The Konevets Quartet

The Konevets Quartet was founded by graduates and students of the St. Petersburg Music Conservatoire in July 1992. The Quartet takes its name from the Konevets Island and Monastery, some 160 kilometers northeast of St. Petersburg, on Lake Ladoga. It was there, over 600 years ago, that St. Arseny Konevsky founded a cloister in the honour of the birth of Mary, Mother of God. During Soviet years the island was occupied by the USSR military and was removed from all maps. The fabric of the Monastery was almost completely destroyed, but now it is being reborn. During the early years of the Konevets Quartet's association with the Monastery, they sang mainly for those working on the restoration, as well as for pilgrims, tourists and "drop-outs" who sought shelter in the restored buildings. Also, the Quartet frequently sang in church services on Sundays and Feast Days. Members of the Quartet studied at St. Petersburg's oldest musical conservatoire, the Municipal Choir School.

Having been schooled in the great Russian traditions, the Quartet's aim was to become a chamber choir with a common harmonic sound, rather than soloists. Their repertoire was therefore created especially for this purpose, and remains such to this day. The major part of the repertoire is of Russian sacred music, ranging from chants and hymns by twentieth century composers such as Chesnokov, Grechaninov, Stravinsky to ancient chants and hymns in original one, two and three-part arrangements, and sometimes re-harmonized by the Quartet. The second part of the repertoire is devoted to Russian folk songs based on ballads, dances and regimental songs and marches of the Tsarist armies, and from the old military academies, forbidden during Communist times. Some of these songs have been rearranged by the Quartet in order to suit their concert style. The third portion of the repertoire comprises choir music by Russian composers, with lyrics by Russian poets such as Pushkin and Lermontov, and with music by Tchaikovsky, Borodin, Taneyev and other famous Russian composers.

The Quartet has also included some songs which are unknown even in Russia. With help from friends in Russia and others in Europe and USA, the Quartet constantly searches for new material from the past. This is a way of expanding the audiences' knowledge of Russian choir music. The Quartet has toured extensively across Europe and the USA to wide acclaim, and has appeared at many prestigious European festivals. While touring is the Quartet's main source of income, they often donate some of their revenue to charities. To date they have raised funds for restoration work on the Konevets Monastery, and for its daughter church in the heart of St. Petersburg.

Discography

Russian Folk Songs

In the Dark Forest Oh the Field Steppe all around Prince Oleg I Walk the Lonely Road We are Factory Lads Garden Gate Nighingale Twelve Robbers Seven Sons-In-Law Black Raven Night Was Dark Evening Bells Wicker-Shoes Hey, Ookhnem Through Vague and Obscure Taiga Road Brooms Troyka Bell Young Maid Was Walking in the Grove Barynia

The Konevets Quartet was founded by graduates and students of the St. Petersburg Music Conservatoire in July 1992. The Quartet takes its name from the Konevets Island and Monastery, some 160 kilometers northeast of St. Petersburg, on Lake Ladoga. It was there, over 600 years ago, that St. Arseny Konevsky founded a cloister in the honour of the birth of Mary, Mother of God. The repertoire on this, their sixth recording is comprised of Russian folk songs based on ballads, dances and regimental songs and marches of the Tsarist armies, and from the old military academies, forbidden during Communist times. If you have ever been moved by the glorious, robust singing of the Russian peoples, this is a chance to experience the same music polished to perfection by a concert trained quartet. Wonderful!

6526 CD $15.98

We Hymn Thee

Blagovest O come let us worship (Rahmaninov) O Gentle Light (Nikolskij) Thy Mystical Supper (Chesnokov) Only-Begotten Son (Tcherepnin) The Cherubic Hymn (Kedrov) We Hymn Thee, We Bless Thee (Chesnokov) My Soul Doth Magnify The Lord (Kedrov) Now The Powers of Heaven (Sheremetjev) O Thou Mother of God (Chesnokov) I Will Call Out My Petition Unto The Lord (Smolensky) O Gentle Light (Kastalskij) Open Me the gate of repentence (Chesnokov) Only-Begotten Son (Golovanov) Christ is Risen (Kastalsky) Ease our Pain (Archangelsky) Troparion For the Baptism of Russia (Trubachev) Why Hast Thou Cast Me Away From Thy Face (Chesnokov) It is Truly Meet (Golovanov) Hymn to the icon of the Mother of God (Chesnokov) The Beatitude (Hristov) Having Fallen Aslee[ in The Flesh (Ionafan) Christmas Exapostilarion (Trubatchev) The Cherubic Hymn (Chesnokov) We Hymn Thee, We Bless Thee (Chaikovsky) The Mystical Supper (Lvov) O Gentle Light (Kedrov) Let Your Soul Rejoice in the Lord (Trubachev)

Recorded at the monastery of Konovets, this CD is a compilation of some of the best Russian sacred music of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. As the first recording of spiritual music in the history of the monastery, this CD allows the listener to enjoy the unique acoustics of the church. The album begins and ends with the ringing of the church bells. There is some glorious singing from this wonderful quartet. They begin with the well known "O come let us worship" from Rachmaninov's Vespers. The remainder of the recording is comprised of pieces by less well known composers, but includes many works by Chesnokov. The Konovets Quartet presents a fascinating program.

7323 CD $15.98

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