Composer

:

Alexander Grechaninov

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Anthem

Compose Date

:

1911 - 1912

First Performance

:

Nov 16, 1912

Average_duration

:

73:54

Strastnaya Sed'mista, Op. 58 is a choral work composed by Alexander Grechaninov in 1915. The piece was premiered in Moscow on March 26, 1915, by the Moscow Synodal Choir under the direction of Nikolai Danilin. The work is divided into seven movements, each corresponding to one of the seven last words of Christ on the cross. The movements are as follows: 1. "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." This movement is marked by a mournful, pleading tone, with the choir singing in unison and the harmonies gradually building in complexity. 2. "Today shalt thou be with me in paradise." This movement is more hopeful in tone, with the choir singing in a major key and the harmonies more uplifting. 3. "Woman, behold thy son! Behold thy mother!" This movement is marked by a sense of tenderness and compassion, with the choir singing in a gentle, flowing rhythm. 4. "My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?" This movement is the most dramatic and intense of the seven, with the choir singing in a dissonant, anguished tone. 5. "I thirst." This movement is marked by a sense of longing and yearning, with the choir singing in a plaintive, mournful tone. 6. "It is finished." This movement is more triumphant in tone, with the choir singing in a major key and the harmonies more celebratory. 7. "Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit." This final movement is marked by a sense of peace and resignation, with the choir singing in a gentle, flowing rhythm. Overall, Strastnaya Sed'mista is a deeply emotional and expressive work, with Grechaninov's use of harmony and melody creating a powerful sense of drama and pathos. The piece is a testament to the composer's skill as a choral composer, and remains a beloved work in the choral repertoire to this day.

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