Orthodox Sacred Music Reference Library
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Shvedoff, Constantine
Constantine Nikolayevich Shvedoff (b. 1886, Moscow; d. 1954, USA) was one of the younger members of the New Russian Choral School that formed around the Moscow Synodal School of Church Singing in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. As a graduate of the Synodal School, Shvedoff had observed and experienced first-hand the renaissance of Russian Orthodox church music in a national style, promulgated the famous “triumvirate” of the Synodal School: Stepan Smolensky (1848–1909), the School’s director from 1889 to 1901; Alexander Kastalsky (1856–1926), whose works were the first to embody this style in the most salient fashion; and Vasily Orlov (1856-1907), the director of the Synodal Choir under whole talented leadership many works were premiered. In his own compositions, Shvedov strived to add to the rich creative output of sacred choral works produced by his contemporaries, among whom were Pavel Chesnokov, Alexander Gretchaninoff, Alexander Nikolsky, and Sergei Rachmaninoff. His works range from austere chant harmonizations in two and three parts, in which the folk-song element prevails, to more innovative opuses, such as his sacred concerto “Blago yest ispovedatisia” (It is good to give thanks),which combines fugal writing (a device rarely used by Russian church composers), the rich harmonic style of the Russian choral school, and a touch of chromatic “orientalism” found in the secular works of the Mighty Five. After the 1917 Revolution, Shvedoff obtained a position as choirmaster and condutor at the music studio of the Moscow Art Theater. In the early 1920s, during a tour to Europe and the United States, he decided not to return to the Soviet Union. After 1925, he lived in the US, where he directed a church choir and continued to write choral works, including a number of arrangements for the famous Don Cossack Choir, directed by fellow Synodal School alumnus, Serge Jaroff.
33 results found
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S. Op.8
Sacred concerto
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
PJu #34317 n.d.
First printed edition
5
Sh008
-
MR Sh008
-
Quobuz-Sh008
Our Father
S. Op.6
The Lord's Prayer
Otche nash
SATB(div)
PJu #34315 n.d.
First printed edition
3
Sh006
-
Quobuz-Sh006
The Wise Thief
N. O. N.
Exaposteilarion of Great and Holy Friday
SATB
P. Ju. #36674
First printed edition
5
Sh016-016a
1
The Wise Thief
N.O.N.
Exaposteilarion of Great and Holy Friday
SATB
3
Sh016
-
Quobuz-Sh016
2
The Wise Thief
N. O. N.
Exaposteilarion of Great and Holy Friday
SSA or TTB soli
2
Sh016a
Glory... Only-begotten Son
S. Op.10
Troparion after the Second Antiphon
S(div)AT(div)B
PJu #34319 n.d.
First printed edition
6
Sh010
-
Quobuz-Sh010
Gladsome Light
S. Op.12
Evening Hymn
S(div)A(div)T(div)B(div)
PJu #35391 n.d.
First printed edition
6
Sh012
-
Quobuz-Sh012
-
Quobuz-Sh005
Trisagion Hymn
S. Op.15
Sviatyi Bozhe
S(div)AT(div)B(div)
PJu #35394 n.d.
First printed edition
6
Sh015
-
MR Sh015
-
Quobuz- Sh015
We have seen the true light
N. O. N.
SAT(div)B(div)
P. Ju. #38293
First printed edition
Defective original
2
Sh030
-
Quobuz-Sh030