Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai

RIMSKY-KORSAKOV, Nikolai Andreyevich (b. 1844, Tikhvin; d. 1908, Lubensk Estate, near Luga, Pskov District)—A member of the "Mighty Five," a group of Russian nationalist composers headed by Miliy Balakirev, Rimsky-Korsakov was already a well-known composer and professor of composition and orchestration at the St. Petersburg Conservatory, when, in 1883, he was appointed together with Balakirev to head the Imperial Court Chapel in St. Petersburg. Prior to that, in his work with the Free Musical School (1874-81), he had been involved in composing secular choral works and transcribing and arranging Russian folk songs. In his new position with the Imperial Chapel, Rimsky-Korsakov turned his attention to sacred choral composition and to new ways of arranging liturgical chants. Altogether he wrote forty choral works for the Russian Orthodox Church: fourteen titles were published in two series in 1884 and 1886, respectively; a setting of Tebe Boga hvalim [Te Deum laudamus] appeared in 1893; and a collection of 25 more works was published posthumously in 1913 by Evstafy Azeyev. In addition, he played a leading role (together with Kopylov, Azeyev, Liapunov, and others) in the harmonization of the Chants of the All-Night Vigil according to ancient melodies arranged for four-part chorus, published in 1888.

In his sacred choral works Rimsky-Korsakov made extensive use of authentic chant melodies as well as melodies he himself composed in the style of chant. The polyphonic treatment of the melodies is quite varied and innovative. Some melodies serve as motives for imitative counterpoint, while others are harmonized homorhythmically, using a thick choral texture replete with doublings. The harmony is often modal, preserving the archaic flavor of the chant. The choral sonorities range from a few solo voices to rich double choral writing.

Although seemingly a relatively minor part of Rimsky-Korsakov's legacy of primarily symphonic and operatic works, his choral music has been recognized as an important transitional influence that gave direction to the "new Russian choral school" of the early 20th century. It is not a coincidence that among his students one finds a number of important composers of sacred music: Anatoly Liadov, Alexander Gretchaninoff, Nikolai Tcherepnin, Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, Alexander Chesnokov (brother of Pavel), and Maximilian Steinberg. There are also clear links between his style and that of Alexander Kastalsky, the leading composer of the "Moscow School."

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Title: Se Zhenikh griadet

Title (translated): Behold, the Bridegroom comes

Opus no.: Op. 22-bis, No. 4

Arrangement of: [Kievan Chant]

Liturgical designation: Troparion for Holy Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday

Voicing: S(div)AT(div)B(div)

Publication data: PPK #120 1885

Description of source: First printed edition

No. of pages: 7

Cat. no.: Ri012

MR Ri012

Title: Sobranie dukhovno-muzykal’nykh sochinenii i perelozhenii

Title (translated): A collection of sacred compositions and chant arrangements

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Publication data: Akkord: I.A.#1-25 n.d.

Description of source: First printed edition

No. of pages: 60

Cat. no.: Ri-SDMSP

Titles in collection: 25 Click [+] to expand

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No. in collection: 1

Title: No. 1-Kto est’ sei Tsar’ slavy?

Title (translated): Who is this King of glory?

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Hymn for the consecration of a church

Text source: (Ps. 23[24]:10)

Voicing: S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri016

MR Ri016

No. in collection: 2

Title: No. 2-Krestu Tvoemu

Title (translated): Before Thy Cross

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: [Kievan Chant]

Liturgical designation: Trisagion Hymn for feasts of the Cross

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri017

MR Ri017

No. in collection: 3

Title: No. 3-Kheruvimskaia pesn’ No. 4

Title (translated): Cherubic Hymn

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 3

Cat. no.: Ri018

MR Ri018

No. in collection: 4

Title: No. 4-Kheruvimskaia pesn’ No. 5

Title (translated): Cherubic Hymn

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Voicing: SAT(div)B

No. of pages: 4

Cat. no.: Ri019

MR Ri019

No. in collection: 5

Title: No. 5-Kheruvimskaia pesn’ No. 6

Title (translated): Cherubic Hymn

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Voicing: SA(div)T(div)B

No. of pages: 3

Cat. no.: Ri020

MR Ri020

No. in collection: 6

Title: No. 6-Tebe poem No. 2

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SAT(div)B

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri021

MR Ri021

No. in collection: 7

Title: No. 7-Tebe poem No. 3

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri022

MR Ri022

No. in collection: 8

Title: No. 8-Tebe poem No. 4

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri023

MR Ri023

No. in collection: 9

Title: No. 9-Tebe poem No. 5

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri024

MR Ri024

No. in collection: 10

Title: No. 10-Tebe poem No. 6

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri025

MR Ri025

No. in collection: 11

Title: No. 11-Dostoino est’ No. 2

Title (translated): It is truly meet

Opus no.: N.O.N.

