Composer

:

Alexandr Dmitriyevich Kastalsky

Genre

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

2:14

As Many Have Been Baptized, Znamenny chant for chorus, Op. 18c is a sacred choral work composed by Alexandr Dmitriyevich Kastalsky. The piece was composed in 1910 and premiered in Moscow in the same year. The work is divided into three movements, each of which is based on a different section of the Orthodox liturgy. The first movement is based on the Great Litany, the second on the Cherubic Hymn, and the third on the Creed. Kastalsky's use of the Znamenny chant, a traditional Russian Orthodox chant, is a defining characteristic of the work. The chant is used throughout the piece, both in its original form and in modified versions. The use of the chant gives the work a distinctly Russian Orthodox character and connects it to the long tradition of Orthodox liturgical music. The first movement begins with a solemn and meditative section, with the choir singing the Great Litany in a slow and deliberate manner. The second movement is more lively and joyful, with the choir singing the Cherubic Hymn in a fast and energetic tempo. The third movement is more complex, with the choir singing the Creed in a series of overlapping and interweaving voices. Overall, As Many Have Been Baptized is a powerful and moving work that showcases Kastalsky's skill as a composer of sacred choral music. Its use of traditional Orthodox chant and its connection to the liturgy make it a significant work in the history of Russian Orthodox music.

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