Alexander Nikolsky (1874-1943)
NIKOLSKY, Alexander Vasil’yevich—b. 22 June 1874, village of Vladykino, Penza Region, d. 19 March 1943, Moscow. The son of a priest, sang in church choirs from childhood; 1897-1900, studied at the Moscow Conservatory (composition, conducting); from 1894 until his death was active as a teacher of choral music, music theory, counterpoint, and musical ethnography in a number of educational institutions in Moscow, including the Moscow Synodal School of Church Singing (1915-1923), and the Moscow Conservatory (from 1928). Also active as a musical publicist, author of numerous articles on choral and church music. As a composer, Nikolsky is a representative of the ”New Russian Choral School,” which was centered around the Moscow Synodal School and its Choir in the first two decades of the twentieth century. His works number 78 opuses, containing over 400 individual titles, most of them choral. Among his most important works are the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts, op. 23, Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, op. 31, Major Hymns of the All-Night Vigil, op. 26, Hymns of Passion Week, op. 35, Hymns of Pascha (Easter), op. 37, and the Wedding Service, op. 41. Also prominent are a number of sacred concertos drawn from various psalms. Approximately forty percent of Nikolsky’s sacred choral works are based on chant. His free compositions also make extensive use of chant-like motives. Although he taught counterpoint and fugue (and was a student of the great Russian contrapuntist Sergei Taneyev), Nikolsky’s works tend to favor homorhythmic over contrapuntal writing, often employing colorful harmonic combinations.
Gladsome Light
Male Choir of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery
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The Lord is my illumination
Let Us Pray to the Most Holy Mother of God; works by composers of the Moscow Synodal School
Male Choir of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery
Have mercy upon us
Let Us Pray to the Most Holy Mother of God; works by composers of the Moscow Synodal School
Male Choir of the Moscow Representation Church of the Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery
The Angel Cried (arr. of Russian "Greek" Chant)
Panagia; Orthodox Hymns to the Mother of God
Archangel Voices
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The Lord Is My Light and Salvation
Beautiful Pascha (Paskha Krasnaya)
Choir of Holy Trinity-St. Sergius Monastery and Moscow Sacred Academy and Seminary
Revealing to Thee the Eternal Council
O Fervent Intercessor: Hymns to the Mother of God
Joint Choir of Trinity St. Sergius Monastery and Moscow Sacred Academy and Seminary
Lord is my Light, The
God Is With Us (3 Classic CDs in mp3 format)
Choirs of the Holy Trinity-St Sergius Monastery and Moscow Theological Academy
Paschal Canon
Hymns of the Russian Orthodox Church (2 CD set)
Choir of the Church of "Joy of All Sorrowful" Icon - Moscow