Abstract: The article examines the theme of music and features of the use of musical imagery in Alexei Apukhtin’s poetry. The object of the research are “poems for occasion”, friendly messages and dedications for musicians-friends as well as poems “Barrel organ”, “Life”, “Fate”. To Beethoven’s Symphony No.5 author gives historical-cultural comments on Apukhtin’s works, analyses their ideological and artistic meaning and form. The author pays special attention to analysing the biographical context, summarising the information on the poet’s friendly contacts with composers and musicians, on Apukhtin's perception of music, understanding of his aesthetic position. The other direction of the research is the analysis of the works, in which music is used as a basis for an allegorical depiction of the life path. The novelty of the research lies in the systematic consideration of the theme of music in Apukhtin's works. The article analyses in detail the works addressed to Petr Tchaikovsky, a friend of Apukhtin, demonstrates how their intonation and mood change from irony to sadness. These poems not only reflect the stages of the friendly relations between the poet and the composer, but give an assessment of their own creative destiny. The article reveals the polemical plan of the poem "A Singer in the Camp of Russian Composers" shows what innovations in contemporary opera Apukhtin rejects. The study pays particular attention to poems, the plot of which the poet bases on the very process of perceiving music when trying to find a verbal equivalent to a musical text.

Abstract: The object of this research is two works of Sukhbat Aflatuni: “Tashkent Novel” and “Balthazar”, as well as the last part of the trilogy “Adoration of the Magi”. The subject of the research is the authorial interpretation of music theme, revealing the uniqueness of musical images in the indicated novels. Special attention is given to the European musical context with emphasis on most significant musical pieces that not just create a background sound in the novels, but also affect their structure. The author examines the functions of musical references, and proves that mentioning of the composers’ names and composition in works of the writer fulfills the function of “other storyline”. The conclusion is made that musical context in works of the writer is diverse and multifunctional. The structure of “Tashkent Novel” directly correlates with the Opera “The Magic Flute” by Mozart. Another significant musical text in the novel is “For Elise” by Beethoven. In the trilogy “Adoration of the Magi”, of special interests from musical perspective is the last novel of the writer “Balthazar”. The protagonist is the avant-garde composer, who seeks for the new forms that allow presenting the entire history of music; from his perspective, music is the highest manifestation of spirit. By this, Sukhbat Aflatuni brings to life Plato's idea of the celestial meaning of musical harmony.