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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Gr095

The Lord's Prayer No. 2, in A flat

Op. 107, No. 3

The Lord's Prayer

SAT(div)B(div) and Soprano Solo

G. Schirmer #7607 1932

First printed edition

authorized edition with English text; in collaboration with Carl Deis

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Gr095

Gr091

The Lord's Prayer

[Op. 94, No. 4]

The Lord's Prayer (if original text is used)

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

Raymond A. Hoffman Co., #48-4 1930

First printed edition

authorized edition with English text; freely translated, edited and arranged by Noble Cain

4

Gr091

Gr093

The Lord's Prayer; Pater noster

[Op. 107, No. 1]

The Lord's Prayer

S(div)AT(div)B(div) and Alto Solo

G. Schirmer #7393 1930

First printed edition

Russian language version: n.p. n.d. 2 pp. (Identified as Op. 107, No. 2) authorized edition with English text; adapted and revised by Carl Engel

4

Gr093

Gr022

Vnushi, Bozhe, molitvu moiu

Give ear to my prayer, O God

Op. 26

Sacred concerto

Ps. 54[55]:2-3,17-18; Ps. 17[18]:2-3,7,10-14,47

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

PJu #28232 1902

First printed edition

16

Gr022

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  • C095 small

    MR Gr022

  • Us42q3nl303fa 600

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Gr018

Volnoiu morskoiu

Beneath the waves of the sea

Op. 19, No. 1

[Znamenny Chant, paraphrased]

Sacred Concerto

Special Heirmos for the Nativity of Christ

SSAATTBB

PJu #25069 1899

First printed edition

16

Gr018

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  • C097 small

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Gr019

Voskliknite Gospodevi

Make a joyful noise to God

Op. 19, No. 2

Sacred concerto

Ps. 65 [66]:1-2; Ps. 76 [77]:14-15,19; Ps. 46 [47]:9

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

PJu #25070 1899

First printed edition

5

Gr019

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Gr058 067

Vsenoshchnoe bdenie

All-Night Vigil

Op. 59

PJu #36395- n.d.

First printed edition

82

Gr058-067

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Gr058

1

No. 1 - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Bless the Lord, O my soul

Op. 59, No. 1

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

9

Gr058

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Gr059

2

No. 2 - Blazhen muzh

Blessed is the man

Op. 59, No. 2

SATB-SATB (divisi)

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Gr059

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Gr060

3

No. 3 - Svete tikhii

Gladsome Light

Op. 59, No. 3

SATB-SATB (divisi) and ATB Soli

6

Gr060

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Gr061

4

No. 4 - Bogoroditse Devo

Rejoice, O Virgin

Op. 59, No. 4

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

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Gr061

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Gr062

5

No. 5 - Khvalite imia Gospodne

Praise the name of the Lord

Op. 59, No. 5

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

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Gr062

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Gr063

6

No. 6 - Voskresnye tropari (Blagosloven esi, Gospodi)

Resurrectional troparia (Blessed art Thou, O Lord)

Op. 59, No. 6

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

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Gr063

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Gr064

7

No. 7 - Ot iunosti moeia

From my youth

Op. 59, No. 7

S(div)A(div)T(div)BB(div)

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Gr064

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Gr065

8

No. 8 - Voskresenie Khristovo videvshe

Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ

Op. 59, No. 8

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

6

Gr065

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Gr066

9

No. 9 - Velikoe slavoslovie

The Great Doxology

Op. 59, No. 9

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and SSATT Soli

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Gr066

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Gr067

10

No. 10 - Vzbrannoi voevode

O victorious Leader

Op. 59, No. 10

SATB-SATB (divisi)

6

Gr067

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