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 Festival

Many Years to the Tsar How the Fog Settled The Cruiser Varyag In the Dark Forest The Young Girl Walked in the Furrows The Nightingale Carol of the Bells The Endless Russian Steppes The Night is Silent Over Palestine Ballad of Prince Oleg It's Good, Brothers, to be Alive On the Grassy Meadowlands Through the Endless Pain Snowstorm Oh, Broad Steppe Rise, O Red Sun Back in the Year '93 Through the Unknown Taiga Tula, My Home Evening Bells

A photo of Alexander, Sergey, Igor and Boris, the four very manly-looking Russian men, dressed in matching black, shiny Russian dress shirts, who form the Konevets quartet graces the back page of the liner notes for "Russian Festival 2008." On the cover is an illustration of a beautiful Russian snow princess. Inside is the two page songlist, with brief descriptions of what the songs are about, for instance, "Through the endless plain:" A young recruit, far away from home and his beloved, sings of his hard fate. Soldiers in the Tsar's army served for 25 years. Some other favorites are the Russian Naval hymn from 1905, "The Cruiser Varyag," "The young girl walked in the furrows," the Christmas tunes "Carol of the Bells" and "The night is silent over Palestine;" "Ballad of Prince Oleg," the cossack's song "It's good, brothers, to be alive!," "Snowstorm," the brigands' campfire song "Rise o red sun," "Through the unknown Taiga," the comic song "Tula, my home" and the folk song "Evening bells." Wonderful deep-voiced harmonies and deeply-felt emotions from this powerful, veteran Russian quartet!

To The Glory of God

Kirkonkellojen soitto. Soittajana Munkki Viktor Kirkastusjuhlan litaniastikiira, valmolainen savelma Isa meidan - Kedrov Viisaan ryovarin - Burmagin Oi Kuningas ja Herra, Anamennihi-savelma, Glazunovin sovitus Nouse, Jumala, Tuomistse Maa, 17. vuosisadan bulgarialainen savelma no. 6, sovittanut Ekaterina Smirnova Iloiste, Jumalan Aiti, gruusialainen savelma Enkeli huusi, valamolainen savelma, Balakirevin sovitus Esirukouksissaan vasymatonta Jumalansynnyttajaa - Golovanov Kiita, sieluni, Herraa (vigilian veisu), kreikkalainen savelma, Kedrovin sovitus Totisesti on kohtuullista, tsaari Geodorin savellys Kiittakaa Herran nimea, Glinskin luostarin savelma Synninkatumuksen ovet avaa minulle, oi, Elamanantaja, Lvovin Neitsyt Marian kuolinuneen nukkumisen luostarin savelma, pappismunkki Ionafanin sovitus Autuas se, jonka Sina valitset ja otat tykosi, oi Herra - Lvovskij Kontakki pyhalle Nikolaokselle - Golovanov Nyt taivasten voimat, valamolainen savelma, Dmitrievin sovitus Kunnia olkoon Jumalalle korkeuksissa, Joulun stikiira, Anammennij-savelma Sinulle veisaamme - Golovanov Pyha Jumala, Valamolainen savelma, Dmitrievin sovitus Nouskoon minun rukoukseni, kreikkalainen savelma, Nilovin eramaaluostarin savelma Viisaan ryovarin - Tanejev YlistakaaHerraa taivaista - Tshesnokov Teofanian (Kristuksen kasteen) juhlan ylistysveisu, serbianlainen savelma, Ruzanovin sovitus Katso, kiittakaa Herraa - Ippolitov - Ivanov Sieluni, sieluni, nouse, miksi nukut - Egorov Ave Verum - Mozart Valamo, saari ihmehinen

For some years now, the all-male Konevets Quartet has given summer concerts at the New Valamo monastery of Heinavesi. This is a live recording of 27 songs, sung in the wonderful acoustics of the monastery. Favorites include "The Sicheron of the the Litiia for the Transfiguration of Christ," the soaring "Our Father," the plaintive "The Good Thief," "Hail Mary, Mother of God," "The Angel Cried unto Thee," the chant "The Gates of Repentence," "Now the Powers of Heaven," "We Hymn Thee," "Praise the Lord from the Heavens," "O my Soul" and "Valaam, the Wondrous Island." These are all powerful, all a cappella, richly harmonic, deeply-felt songs, sung by this veteran Russian folk quartet. Settle back and enjoy!

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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