: monographs, articles and some publications of narrative character. In them an attempt has been made to reveal the peculiarities of the composer's musical expression, to define the style of some of his compositions, to study his autobiography. There is also an account of his latest compositions, as well as some aspects of musical genre and technique. Yet, the important subject of national features reflected in his spiritual music has been overlooked.