Date: Wed, 29 Apr 1998 15:40:25 -0400
From: mbanner(a)zelacom.com
Subject: Final Chorus from Borodin's Prince Igor

The other day I posted a message about the moving final chorus at the end
of the Kirov Opera's performance of Borodin's Prince Igor at the
Metropolitan Opera this past Saturday. Following is a reprint of the reply
I got From Vlad Morosan at Musica Russica. I also had a phone conversation
with him this morning about this chorus, and he was very willing to work
with anyone who was interested in performing this wonderful chorus.

Martin

***************************

I believe you are referring to the so-called "Song of the
settlers"--"Oh, ne buyniy veter zavival"--rendered by Borodin in the
manner of a Russian lyric folk song. It has long been famous in Russia
as a hallmark of the Russian national style in Russian opera, but in the
West it has been overshadowed by the fireworks of the Polovetsian
Dances. You are right in saying that "It's gorgeous in its
simplicity"--like much Russian (and other) folk art.

I am looking at a Russian score before me, which we would be able to
phoneticize for you, if you were interested in multiple copies for a
performance. For details, you may call us at 1-800-326-3132.

Sincerely,

Vlad Morosan
*****************************

Martin Banner
Colonial Hill Apartments A-51
Monticello, New York 12701
e-mail: mbanner(a)zelacom.com
fax: 914-794-8613

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Date: Mon, 6 Oct 1997 10:56:29 -0400
From: "Betsy Burleigh"
Subject: Compilation: Salvation is Created

Thanks so much for all your responses regarding Chesnokov's (Tschesnokoff's)
setting of Salvation is Created. An abreviated comilation follows.

The original query:
> I have recently asked to conduct Tschesnokoff's Salvation is Created as part
> of an interfaith service. I am curious about the translation (we are singing
> in English). Is it accurate? And if it is, I'm curious about how and where
> the piece fits in the liturgy.
>
> The translation (by N. Lindsay Norden) is:
> Salvation is created in midst of the earth, O God, O our God. Alleluia.


All responses pointed to Musica Russica as the source for the best edition.

****

From: Dan Ogle
My choir, Nordic Choir of Luther College, took that song with us on
tour to Russia.... we had the head of the Russian Dept. assist us with the
pronounciation and understanding of everything we did in Russian, and as I
recall it was a pretty true translation. It might not be exactly the same
order of parts of speech, but that rarely translates correctly as all languages
are a little bit different....

****

From: Ruth Becker RuthSB(a)aol.com
I have assumed since Oberlin days and Robert Fountain's interpretation of
this spectacular anthem, that the translation is correct....
I have used the octavo seasonally at Christmas and Easter.... It certainly
affirms the Christian belief that Christ was the salvation in midst of the earth
- so a response to the Nicean or Aposles creed would seem appropriate - or
simply a statement in response to the Christian affirmation of Christ centered
worship.

****

From: Vlad Morosan http://www.musicarussica.com
In the Russian Orthodox liturgy, "Salvation is created" is the proper
Communion Verse appointed for a Divine Liturgy (Eucharist Service)
celebrated on Fridays, the day when, according to the "weekly cycle" of
the Orthodox calendar, the Church commemorates the Lord's Crucifixion
and Death on the Cross. The text is a slight paraphrase of Ps. 74, v.
12, the entire psalm, because of its content, being appropriate to the
event. In earlier days, the entire psalm would be recited verse by verse
by a chanter while the choir and the people would repeat the Communion
Verse as the refrain. Chesnokov's setting obviously reflects a different
tradition, with the single psalm verse given an extended musical
setting. During this time the priests partake of Holy Communion in the
altar area, while the lay people prayerfully prepare to do the same.
The literal translation reads:
"Salvation [Thou hast] created in the midst of the earth, O God.
Alleluia."
If you would like to consult our edition, based on the original Russian
first edition, you may obtain it by calling us at 1-800-326-3132.

