Les Vocalistes Romands, Renaud Bouvier - Kalinnikov - Schnittke - Tchaikovsky - Rachmaninoff (2023) [Official Digital Download]

Trained at the Musical Dramatic Institute of the Moscow Philharmonic School, Viktor Sergeyevich Kalinnikov (1870-1927) was active as a conductor of choirs and orchestras in various Moscow schools and musical theaters, as well as a professor at the Conservatory from 1922 until his death. He was the brother of the symphonist Vasily Kalinnikov (1866-1901). Viktor Kalinnikov belongs to that group of Russian composers (along with Chesnokov, Golovanov, Kastalski, Nikolski and Shvedov, among others) who, at the turn of the two centuries, dedicated themselves mainly to the sacred choral repertoire, considerably enriching the musical corpus of Orthodox liturgies.

During the first two decades of the 20th century, their activity was centered on the Moscow Synodal School and its famous men’s and boys’ choir, before the revolutionary authorities banned all music and religious events.

Kalinnikov’s health was fragile and he left a very small body of work: only 24 short sacred pieces. However, their rich vocal writing, at the service of the sacred liturgical text, their spiritual depth, their melodic invention (which does not take up the traditional melodies of the liturgy), their very elaborate harmony, always rich, sometimes even unexpected, attentive to creating the right climate for the expression of the text, make his works of great quality.

Unlike the great cycles of sacred music by Tchaikovsky, Gretchaninov or Rachmaninov, which were written in one piece, the pieces that make up Kalinnikov’s “Vespers” were written in isolation, between the years 1914 and 1918, the years of the War and the Revolution. They are grouped in a collection in the traditional order of their appearance in the service. Had his health, the political situation, and the place of church music taken a different course, no doubt Kalinnikov would have completed the work with the still missing hymns: the Great Doxology and the Взбранной воеводе (O Victorious Queen).

Tracklist:
01. Vespers: I. Bless the Lord, O My Soul
02. Vespers: II. Blessed Is the Man
03. Vespers: III. Gladsome Light
04. Vespers: IV. Lord, Now Lettest Thou
05. Vespers: V. Rejoice, O Virgin
06. Vespers: VI. Praise the Name of the Lord
07. Vespers: VII. From My Youth
08. Vespers: VIII. Having Beheld the Resurrection of Christ
09. Vespers: IX. My Soul Magnifies the Lord
10. Three Sacred Hymns: I. Hail Mary, Full of Grace
11. Three Sacred Hymns: II. Lord Jesus
12. Three Sacred Hymns: III. Our Father
13. Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 41: VI. Cherubic Hymn
14. Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, Op. 31: VIII. Cherubic Hymn
15. Cherubic Hymn No. 2


Thanks to the Original customer!