RUSSIAN HYMN

Composer: Aleksēi Federovich L'vov

Alexis Federovich L’vov Estonia 1798-1870. Born at Reval, Estonia, son of the St. Petersburg imperial court chapel director, he learned violin as a child and gave regular concerts in his home at age 9. Studying under a number of teachers until age 19, he then studied independently and developed his own personal style of playing. He entered the Russian army in 1818, became a civil engineer there eventually a General in 1828, when he was appointed Aide-de-camp to Tsar Nicholas I. He married Praskovya Aggeyevna, and they had a son and two daughters. He eventually took over his father’s post after he died in 1837 and stayed at that position for 24 years. He formed a string quartet in St. Petersburg and held weekly concerts at his pri… Go to person page >

Tune Information

Title: RUSSIAN HYMN
Composer: Aleksēi Federovich L'vov (1833)
Meter: 11.10.11.9
Incipit: 56653 11765 64553
Key: D Major
Source: National Air
Copyright: Public Domain

Notes

Alexey Feodorovitch Lvov (b. Reval [now Tallin], Estonia, 1799; d. Romanovo, near Kovno [now Kaunas], Lithuania, 1870) composed RUSSIA in 1833 one night "on the spur of the moment," according to his memoirs, after Czar Nicholas I asked him to compose a truly Russian national anthem (rather than continuing to sing a Russian text to the English melody for "God Save Our Gracious King"!). Lvov's tune was accepted and has been featured as the Russian anthem in various compositions (including Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture). Also used as a hymn tune ever since its 1842 publication in John Pyke Hullah's Part Music, RUSSIA is today often associated with the hymn text "God the Omnipotent!" Given its origin as a national anthem, the tune does have a majestic character and suggests brass instruments for accompaniment. Part singing is glorious! To highlight the change of voice from stanza 1 to stanza 2, have a soloist or choir sing stanza 1, and ask everyone to join in on stanzas 2 and 3–or perhaps have half the congregation sing 1; the other half, 2; and all together sing 3.

Lvov served in the Russian army from 1818 to 1837, advancing to personal adjutant to Czar Nicholas I as a major-general. In 1837 he succeeded his father as director of the imperial court chapel choir in St. Petersburg, a post he retained until 1861. A fine violinist, Lvov played Mendelssohn's violin concerto in Leipzig with the composer conducting in 1840. He toured with his own string quartet until deafness forced his retirement in 1867. Lvov composed much church music for the imperial choir as well as a violin concerto and several operas. He also compiled a collection of church music for the Orthodox church year, but is best known as the composer of the tune for the Russian national anthem.

--Psalter Hymnal Handbook

Timeline

Arrangements

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations

  • Vocal Descants for 101 Noteworthy Hymns
    Composer/Editor Lorna Barker
    Published By: Church Publishing (2010) pp. 21, 37
  • The Creative Use of the Piano in Worship: The Creative Church Musucian Series - Volume 8
    Composer/Editor Hal H. Hopson
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2008) pp. 154-155
  • The Creative Use of the Organ in Worship
    Composer/Editor Hal H. Hopson
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (2000) pp. 129
  • Thirty-Two Free Harmonizations of Familiar Hymns Volume II for Organ
    Composer/Editor Peter Pindar Stearns
    Published By: Harold Flammer, Inc. (1996) pp. 20
  • Music Supplement: The United Methodist Hymnal
    Composer/Editor Gary Alan Smith
    Published By: Abingdon Press (1991) pp. 289
  • Organ Improvisations for Hymn Singing Volume 2
    Composer/Editor Gerre Edward Hancock
    Published By: Hinshaw Music, Inc. (1991) pp. 3
  • Hymn Intonations for Organ: Harmonizations and Intonations for Congregational Singing
    Composer/Editor V. Earle Copes
    Published By: Hope Publishing Company (1990) pp. 32
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 36: General: Pl - R
    Composer/Editors Richard Hillert; Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1985) pp. 41
  • New Shoots From Old Routes: New Harmonizations of 48 Well-known Hymn Tunes
    Composer/Editor Alec Wyton
    Published By: Sacred Music Press (1983) pp. 22
  • Preludes for Fifty-five Well-known Hymn Tunes: Modeled after the Free Organ Accompaniments of T. Tertius Noble
    Composer/Editor Howard D. McKinney
    Published By: J. Fischer & Brothers (1967) pp. 36
  • Free Organ Accompaniments to One Hundred Well-known Hymn Tunes
    Composer/Editor T. Tertius Noble
    Published By: J. Fischer & Brothers (1946) pp. 82
  • Hymn Tunes with Varied Harmonies Book 2: For Pianoforte or Organ
    Composer/Editor Joseph E. Newell
    Published By: Edwin Ashdown, Limited (London) (1920) pp. 10

