Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library
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Gretchaninoff, Alexander
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.
117 results found
Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda
Bless the Lord, O my soul
Op. 23, No. 1
Introductory Psalm
Ps. 103 [104]:1,6,10,19-20,22-23,33
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
PJu #26532 1901
First printed edition
8
Gr020
-
MR Gr020
-
Quobuz-Gr020
Blessed are they whom Thou hast chosen
Op. 44, No. 2
Bulgarian Chant motifs
Communion hymn for the departed
Ps. 64[65]:5; 101[102]:13
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Tenor solo
PJu #32783 [1908]
First printed edition
7
Gr043
-
MR Gr043
-
Quobuz-Gr043
Op. 136, No. 1
Sacred concerto
Ps. 1
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
Oliver Ditson Co., #14,812 1935
First printed edition
authorized edition with English text
8
Gr097
[Op. 94, No. 2]
Cherubic Hymn (if original text is used)
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
Raymond A. Hoffman Co., #45-6 1930
First printed edition
authorized edition with English text; freely translated, edited and arranged by Noble Cain
6
Gr089
[Op. 94, No. 5]
Eucharistic Canon (if original text is used)
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
Raymond A. Hoffman Co., #49-7 1930
First printed edition
authorized edition with English text; freely translated, edited and arranged by Noble Cain
7
Gr092
It Is Truly Meet
Op. 80, No. 1
Common Chant T.8
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
M. Gutheil, 1918
Not found
Gr086
-
Reference Recordings FR-737
-
Quobuz-Gr086
[Op. 94, No. 1]
[Kievan Chant]
Trisagion Hymn (if original text is used)
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and SSA Trio
Raymond A. Hoffman Co., #44-3 1930
First printed edition
authorized edition with English text; freely translated, edited and arranged by Noble Cain
3
Gr088
[Op. 94, No. 3]
Hymn to the Mother of God (if original text is used)
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
Raymond A. Hoffman Co., #46-4 1930
First printed edition
authorized edition with English text; freely translated, edited and arranged by Noble Cain
4
Gr090
Praise the name of the Lord
Op. 34, No. 2
Polyeleios
Ps. 134[135]:1,21; Ps. 135[136]:1,26
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Soprano and Alto soli
PJu #29473 1904
First printed edition
7
Gr041
-
MR Gr041
-
Quobuz-Gr041
Op. 79
2nd version, piano-vocal score: Breitkopf & Härtel #A. 10394 G. 1927
First printed edition
2nd version: (13 Nos. for SATB chorus, Tenor and Bass soli, and orchestra)
78
Gr070-085
2
No. 2 - Antifony (Antiphons) Blagoslovi, dushe moia, Gospoda
Bless the Lord, O my soul
Op. 79, No. 2
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
4
Gr071
3
No. 2a - Khvali, dushe moia, Gospoda
Praise the Lord, O my soul
[Op. 79, No. 2a]
Second Antiphon
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
3
Gr072
4
No. 3 - Slava... Edinorodnyi Syne
Glory... Only-begotten Son
Op. 79, No. 3
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
4
Gr073
6
No. 5 - Posle chteniia Apostola
After the Epistle reading
Op. 79, No. 5
S(div)AT(div)B(div)
1
Gr075
7
Augmented Litany
Op. 79, No. 6
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Bass Solo
10
Gr076
-
MR Gr076
8
No. 7 - Zaupokoinaia i drugie ektenii
Litany for the departed and other litanies
Op. 79, No. 7
SA(div)T(div)B(div) and Bass Solo
4
Gr077
9
Cherubic Hymn
Op. 79, No. 8
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Tenor Solo
7
Gr078
10
No. 9 - Posle Kheruvimskoi pesni
After the Cherubic Hymn
Op. 79, No. 9
S(div)AT(div)B(div)
3
Gr079
12
A mercy of peace
Op. 79, No. 11
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Tenor Solo
7
Gr081
13
It is truly meet
Op. 79, No. 12
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Tenor solo
3
Gr082
15
No. 14 - Khvalite Gospoda s nebes
Praise the Lord from the heavens
Op. 79, No. 14
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div) and Tenor Solo
9
Gr084
