Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library

Gretchaninoff, Alexander

Alexandergretchaninoff

GRETCHANINOFF, Alexandre Tikhonovich (b. 13 [25] October, 1864, Moscow; d. 4 January, 1956, New York) — studied at the Moscow Conservatory (1881-1890) and the St. Petersburg Conservatory (1890- 1893), which he completed in composition as a student of Rimsky-Korsakov. Collaborated with various choral ensembles, including Melnikov’s Choir in St. Petersburg, the Moscow Synodal Choir and Vasilyev’s Choir in Moscow, which premiered his numerous choral compositions. Also worked in the fields of theater music, children’s music, and musical ethnography. Toured in Russia and abroad as a pianist, accompanist, and conductor. In 1925 emigrated to Paris, where he lived until 1939, when he moved to New York. Gretchaninoff composed several operas, symphonic and chamber music, as well as numerous solo songs, children’s songs and choruses, choral part songs and arrangements of folk songs for chorus. On texts from the Russian Orthodox liturgy, he composed four settings of the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, an All-Night Vigil, and a cycle of hymns from Passion Week, as well as approximately 20 shorter works. He also composed several settings of the Latin Mass and several Latin motets, some of which remain in manuscript. Early in his musical career, Gretchaninoff came under the influence of Stepan Smolensky, Director of the Moscow Synodal School of Church Music and leader of the movement to return Russian church music to its roots in ancient ecclesiastical chant and the choral folk song. Although Gretchaninoff tended not to use actual chants in his sacred works, he frequently devised new chant-like melodies. Together with other composers working at the Moscow Synodal School (e. g., Kastalsky, Chesnokov, Nikolsky), he used a rich palette of choral textures, ranging from stark unison (sometimes doubled in two or three octaves, reminiscent of Old Believers’ singing) to “choral symphonism” in eight to twelve diverse parts. In a quest to expand his expressive resources, in 1917 he made a major break with tradition by including instruments in his third setting of the Divine Liturgy, the Liturgia domestica, opus 79. No other composers have followed Gretchaninoff’s lead, however: to date this work remains the only setting of a text from the Russian Orthodox liturgy with instrumental accompaniment.

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Gr098 113

Liturgiia Sv. Ioanna Zlatousta No. 4; Novyi Obikhod

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom No. 4: A New Version of the Common Hymns

Op. 177

Selected hymns from the Divine Liturgy

San Francisco R Club, Chapter 140 of the Federated Russian Orthodox Clubs of America, 1950

First printed edition

Contains the composer's inscription on the front page to Ivan. A. Gardner, New York 1953

42

Gr098-113

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Gr098

1

No. 1 - Velikaia ekteniia

The Great Litany

Op. 177, No. 1

SATB

2

Gr098

Gr099

2

No. 2 - Antifony - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Antiphons - Bless the Lord, O my soul

Op. 177, No. 2

SATB

3

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Gr100

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No. 2a - Slava... Edinorodnyi Syne

Glory... Only-begotten Son

[Op. 177, No. 2a]

SATB

3

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No. 2b - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom

[Op. 177, No. 2b]

SATB

3

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5

No. 3 - Priidite poklonimsia

Come, let us worship

Op. 177, No. 3

SATB

1

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No. 3a - Gospodi, spasi... i Trisviatoe

O Lord, save... and the Trisagion

[Op. 177, No. 3a]

SATB

3

Gr103

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No. 4 - Posle chteniia Apostola

After the Epistle reading

Op. 177, No. 4

SATB

1

Gr104

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No. 5 - Posle chteniia Evangeliia

After the Gospel reading

Op. 177, No. 5

SATB

6

Gr105

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No. 6 - Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

Op. 177, No. 6

SATB

3

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No. 7 - Ektenii posle Kheruvimskoi pesni

Litanies after the Cherubic Hymn

Op. 177, No. 7

SATB

3

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Nos. 8a and 8b - Veruiu

I believe

Op. 177, No. 8a and 8b

SATB

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No. 9 - Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 177, No. 9