Harmonizations, Introductions, Descants, Intonations: Trumpet Descant

  • Hymns & Descants for Trumpet
    Composer/Editor William Bay
    Published By: Mel Bay Publications, Inc. (1985) pp. 51

Organ Solo

  • Heaven and Earth: Hymn Interpretations for Organ
    Composer/Editor Alla Borzova
    Published By: The Sacred Music Press (2020) pp. 4
  • The Organist's Library Volume 53
    Composer/Editor Robert J. Powell
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2013) pp. 18
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 75 Number 6 July August 2012: The Service Music Anthology for the Church Organist
    Composer/Editors Gilbert M. Martin; Robert J. Powell
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2012) pp. 18
  • The Organist's Library Volume 44
    Composer/Editor Robert W. Thygerson
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2008) pp. 24
  • The Organ Portfolio Volume 53 Number 5 June 1990: A Bi-Monthly Anthology for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors Dorothy Wells; Thomas Chesterton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1990) pp. 67
  • The Organist's Library Volume 9
    Composer/Editor Thomas Chesterton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1989) pp. 67
  • Marches Service Music Series
    Composer/Editors Geoffrey R. Lorenz; Thomas Chesterton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1988) pp. 27
  • The Concordia Hymn Prelude Series Volume 36: General: Pl - R
    Composer/Editors Richard Hillert; Wilbur C. Held
    Published By: Concordia Publishing House (1985) pp. 40
  • Postludes Postludes Postludes: for Organ
    Composer/Editor Dorothy Wells
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1984) pp. 3
  • The Amateur Organist No. 91: a Collection of Organ Voluntaries for Church Use
    Composer/Editor Thomas Chesterton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1983) pp. 21
  • The Organist Volume 87 Number 2 May 1983: A Bi-monthly Magazine for Church Organists
    Composer/Editors James Mansfield; Thomas Chesterton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1983) pp. 21
  • Variations on the Russian National Hymn: Edited and Arranged for the Organ
    Composer/Editor Barbara Owen
    Published By: Belwin-Mills Publishing Corporation (1981) pp. 4
  • Ten American Hymn-Tune Preludes From the 19th Century
    Composer/Editors Barbara Owen; Whitney Eugene Thayer
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1976) pp. 14
  • Preludes for Fifty-five Well-known Hymn Tunes: Modeled after the Free Organ Accompaniments of T. Tertius Noble
    Composer/Editor Howard D. McKinney
    Published By: J. Fischer & Brothers (1967) pp. 36

Piano Solo

  • The Hymn Collection: 17 Great Songs of Faith
    Composer/Editor Phillip Keveren
    Published By: Hal Leonard Publishing Corporation (2003) pp. 15
  • The Church Pianist Volume 9 Number 1 September October 1992: The Pianist's Companion for the Church Year
    Composer/Editors Hugh S. Livingston, Jr.; Edward Broughton
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (1992) pp. 3
  • Treasures from the Hymnal: 21 Piano Solos Based on Well-Known Hymn Tunes
    Composer/Editor Gail Smith
    Published By: Cathedral Music Press (1992) pp. 48

Piano and Organ Duet

  • Let Freedom Ring: Patriotic Music for Organ and Piano
    Composer/Editor Lani Smith
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2006) pp. 12
  • In God We Trust: Eight Festive Organ and Piano Duets for National Holidays
    Composer/Editor John Innes
    Published By: Lorenz Publishing Company (2002) pp. 49

Piano Duet+: Piano Duet One Piano

  • 18 Hymn Duets: For Piano Four Hands with Words
    Composer/Editor Helen Lipscomb
    Published By: G. Schirmer, Inc. (1963) pp. 38
  • 18 Hymn Duets: For Piano - Four Hands with Words
    Composer/Editor Helen Lipscomb
    Published By: G. Schirmer, Inc. (1953) pp. 38

Voices: Vocal Solo

  • Famous Hymns: Academic Edition Medium Voice with Accompaniment for Piano or Organ
    Composer/Editor G. Martaine
    Published By: Academic Music Co. (1908) pp. 11

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Include 238 pre-1979 instances
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