Alexei Lvov

In this name that followsEastern Slavic naming customs,thepatronymicisFyodorovichand thefamily nameisLvov.

Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov(Russian:Алексей Фёдорович Львов) (5 June [O.S.25 May] 1798 – 28 December [O.S.16 December] 1870) was a Russian composer. He is known for his work — the composition of the ImperialRussian National AnthemBozhe, tsarya khrani(also known asGod Save the Tsar). He wrote the operaUndinein 1846. He was entombed in thePažaislis Monastery,Kaunas(Lithuania).

Alexei Fyodorovich Lvov
Portrait byAlexei Tyranov
Born	(1798-06-05)5 June 1798 Reval, Russian Empire (nowTallinn, Estonia)
Died	28 December 1870(1870-12-28)(aged 72) Romainiai,Kovno Governorate,Russian Empire(now part ofKaunas, Lithuania)
Occupation(s)	Army Officer; Violinist, Composer and Conductor

Biography

Lvov was born into a family which was keenly interested in music. He was the son of Feodor Petrovich Lvov, who wasMaestroof the Imperial Chapel inSt Petersburgfrom 1826 to 1836 (having succeededBortnianskij). Lvov codified the traditional Russian liturgical musical style called "Obikhod," which is the standard repertory of most Russian Orthodox churches in the world. It is a simple style. These melodies were later edited and improved by Bakhmetev.

Alexei Fyodorovich began violin lessons at a very young age and performed regularly in concerts given at his home: for instance, at 9 he was the soloist in a performance of a violin concerto byViotti.Although he had a number of teachers in his youth, from the age of 19 onwards he began to study independently, seeking to develop his own personal style through careful attention to the works of such celebrated violinists asCorelli,Tartini,Viotti,KreutzerandRode.He nevertheless continued to study composition formally under the supervision of I. G. Miller (who was also one of the teachers ofGlinka).

Outside the world of music, his general education had a technical emphasis. In 1818, he completed his studies at the Institute of Communications, and embarked on a career as a civil engineer in the Imperial Army, eventually attaining the rank of general. In 1828, he was appointedAide-de-campto TsarNicholas I.

Lvov formed a string quartet in St Petersburg, and organised weekly concerts at his private residence, which were attended by members of high society. At these concerts it was quite usual for there to be guest performances by distinguished musicians who were visiting the Russian capital; among these wereLiszt,RobertandClara Schumann,andBerlioz.His quartet undertook a number of tours in Europe, where Lvov was able to perform to public audiences (in his home country he was able to play only to private audiences owing to his elevated social rank). He also countedMendelssohn,MeyerbeerandSpontiniamongst his personal friends.

In 1837, Lvov succeeded his father as Maestro of the Imperial Chapel, remaining in the position until 1861. In 1850, he founded the Russian Concert Society (Русское концертное общество), which was among the pioneers of symphonic concerts in Russia. In 1867, with the onset of deafness, he was obliged to withdraw from musical activity.

As a composer, Lvov's style was eclectic. He combined the traditions of Russian musical culture with strong Italian and (especially) German influences.

Lvov was married, and had a son and two daughters.

Musical Compositions

Lvov's musical output includes the following:

• theFormer Regional Anthem of Pennsylvania«Hail, Pennsylvania!»
• theRussian Imperial Anthem«Боже, Царя храни»
• Religious works, e.g. «Иже херувимы» and «Вечери Твоея тайныя» ( "Of Thy Mystical Supper" )
• Bianca and Gualtiero(«Бианка и Гвальтьеро»), (opera), 1844
• Undina(«Ундина») (opera), 1847. The libretto, byVladimir Alexandrovich Sollogub,was based onVasily Zhukovsky's translation ofFriedrich de la Motte Fouqué'sOndine.(The same libretto was later used byTchaikovsky.) Lvov'sUndinawas performed in St Petersburg in 1848.
• the operettas «Русский мужичок» andBarbara(«Варвара»).
• Concerto for Violin and Orchestra
• revised version ofPergolesi'sStabat Mater,for soloists, chorus and orchestra
• 24 Caprices for Violin (24 каприса)
• Dramatic Fantasy for violin and cello (an idea which was given to him by Meyerbeer). (Драматическая фантазия для скрипки и виолончели)

Other publications

These include:

• A Free and Asymmetric Rhythm(«О свободном и несимметричном ритме») (this is a work which examines and discusses Old Slavonic religious chants) (1858)
• A Beginner's Guide to the Violin, with 24 musical examples(«Советы начинающему играть на скрипке с 24 музыкальными примерами») (in collaboration with V. Odoevskij) (circa 1859/1860).

Discography

• Russian national anthem- Arthur Pryor's Band (Victor- 62481, 1904)
• Hail, Pennsylvania!- Peerless Quartet (Victor - 17384, 1913)
• Russian Imperial Anthem- Bass and orchestra -Marcel Journet,bass; Walter B. Rogers, conductor (Victor - 74464, 1916)
• Repentance, op. 34- Siberian Singers; Nicholas Vasilieff, choir conductor (Victor - 4574, New York 1939)
• Boge czaria chrani(Russian song) - A. V. Aleksandrov, baritone (Columbia1402, New York 1905)
• Boje Tsaria khrani(National anthem of Russia) - Columbia Military Band (Columbia - A1733, New York 1914)
• Russian national hymn- New York Military Band (Edison- 50186, New York 1914)
• Violin Concerto in A minor-Sergei Stadler,violin;Vladislav Chernushenko,conductor;Leningrad Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra(Melodija,1986)

External links

• Free scores by Alexei Lvovat theInternational Music Score Library Project(IMSLP)