Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library

Tcherepnin, Nikolai

Nikolaitcherepnin

TCHEREPNIN, Nikolai Nikolayevich (b. May 15 [O. S., May 3] 1873; St. Petersburg, Russia; d. 26 June 1945, Issy-les-Moulineaux, nr. Paris) — the son of a prominent St. Petersburg physician, in 1883 he entered the 6th St. Petersburg Gymnasium, whose director from 1890 was the literary scholar and composer of sacred music, Dmitry Soloviev; upon graduating from the gymnasium, T. was originally steered by his father to the study of law, graduating with a law degree in 1895 from the University of St. Petersburg. In 1893, without leaving his law studies at the university, T. enrolled in the St. Petersburg Conservatory, initially as a piano student of Karl van Ark, but subsequently switching to the study of composition, first under Nikolai F. Soloviev (also a composer of sacred music), and then under Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov. T. completed his studies at the Conservaory in 1898, with the status of "independent artist."

Upon graduating, T. received a post at the St. Petersburg Mariinsky Theater, first as choirmaster, and then as conductor, and also worked for six years as an orchestra conductor at the Imperial Court Chapel. While pursuing a flourishing career as a symphonic conductor, he returned to the St. Petersburg Conservatory to teach composition and conducting; his students included Sergei Prokofiev, Aleksandr Gauk, Yuri Shaporin, and Lazare Saminsky. In addition to sacred music, he composed and conducted ballets in Russia and in Europe, collaborating actively with Serge Diaghilev and the Ballets Russe.

In 1918 he assumed the position of director of the National Conservatory in Tbilisi, Georgia, but after the Communist takeover of Georgia, in 1921 he fled to Paris, France, where he lived until his death in 1945. In Paris, he was among the founders of the Russian Conservatory, where he served as director for a number of years, also serving as board member of the Beliajeff Publishing House. In 1932, he served as guest conductor of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, led at the time by Serge Koussevitzky.

Tcherepnin’s sacred choral music, crafted in the rich, quasi-symphonic idiom of the ”new Russian choral school,” reminiscent of Rachmaninoff and Gretchaninoff, has yet to be duly discovered. Two settings of the Divine Liturgy, Opus 32, and a second setting of unknown opus number, were published by P. Jurgenson of Moscow prior to the Revolution of 1917, along with two sacred choruses, Opus 28, from the Divine Liturgy, and four additional works with no opus number, from the All-Night Vigil. Later, in France, he composed six other hymns from the All-Night Vigil, for mixed chorus, published by W. Bessel & Col, three chant arrangements for men’s chorus, and another setting of the Divine Liturgy, which remains unpublished. At least seven English anthem-like adaptations were published in the 1920s and 30s by E. C. Schirmer Music Company, suggesting the possible existence of other sacred choral works in the composer’s archive. All these works, however, continue to languish in obscurity, having no known performances or recordings. An oratorio entitled Hozhdenie Bogoroditse po mukam [La descente de la Sainte Vierge à l’Enfer], for soloists, chorus and orchestra, considered by some to be Tcherepnin’s finest choral-orchestral work, was published in 1938 by Universal, was revived in 1992 and 2009 in Russia, but no commercial recording is available.
Nikolai Tcherepnin’s son, Alexander (1899–1977), and grandsons, Serge (b. 1941) and Ivan (1943–1998), continued the family’s musical legacy, becoming composers in their own right.

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Te019

Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Bless the Lord, O my soul

S. Op. 4

Introductory Psalm

Ps. 103[104]:1,24

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

PJu #37378 n.d.

First printed edition

2

Te019

Te020

Blazhen muzh

Blessed is the man

S. Op. 5

First Antiphon of the First Kathisma

Ps. 1:1; 2:11; 3:8

SATB(div)

PJu #37380 n.d.

First printed edition

3

Te020

Te022

Bogoroditse Devo

Rejoice, O Virgin

S. Op. 7

Dismissal Troparion

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

PJu #37384 n.d.

First printed edition

2

Te022

Te001

Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

Op. 28, No. 1 [S. Op. 1]

Izhe kheruvimy

S(div)ATB(div)

PJu #30396 1906

First printed edition

6

Te001

Te003 018

Liturgiia Sv. Ioanna Zlatoustago [No. 1]

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

Op. 32 [S. Op. 3]

PJu #31531-45 n.d.

First printed edition

72

Te003-018

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  • Eo9e7wj50em2a 600

    Quobuz-Te004

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Te003

1

No. 1 - Pervaia ekteniia

The First Litany

Op. 32, No. 1

SATB(div)

2

Te003

Te004

2

No. 2 - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Bless the Lord, O my soul

Op. 32, No. 2

SAT(div)B(div)

1

Te004

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Te005

3

No. 3 - Malaia ekteniia i Edinorodnyi Syne

Little Litany and Only Begotten Son

Op. 32, No. 3

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

4

Te005

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    Quobuz-Te005

Te006

4

No. 4 - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom [The Beatitudes]

Op. 32, No. 4

S(div)AT(div)B(div) and 2 Tenor Soli

4

Te006

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Te007

5

[No. 4a] - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom [The Beatitudes]