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

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri026

MR Ri026

No. in collection: 12

Title: No. 12-Khvalite Gospoda s nebes

Title (translated): Praise the Lord from the heavens

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Communion Hymn for Sundays

Voicing: SATB-SATB

No. of pages: 4

Cat. no.: Ri027

MR Ri027

No. in collection: 13

Title: No. 13a-Khvalite Gospoda s nebes No. 1

Title (translated): Praise the Lord from the heavens

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: [Kievan Chant]

Liturgical designation: Communion Hymn for Sundays

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri028

MR Ri028

No. in collection: 14

Title: No. 13b-Khvalite Gospoda s nebes No. 2

Title (translated): Praise the Lord from the heavens

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: [Kievan Chant]

Liturgical designation: Communion Hymn for Sundays

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri029

MR Ri029

No. in collection: 15

Title: No. 14-Prichastnyi stikh No. 2, v ponedel’nik

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Mondays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Russian Greek Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri030

MR Ri030

No. in collection: 16

Title: No. 15-Prichastnyi stikh No. 3, vo vtornik

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Tuesdays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri031

MR Ri031

No. in collection: 17

Title: No. 16-Prichastnyi stikh No. 4, v sredu

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Wednesdays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri032

MR Ri032

No. in collection: 18

Title: No. 17-Prichastnyi stikh No. 5, v chetvertok

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Thursdays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri033

MR Ri033

No. in collection: 19

Title: No. 18-Prichastnyi stikh No. 6, v piatok

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Fridays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 1

Cat. no.: Ri034

MR Ri034

No. in collection: 20

Title: No. 19a-Prichastnyi stikh No. 7, v subbotu

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Saturdays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: [Melody: Streletsky]

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri035

MR Ri035

No. in collection: 21

Title: No. 19b-Prichastnyi stikh No. 7, v subbotu

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for Saturdays

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Kievan Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri036

MR Ri036

No. in collection: 22

Title: No. 20-Prichasten na Vozdvizhenie Kresta

Title (translated): Communion Hymn for the Elevation of the Cross

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Text source: (Ps. 4:5)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri037

MR Ri037

No. in collection: 23

Title: No. 21-Vzyde Bog

Title (translated): God has gone up

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Liturgical designation: Communion Hymn for Ascension

Text source: (Ps. 46[47]:5)

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 3

Cat. no.: Ri038

MR Ri038

No. in collection: 24

Title: No. 22-Dogmatik 1-go glasa

Title (translated): Dogmatikon in the First Tone

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Znamenny Chant

Voicing: SATB

No. of pages: 4

Cat. no.: Ri039

MR Ri039

No. in collection: 25

Title: No. 23-Irmosy kanona na utreni v Velikuiu Subbotu

Title (translated): Heirmoi of the Kanon at Matins of Holy Saturday

Opus no.: N.O.N.

Arrangement of: Znamenny Chant

Voicing: SATBB

No. of pages: 8

Cat. no.: Ri040

MR Ri040

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Title: Tebe Boga khvalim

Title (translated): We praise Thee, O God

Opus no.: Op. 22-bis, No. 7

Arrangement of: [Common Chant, T.3]

Liturgical designation: Hymn of St. Ambrose of Milan at a Prayer Service

Text source: (St. Ambrose)

Voicing: SATB-SATB

Publication data: PPK #124 1893

Description of source: First printed edition

Remarks: Defective original

No. of pages: 12

Cat. no.: Ri015

MR Ri015

Title: Tebe poem

Title (translated): We hymn Thee

Opus no.: Op. 22, No. 5

Liturgical designation: Anaphora (Hymn of the Epiklesis)

Voicing: SATB

Publication data: PPK #112 1884

Description of source: First printed edition

No. of pages: 2

Cat. no.: Ri005

MR Ri005

Title: Veruiu

Title (translated): I believe

Opus no.: Op. 22, No. 3

Liturgical designation: The Creed

Voicing: SSATTB

Publication data: PPK #110 1884

Description of source: First printed edition

No. of pages: 8

Cat. no.: Ri003

MR Ri003

Title: Voskresnyi prichastnyi stikh

Title (translated): The Communion Hymn for Sundays

Opus no.: Op. 22-bis, No. 3

Arrangement of: Common Chant

Liturgical designation: The Communion Hymn for Sundays

Text incipit (translated): Khvalite Gospoda s nebes

Voicing: SATB

Publication data: PPK #119 1885

Description of source: First printed edition

Remarks: Defective original

No. of pages: 4

Cat. no.: Ri011

MR Ri011

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Rimsky-Korsakov, Nikolai

41 results found