SATB

3

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Nо. 9а - Tebe poem No. 2

We hymn Thee

Op. 177, No. 9a

SATB

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No. 10 - Dostoino est'

It is truly meet

Op. 177, No. 10

SATB

2

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No. 11 - Otche nash

Our Father

Op. 177, No. 11

SATB

2

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No. 12 - Khvalite Gospoda

Praise the Lord

Op. 177, No. 12

SATB

3

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Gr001 017

Liturgiia Sv. Ioanna Zlatoustago [No. 1]

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom [No. 1]

Op. 13

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

First printed edition

62

Gr001-017

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Gr001

1

No. 1 - Pervaia ekteniia

The First Litany

Op. 13, No. 1

S(div)A(div)TB

2

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No. 2 - Antifony - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Antiphons - Bless the Lord, O my soul

Op. 13, No. 2

SATB

2

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No. 2a - Slava... Edinorodnyi Syne

Glory... Only Begotten Son

[Op. 13, No. 2a]

SA(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 2b - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy Kingdom

[Op. 13, No. 2b]

SATB

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No. 3 - Priidite poklonimsia

Come, let us worship

Op. 13, No. 3

SA(div)T(div)B

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No. 3a - Sviatyi Bozhe

Holy God

[Op. 13, No. 3a]

SAT(div)B

2

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No. 4 - Posle chteniia Apostola

After the Epistle reading

Op. 13, No. 4

SA(div)TB(div)

1

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No. 5 - Posle chteniia Evangeliia

After the Gospel reading

Op. 13, No. 5

SA(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 6 - Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

Op. 13, No. 6

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

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No. 7 - Posle Kheruvimskoi pesni

After the Cherubic Hymn

Op. 13, No. 7

S(div)AT(div)

2

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No. 8a - Simvol very

The Creed

Op. 13, No. 8a

SATB

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No. 8b - Simvol very

The Creed

Op. 13, No. 8b

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

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No. 9 - Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 13, No. 9

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

5

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No. 10 - Dostoino est'

It is truly meet

Op. 13, No. 10

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 11 - Otche nash

Our Father

Op. 13, No. 11

SA(div)T(div)B

3

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No. 12 - Khvalite Gospoda s nebes

Praise the Lord from the heavens

Op. 13, No. 12

Communion Hymn for Sundays

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

5

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No. 13 - Konets obedni

Liturgy ending

Op. 13, No. 13

SA(div)T(div)B

9

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Gr023 039

Liturgiia Sv. Ioanna Zlatoustago No. 2

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom No. 2

Op. 29

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

PJu #28311-28323

First printed edition

91

Gr023-039

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Gr023

1

No. 1 - Pervaia ekteniia

The First Litany

Op. 29, No. 1

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 2 - Antifony - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Antiphons- Bless the Lord, O my soul

Op. 29, No. 2

Common [Russian Greek] chant

Ps. 102[103]:1-2

S(div)AT(div)B

2

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No. 2a - Khvali, dushe moia, Gospoda

Praise the Lord, O my soul

[Op. 29, No. 2a]

Common [Russian Greek] chant

Second Antiphon

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

2

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No. 2b - Slava... Edinorodnyi Syne

Glory... Only Begotten Son

[Op. 29, No. 2b]

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

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5

No. 2c - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom

[Op. 29, No. 2c]

Third Antiphon

SATB

2

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No. 3 - Priidite poklonimsia

Come, let us worship

Op. 29, No. 3

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 3a - Sviatyi Bozhe

Holy God

[Op. 29, No. 3a]

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 4 - Posle chteniia Apostola

After the Epistle reading

Op. 29, No. 4

SA(div)T(div)B(div)

1

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No. 5 - Posle chteniia Evangeliia

After the Gospel reading

Op. 29, No. 5

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

5

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10

No. 6 - Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

Op. 29, No. 6

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

6

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Gr033

11

No. 7 - Posle Kheruvimskoi pesni

After the Cherubic Hymn

Op. 29, No. 7

SAT(div)B

2

Gr033

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12

No. 8 - Simvol very

The Creed

Op. 29, No. 8

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Alto solo

8

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Gr035

13

No. 9 - Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 29, No. 9

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

10

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Gr036

14

No. 10 - Dostoino est'

