Choral Cappella "YAROSLAVIA"

"Fraternal Commemoration" by Alexander Kastalsky is one of the unique works.
Written during the First World War, it is the only musical monument in history dedicated to its victims. In an effort to Fraternal commemoration - "Russian Requiem" became a world heritage, Alexander Kastalsky used in a religious chants of the countries of the anti-German coalition and brilliantly carried out the task, according to the academician B.V.Asafiev "mutual threading elements elements of Requiem Requiem".

Alexander Kastalsky created "Fraternal Commemoration" at the peak of his creative biography.
"Fraternal Commemoration" is the largest work in the creative heritage of Alexander Kastalsky. The idea of creating a composition dedicated to the victims of the First World War arose in its first months. A rough ten-page version of the work, which included Orthodox and Catholic church chants, was ready by January 1915. In the summer of the same year, Kastalsky wrote two more parts, in which he used the hymns of the Anglican Church.

By the end of 1915, the score of the first edition of the work, in the form of a Catholic requiem and set out for choir, soloists and organ, was completed.
The premiere was to take place in St.Petersburg at a reception in honor of representatives of the allied powers.
However, for unknown reasons, the concert did not take place. The manuscript of the first edition was not published and served as the basis for subsequent editions.

The second edition of the "Fraternal Commemoration" for choir, soloists and orchestra, published in 1916, already went far beyond the church genre.
The composition was conceived by the composer as a kind of civil memorial action at mass graves. In addition to instrumenting the composition, Kastalsky wrote two orchestral interludes, dedicating them to the Indian and Japanese allies, and also replaced the Church Slavonic texts of the entire composition with a translation into Russian.
In 1917, three more parts were written, which paid tribute to the Romanian, Greek, Portuguese and American allies.
The composition, supplemented by more and more new parts, turned into a kind of musical chronicle of the First World War.

Kastalsky, however, did not give up the idea of adapting the work for the Orthodox Church: in 1916, he performed the third edition of the "Fraternal Commemoration" for the choir a cappella in Church Slavonic, arranging the parts in the order of the Orthodox funeral service. The song was titled "Eternal memory to the heroes". Selected hymns of the memorial service".

"Fraternal Commemoration" by A.Kastalsky is a rare monument of Russian musical art Nouveau: stylish, refined, inventive, which is perceived as a mystery performance with many actors. A kaleidoscope of characteristic themes, borrowed from the church music of the three Christian denominations, creates a sense of cinematography.

Created in connection with the First World War, the composition has not become a part of history and has not lost its relevance in our time. The remarkable skill of A. Kastalsky, who sings the idea of eternal life, is the key to the eternal life of the "Fraternal Commemoration" itself as an outstanding monument of Russian musical art.

The organ version of the work was performed during the celebration of the 150th anniversary of the composer's birth in 2006: initially in Glasgow, performed by the Strathclyde University Chamber Choir conducted by Alan Tavener, and later in Yaroslavl, performed by a combined choir consisting of the cappella "Yaroslaviya" and the Moscow male Chamber Choir "Kastalsky" under the baton of A.Rudnevsky. Organ part - People's Artist of Russia Lyubov Shishhanova.

We offer you fragments of the recording of the concert that took place on December 17, 2006 in the hall of the Yaroslavl Philharmonic on the day of the 80th anniversary of the composer's death.