Search - Alexander Grechaninov, Valery Polyansky, Ludmila Kuznetsova :: Grechaninov: Symphony No. 1; Snowflakes; Missa Sancti Spiritus

Here's yet another Russian composer that (most of) you don't

Eric S. Kim | Southern California | 10/21/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It's a good thing that I stumbled across Grechaninov through Chandos, because I think I would have never had the chance to hear some wonderful compositions from a generally unknown Russian composer. The music of Alexander Tikhonovich Grechaninov (born 1864, died 1956) is similar to that of Rimsky-Korsakov and Borodin in terms of color and orchestration, with a pure Russian nationalist style. Although he was best known for his choral church music, he created symphonies and operas as well. The three works featured on this CD may very well be the perfect introduction to Grechaninov. Symphony No. 1 has that Borodin feel: it's a lyrical work that can be quite meditative at times. Snowflakes (Songs from the World of Childhood) is a 15-minute choral piece consisting of ten poems that reflect our imagination when we were children. Animals, elves, and snow play a major part in the text. Missa Sancti Spiritus (for Organ and Choir) may sound like it came from the Romantic period when, in fact, it was created in 1943. It's a very tonal work, with many Romantic elements added in. All three compositions are fine examples of Grechaninov's musical intelligence. While he may not be have been creative as Rimsky-Korsakov or Tchaikovsky, he was still able to create some dazzling classical music. This should be an essential disc to own for those who can't get enough of Russian classical music, or just classical music in general."