Op. 32, No. 4a

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

3

Te007

Te008

6

No. 5 - Priidite poklonimsia i Sviatyi Bozhe

Come, let us worship and Holy God

Op. 32, No. 5

S(div)AT(div)B(div)

4

Te008

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    Quobuz-Te008

Te009

7

No. 6 - Posle chteniia Apostola, Posle chteniia Evangeliia, Ektenii

Responses after the Epistle reading, after the Gospel reading, and Litanies

Op. 32, No. 6

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

7

Te009

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Te010

8

No. 7 - Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

Op. 32, No. 7

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

6

Te010

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    Quobuz-Te010

Te011

9

No. 8 - Veruiu

I believe

Op. 32, No. 8

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

7

Te011

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    Quobuz-Te011

Te012

10

No. 9 - Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 32, No. 9

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

6

Te012

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    Quobuz- Te012

Te013

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No. 10 - Dostoino est'

It is truly meet

Op. 32, No. 10

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

5

Te013

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    Quobuz-Te013

Te014

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No. 11 - Otche nash

Our Father

Op. 32, No. 11

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

4

Te014

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    Quobuz-Te014

Te015

13

No. 12 - Khvalite Gospoda s nebes

Praise the Lord from the heavens

Op. 32, No. 12

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and 4 Alti Soli, 3 Baritoni Soli, and 2 Bassi Soli

8

Te015

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Te016

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No. 13 - Blagosloven griadyi i Telo Khristovo priimite

Blessed is He and Receive the Body of Christ

Op. 32, No. 13

SATB

1

Te016

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Te017

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No. 14 - Videkhom svet istinnyi i Da ispolniatsia usta

We have seen the true Light and Let our mouths be filled

Op. 32, No. 14

S(div)AT(div)B(div)

4

Te017

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Te018

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No. 15 - Budi imia Gospodne; Blagochestiveishago

Blessed be the name; Our most pious Emperor

Op. 32, No. 15

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

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Te018

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    Quobuz-Te018

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Liturgiia Sv. Ioanna Zlatoustago No. 2

Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom No. 2

PJu #38564-75 n.d.

First printed edition (voice parts)

Only voice parts have been located.

Te023-034

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Te023

1

No. 1 - Velikaia ekteniia

The Great Litany

SSATBBB

4

Te023

Te024

2

No. 2 - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Bless the Lord, O my soul

S(div)ATB(div)

7

Te024

Te025

3

No. 3 - Slava... Edinorodnyi Syne

Glory... Only-begotten Son

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

4

Te025

Te026

4

No. 4 - Vo tsarstvii Tvoem

In Thy kingdom

SAT(div)B(div)

4

Te026

Te027

5

No. 5 - Priidite poklonimsia i Sviatyi Bozhe

Come, let us worship and Holy God

S(div)ATB(div)

5

Te027

Te028

6

No. 6 - Kheruvimskaia pesn'

Cherubic Hymn

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

8

Te028

Te029

7

No. 7 - Veruiu

I believe

S(div)ATB(div)

8

Te029

Te030

8

No. 8 - Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and 2 Tenori Soli

9

Te030

Te031

9

No. 9 - Tebe poem

We hymn Thee

S(div)A(div)TB(div)

4

Te031

Te032

10

No. 10 - Dostoino est'

It is truly meet

SATBB(div)

5

Te032

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    Reference Recordings FR-737

Te033

11

No. 11 - Otche nash

Our Father

SATB(div)

4

Te033

  • Te033cover search

    MR Te033

Te034

12

No. 12 - Gospod' krepok i silen

The Lord is strong and mighty

Sacred concerto

S(div)AT(div)B(div)

9

Te034

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Te002

Milost' mira

A mercy of peace

Op. 28, No. 2 [S. Op. 2]

Anaphora

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

PJu #30398 1906

First printed edition

9

Te002

Te035 040

Six Chants religieux russes, pour choeur mixte

Six Russian sacred choruses, for mixed choir

Op. 51

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

Paris: W. Bessel & Co. [1925]

First printed edition

39

Te035-040

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Te035

1

No. 1 - Priidite, poklonimsia

Come together, let us worship [Come, let us worship]

Op. 51, No. 1

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

5

Te035

Te036

2

No. 2 - Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda

Bless thou the Lord, my soul [Bless the Lord, O my soul]

Op. 51, No. 2

Russian “Greek” Chant

S(div)AT(div)B(div)

10

Te036

Te037

3

No. 3 - Nyne otpushchaeshi

Now we pray Thee [Lord, now lettest Thou]

Op. 51, No. 3

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

6

Te037

Te038

4

No. 4 - Bogoroditse Devo

Hail, thou Holiest Maiden [Rejoice, O Virgin]

Op. 51, No. 4

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

3

Te038

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    Reference Recordings FR-737

Te039

5

No.5 - Svete tikhii

Light serenest [Gladsome Light]

Op. 51, No. 5

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

6

Te039

Te040

6

No. 6 - Blazhen muzh

Blessed man [Blessed is the man]

Op. 51, No. 6

Russian “Greek” Chant

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

8

Te040

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Te021

Svete tikhii

Gladsome Light

S. Op. 6

Evening Hymn

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

PJu #37382 n.d.

First printed edition

3

Te021