****

From: "Jason M. Gottshall"

I'm currently working on this piece with my choir here at IU. We're using
the Musica Russica edition (which I highly recommend if you ever sing
anything in Russian/Church Slovanic). Here is a condensed version of the
notes from this edition:

Pavel Grigoryevich Chesnokov (12 Oct 1877 - 14 Mar 1944)

Salvation is Created is one in a cycle of ten Communion Hymns, Op. 25,
composed during Chesnokov's tenure as precentor at the Church of the Holy
Trinity "at the Mud Baths" in Moscow [around the turn of the century].
The choir was known to have comprised (in 1904) 42 singers - 10 Sopranos
(female), 7 altos (also female), 12 tenors, and 13 basses.

The text (transliterated) is as follows:

Spaseniye sodyelal yesi posredye zemli, Bozhe. Alliluiya.

The translation you gave above is accurate. It is a Communion Hymn for
Fridays (based on Psalm 74:12), prescribed to be sung during a Divine
Liturgy served on that day. In practice, however, it was probably sung as
a "sacred concerto" at Sunday Divine Liturgies, after the proper Communion
Hymn of Sunday.

The Kievan Chant cantus firmus is taken from the "Obihod notnago peniya",
the square-note unison codex that contained the major elements of the
Russian Orthodox liturgical repertoire. The melody is in the 1st tenor
in the 1st phrase and is then repeated by the soprano. The second phrase
melody is in the bass, simply the 1st phrase repeated up a 5th. Then the
3rd phrase is in the bass until the pedal tone, at which point the melody
returns to the top voice.





Betsy Burleigh
Coordinator, Choral & Vocal Music
Cleveland State University
Euclid Ave. at E. 24th St.
Cleveland, OH 44115
phone: (216) 687-3998
fax: (216) 687-9279

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Date: Tue, 5 Jul 1994 10:12:02 -0600
From: DFILE(a)RALPH.med.unc.edu
Subject: Re: Russian choral music in Russian

Thanks to all those who responded to my query about editions of Russian
choral music that contain Russian texts in transliterated (English alphabetic)
versions.

The most recommended source for such editions was Musica Russica:

Musica Russica
27 Willow Lane, Dept. M
Madison CT 06443
(800) 326 3132
(203) 421 3132 [fax]

Musica Russica is undertaking an ongoing effort to publish (and republish)
many Russian works in critical editions.

A couple of people also recommended "earthsongs" publishing in Corvallis, OR.
(Ron Jeffers Co.) [No further information about this publisher was given.]

One person also suggested contacting Andrea Goodman, conductor of the
Russian Emigre Choir in New York City:

Andrea Goodman
145 4th Ave., #17-E
New York NY 10003
(212) 254 1717


--Dean File
Chapel Hill NC
dfiled(a)med.unc.edu

---

Thank you to everyone who sent suggestions regarding Russian pieces to
include in our tour repertoire. Below is a summary of suggestions:

Rachmaninoff's "Bogoroditse Devo" (6 sugg.'s)
"Kalinka" - Prokorov (4 sugg.'s)
Ippolitov-Ivanov's "Se ninye blagoslovitye Ghospoda" (3 sugg.'s)
Bortniansky's "Cherubic Hymn" (2 sugg.'s)
Kedrov's "Otche nash" (2 sugg.'s)
John Biggs' "Two Russian Folk Songs" (2 sugg.'s)
"Hospodi Pomiliu"
"Oy Polna Polna Korobushka"
Tchaikovsky's "Nochevala tuchka"
Prokhorov's "The Birch Tree"
Rachmaninoff's "Tebye Poyem" (We Praise Thee)
Rimsky-Korsakoff's "Tebye Poyem" No. 2 & 4
Rimsky Korsakoff's "Hvalite Ghospoda s nebes" no. 2
"Ivushka" by an English composer, Paul Reade
"Veniki"
"Mnogia leta"
"Porushka"
"Okh ty Porushka-Paranya"
"Pchola Zolotaya"
"Ne imami iniya pomoshchi" by Chesnokov
Bortnjanskij's "Voznesu Tja Boze moj, carju moj"

Of course (as I was aware) the best source of Russian literature is
Musica Russica at: www.musicarussica.com

Thank you again!

Brent


D. Brent Ballweg, D.M.A.
Professor of Music
Southern Nazarene University
6729 NW 39th Expressway
Bethany, OK 73008
405-717-6245
bballweg(a)snu.edu
http://home.snu.edu/~bballweg.fs/