It is truly meet

Op. 29, No. 10

Demestvenny chant

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

5

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No. 11 - Otche nash

Our Father

Op. 29, No. 11

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

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No. 12 - Zaprichastnyi stikh

In place of the Communion Verse

Op. 29, No. 12

Sacred Concerto

Troparion to the Theotokos

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

9

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Gr039

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No. 13 - Konets obedni

Liturgy ending

Op. 29, No. 13

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

10

Gr039

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Gr096

Lord, have mercy upon us

Op. 107, No. 4

Hierarchal Office of the Elevation of the Cross (in original context)

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

G. Schirmer #7553 1931

First printed edition

authorized edition with English text; in collaboration with Carl Deis

9

Gr096

Gr042

Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 44, No. 1

Bulgarian Chant motifs

Anaphora

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

PJu #32785 [1908]

First printed edition

10

Gr042

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    Quobuz-Gr042

Gr040

Nyne otpushchaeshi

Lord, now lettest Thou

Op. 34, No. 1

Song of St. Symeon

Luke 2:29-32

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

PJu #29471 1904

First printed edition

3

Gr040

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Otche nash [No. 4]

Our Father

Op. 80, No. 2

M. Gutheil, 1918

Not found

Gr087

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Gr044 057

Strastnaia sedmitsa

Passion week

Op. 58

PJu #36031-43 n.d.

First printed edition

81

Gr044-057

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Gr044

1

No. 1 - Se Zhenikh griadet

Behold, the Bridegroom cometh

Op. 58, No. 1

[Kievan chant, paraphrased]

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

6

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Gr045

2

No. 2 - Chertog Tvoi

Thy bridal chamber

Op. 58, No. 2

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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Gr046

3

No. 3 - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom

Op. 58, No. 3

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Alto Solo

10

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Gr047

4

No. 4 - Svete tikhii

Gladsome Light

Op. 58, No. 4

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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No. 5 - Da ispravitsia molitva moia

Let my prayer arise

Op. 58, No. 5

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div), SSAA semi-chorus, and Tenor Solo

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No. 6 - Nyne sily nebesnyia

Now the powers of heaven

Op. 58, No. 6

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

7

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No. 7 - Vecheri Tvoeia tainyia

Of Thy mystical supper

Op. 58, No. 7

SATB-SATB (divisi)

5

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No. 8 - Razboinika blagorazumnago

The wise thief

Op. 58, No. 8

PJu #36038 n.d.

SATB-SATB (divisi)

6

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No. 9 - Tebe odeiushchagosia

Thou, who clothest Thyself with light

Op. 58, No. 9

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

6

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No. 10 - Bog Gospod'... i Blagoobraznyi Iosif

God is the Lord... and The Noble Joseph

Op. 58, No. 10

Bulgarian Chant

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

4

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No. 11 - Ne rydai mene, Mati

Do not lament me, O Mother

Op. 58, No. 11

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

6

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12

No. 12 - Elitsy vo Khrista

As many as have been baptized

Op. 58, No. 12

Znamenny Chant

SAT(div)B(div)

1

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No. 12a - Voskresni, Bozhe

Arise, O God

[Op. 58, No. 12b]

Znamenny Chant

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

3

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14

No. 13 - Da molchit vsiakaia plot'

Let all mortal flesh keep silent

Op. 58, No. 13

SATB-SATB (divisi) and Alto Solo

12

Gr057

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Gr021

Svete tikhii

Gladsome Light

Op. 23, No. 2

Evening Hymn

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

PJu #26534 1901

First printed edition

7

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Gr094

The Lord is my light

[Op. 107, No. 2]

Sacred concerto

Anthem text adapted from Ps. 26[27]; original text unknown

SATB

G. Schirmer #7490 1931

First printed edition

authorized edition with English text; edited by Carl Deis

5

Gr094