Boris Ledkovsky
Encyclopedia
Boris Mikhailovich Ledkovsky (May 9, 1894 in Agrafenovka — August 6, 1975 in Jordanville, New York
) was a Russian-American composer of Church music
and father of composer Alexander Ledkovsky
.
in 1894 to Protopriest
Mikhail and Sophia Ledkovsky. He studied at the Theology School in Novocherkassk, in the Royal School in Rostov-on-Don
and at the Moscow
Conservatory with Alexander Kastalsky.
He directed at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
in Sofia
, Bulgaria
; in Paris and in Berlin parishes and cathedrals. In 1937 Ledkowsky formed in Germany the all-male a cappella
ensemble "Black Sea Cossacks Choir".
Ledkovsky married in 1943 to Marina V. Fasolt. With her, he fathered four children: Alexander (also a Church musician of note), Dimitri, Tatiana, and Michael. He emigrated with his family to the U.S. in 1951.
He was a prolific arranger and composer of Russian Orthodox Church
music in the "Moscow School" style, relying heavily on traditional chant as well as austere harmonization forms.
From 1952 to 1975 he served as director of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
(ROCOR) Synod Cathedral Choir of New York.
Boris Ledkovsky died of lung cancer on August 6, 1975, and was buried in Jordanville, New York at the Holy Trinity Monastery
.
Jordanville, New York
Jordanville is a hamlet in the town of Warren, Herkimer County, New York. Jordanville is in the northwest part of Warren, at the intersection of Routes 18 and 155. The community was settled before 1791.-Gelston Castle:...
) was a Russian-American composer of Church music
Church music
Church music may be defined as music written for performance in church, or any musical setting of ecclestiacal liturgy, or music set to words expressing propositions of a sacred nature, such as a hymn. This article covers music in the Judaeo-Christian tradition. For sacred music outside this...
and father of composer Alexander Ledkovsky
Alexander Ledkovsky
Alexander Borisovich Ledkovsky was a German-American conductor, composer, and music editor of Russian descent.-Life:A. B...
.
Life
Ledkovsky was born near NovocherkasskNovocherkassk
Novocherkassk is a city in Rostov Oblast, Russia, located on the right bank of the Tuzlov River and on the Aksay River. Population: 169,039 ; 170,822 ; 178,000 ; 123,000 ; 81,000 ; 52,000 ....
in 1894 to Protopriest
Protopriest
Protopriest — in the College of Cardinals, is the first Cardinal-Priest in the order of precedence. This title is always attached to the most senior Cardinal Priest according to date of his creation. From the 17th century until the end of 19th century Protopriest usually opted for the titulus San...
Mikhail and Sophia Ledkovsky. He studied at the Theology School in Novocherkassk, in the Royal School in Rostov-on-Don
Rostov-on-Don
-History:The mouth of the Don River has been of great commercial and cultural importance since the ancient times. It was the site of the Greek colony Tanais, of the Genoese fort Tana, and of the Turkish fortress Azak...
and at the Moscow
Moscow
Moscow is the capital, the most populous city, and the most populous federal subject of Russia. The city is a major political, economic, cultural, scientific, religious, financial, educational, and transportation centre of Russia and the continent...
Conservatory with Alexander Kastalsky.
He directed at the St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral
Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Sofia
The St. Alexander Nevsky Cathedral is a Bulgarian Orthodox cathedral in Sofia, the capital of Bulgaria. Built in Neo-Byzantine style, it serves as the cathedral church of the Patriarch of Bulgaria and is one of the largest Eastern Orthodox cathedrals in the world, as well as one of Sofia's symbols...
in Sofia
Sofia
Sofia is the capital and largest city of Bulgaria and the 12th largest city in the European Union with a population of 1.27 million people. It is located in western Bulgaria, at the foot of Mount Vitosha and approximately at the centre of the Balkan Peninsula.Prehistoric settlements were excavated...
, Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
; in Paris and in Berlin parishes and cathedrals. In 1937 Ledkowsky formed in Germany the all-male a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
ensemble "Black Sea Cossacks Choir".
Ledkovsky married in 1943 to Marina V. Fasolt. With her, he fathered four children: Alexander (also a Church musician of note), Dimitri, Tatiana, and Michael. He emigrated with his family to the U.S. in 1951.
He was a prolific arranger and composer of Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
music in the "Moscow School" style, relying heavily on traditional chant as well as austere harmonization forms.
From 1952 to 1975 he served as director of the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , also called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, ROCA, or ROCOR) is a semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church....
(ROCOR) Synod Cathedral Choir of New York.
Boris Ledkovsky died of lung cancer on August 6, 1975, and was buried in Jordanville, New York at the Holy Trinity Monastery
Holy Trinity monastery
-In Bulgaria:* Etropole Monastery of the Holy Trinity , near Etropole, Bulgaria* Patriarchal Monastery of the Holy Trinity, a monastery near Veliko Tarnovo, Bulgaria* Ustrem Monastery of the Holy Trinity, near Ustrem, Bulgaria-In Romania:...
.
External links
- Chants of the Russian Emigrés: Great Lent and Pascha by Boris Ledkovsky