Name Alexander Alexandrov | Role Composer | |
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Children Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov Music group Alexandrov Ensemble (1928 – 1946) Similar People Vasily Lebedev‑Kumach, Boris Alexandrovich Alexandrov, Sergey Mikhalkov, Dmitry Pokrass | ||
The alexandrov choir in a rage
Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov (Russian: aleksandr Vasil'evich aleksandrov, Aleksandr Vasilevich Aleksandrov) (13 April [O.S. 1 April] 1883 – 8 July 1946) was a Russian Soviet composer, the founder of the Alexandrov Ensemble, who wrote the music for the national anthem of the Soviet Union, which, in 2000, became the anthem of Russia (with new lyrics). During his career, he also worked as a professor of the Moscow State Conservatory, and became a Doctor of Arts. His work was recognized by the awards of the title of People's Artist of the USSR and the Stalin Prize.
Contents
The Red Army Choir - Troika (Conductor Boris Alexandrov)
History
Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, known as Sacha, was born on 13 April in Plakhino, a village south-east of Moscow. As a boy his singing was so impressive that he travelled to Saint Petersburg to become a chorister in Kazan Cathedral. A pupil of Medtner, he studied composition at Saint Petersburg and in Moscow, where he eventually became professor of music in 1918.
Alexandrov founded the Alexandrov Ensemble, and spent many years as its director, in which role he first gained favor with Joseph Stalin, the country's ruler during the last two decades of Alexandrov's life. His choir participated successfully in the Universal Exposition of 1937 in Paris, and in 1942, Stalin commissioned him and lyrist Sergey Mikhalkov to create a new Soviet national anthem, which was officially adopted on 1 January 1944. It was very popular, and was used by the Soviet Union until the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. It later became the National Anthem of Russia in December 2000, with Mikhalkov writing the new lyrics.
He also composed the famous song The Sacred War, and the official march of the Soviet and now Russian Armed Forces, the Song of the Soviet Army.
He died on 8 July 1946, while on tour in Berlin; some records say he was returning from Germany.
Songs
Kalinka
National Anthem of the USSR
Korobeiniki
Glory Hallelujah
Katyusha
Plaine - Ma Plaine
Song of the Volga Boatmen
Varchavianka
Gosudarstvennii gimn Sovetskogo Soyuza
Ne retiens pas tes larmes
Moscow Nights
Suliko
Farewell of Slavianka
The Cliff
The Sacred War
Stenka Razin
Smuglianka
Variague
Volga Boatmen
The Red Army Is the Strongest
The Cossacks
Vecernij Zvon
Vasya-Vasilyok
Les Yeux Noirs
Solntse skrilos' za goroyu
Partisan Song
My Army
Russian National Anthem
Tipperary
Konarmeiskaya
Un bouleau s'elevait dans un champs
Dark Eyes