Shchetynsky

Alexander Shchetynsky

Internet Edition compiled by Onno van Rijen

Updated 6 January 2007

Born

22 June 1960 in Kharkiv, Ukraine.

Education

Shchetynsky graduated in 1983 from V. Borisov's composition class at the Kharkiv art Insitute.

Style

The style of Shchetynsky is essentially that of a structuralist, relying on a synthesis of a variety of modernist techniques and exploring in each piece a particular musical metaphor. The influence of especially Eastern European variety of minimalism is also apparent in the carefully worked out relationship between different degrees of sound and silence, the predominance of soft dynamics, and in the smallest details and changes in pitch, timbre and rhythm.

Works

Sonata for clarinet and piano (1982)

First performance: 1982 in Kharkiv by Serhiy Nyzkodub and Alexander Shchetynsky.
Duration: 19'.

Concerto for cello and orchestra (1982)

First performance: May 1983 in Kharkiv by the Kharkiv PO and Svyatoslav Yezersky (cello).
Duration: 24'.

Intermezzo for flute and piano (1983)

First performance: April 1983 in Kharkiv by Mykola Ivanov and Alexander Shchetynsky.
Duration: 6'.

Antiphons for cello and piano (1983)

First performance: April 1984 in Kharkiv by Svyatoslav Yezersky and Alexander Shchetynsky.
Duration: 12'.

Sonata for button accordion (1983)

First performance: 21 October 1984 in Moscow by Joseph Purits (accordion).
Duration: 15'.

"From Pavlo Movchan's Poetry", song cycle for bass-baritone and piano (1984)

In Ukrainian. Duration: 23'.

"Sad Song" for button accordion (1984)

First performance: 1985 in Moscow by Joseph Purits (accordion).
Duration: 6'.

Four Inventions for button accordion (1985)

First performance: 1988 in Moscow by Joseph Purits (accordion).
Duration: 10'.

Quintet for flute, oboe, clarinet, basson and horn (1985-1987)

Duration: 20'.

Sonata for viola solo (1985-1987)

First performance: 1989 in Minsk by Yevhen Amstibovsky (viola).
Duration: 14'.

Sonata for clarinet and organ (1987)

Duration: 16'.

"Praise Ye the Name of the Lord" for piano (1988)

First performance: 10 June 1989 in London by Yvar Mikashov (piano).
Duration: 27'.

Intersections for orchestra and oboe solo (1988)

First performance: 1989 in Kharkiv by the Kharkiv PO and Andronik Nazaryan (oboe).
Duration: 17'.

"Light To Lighten", sacred cantata for unaccompanied mixed chorus and two bells (1989)

On prayers of the Orthodoc Church in Old Slavonic.
First performance: 29 April 2004 at the 3rd Festival of Contemporary Sacred Music in Uzhhorod by the Chamber Choir Cantus conducted by Emil Sokach.
Duration: 15'.

"Glossalalie" for orchestra (1989)

First performance: 16 September 1990 in Warsaw by the Baltic Philharmonic Chamber Ensemble, conducted by Pavel Przytocki.
Duration: 14".

"Cryptogram" for vibraphone solo (1989)

First performance: June 1989 in London by Mark Pekarsky.
Duration: 7'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Nikolay Lgovsky (vibraphone)

Kharkiv Music for piano (1981-1989)

First performance: 1991 in Italy by Piotr Lachert (piano).
Duration: 15'.

Suite for clarinet and piano (1987-1990)

First performance: 1987 in Kharkiv by Yakov Yakhnin (clarinet) and Alexander Shchetynsky (piano).
Duration: 10'.

"On the Eve" for two trumpets, horn, trombone and tuba (1990)

Duration: 7'.

"Way to Meditation" for flute, clarinet, violin, cello and piano (1990)

First permance: 22 February 1991 in Amsterdam.
Duration: 13'.

"Prayer for the Cup" for piano (1990)

First performance: 17 May 1994 in Kyiv by Joszef Örmény (piano).
Duration: 10'.

CD TNC Recordings CD-1460: Yuri Polubelov (piano)

"Lamento" for chamber ensemble (1990)

First performance: 19 October 1994 in Heidelberg by the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Alexei Vinogradov.
Duration: 10'.

Sonata for violin and piano (1990)

First performance: 24 April 1996 in Kharkiv by Alexei Sidorenko and Marina Nikolayeva.
Duration: 15'.

Fragments of Latin Liturgy for mixed chorus and organ (1991)

On a text of catholic liturgy in Latin.
First performance: 8 November 2003 at the Festival Arvo Pärt – the Borderlander in Sejny, Poland by the Chamber Choir Gloria conducted by Volodymyr Syvokhip.
Duration: 10'.

"Poco Misterioso" for button accordion (1991)

First performance: September 1992 in Oslo by Joseph Purits (accordion).
Duration: 9'.

String Quartet (1991)

First performance: 13 October 2000 in Lviv by the Kairos Quartet.
Duration: 20'.

"Looking at the Sky" for two flutes and piano four hands (1991)

First performance: 11 September 1991 in Kazimierz Dolny, Poland.
Duration: 5'- 7'.

"The Preacher's Word" for soprano and string quartet (1991)

First performance: 9 July 1992 in Fribourg by Phyllis Bryn-Julson and the Arditti String Quartet.
Duration: 12'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Alexei Vinogradov (conductor), Yekaterina Kichigina (soprano)

"Face to Star" for chamber ensemble (1991)

First performance: 14 November 1992 in Zurich by the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Alexei Vinogradov.
Duration: 13'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Alexei Vinogradov (conductor)

Quintet for recorders (four performers), vibraphone and tam-tam (1991)

First performance: 17 September 1993 in Basel.
Duration: 15'.

"Near the Entrance" for tape (1991)

First performance: 4 June 1998 in Krakow at the Electroacoutic Music studio at the Academy of Music in Krakow.
Duration: 9'40".

"A Ray of Hope" for flute, oboe, viola, cello and harmonium (or accordion) (1992)

Duration: 6'.

Sonata for two pianos (1992)

First performance: 5 November 1993 in Bonn by Cheryl Seltzer and Joel Sachs (piano).
Duration: 23'.

Three Sketches in Quarter Tones for two guitars (1992)

First performance: November 1993 in Würzburg by Reinbert Evers and Wolfgang Weigel.
Duration: 7'.

"Looking-Glass Music" for chamber ensemble (1992)

First performance: 6 April 1994 in Zagreb by the Reconcil Ensemble, conducted by Roland Freisitzer.
Duration: 12'.

"Sound For Sound" for three percussionists (1992)

First performance: 5 November 1994 in Moscow by the Mark Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble.
Duration: 10'.

"La Naissance de Saint Jean-Baptiste" for children's soprano, children's chorus and six percussionists (1992)

On the gospels according to St. Luke and St. John and psalms 105 and 123 in French.
First performance: 11 February 1993 in Paris by Maitrise de Radio France, Les Pleiades, conducted by Sylvio Gualda.
Duration: 10'.

"Now Lettest Thou ...." for chamber ensemble (1993)

Duration: 20'.

Concerto for flute and orchestra (1993)

First performance: 14 February 1997 in Warsaw by the Warsaw PO, conducted by Wojciech Michniewski and Jadwiga Kotnowska (flute).
Duration: 20'.

Epilogue for clarinet, piano and string trio (1993)

First performance: 8 October 1997 in Lviv by the Ensemble Cluster, conducted by Andriy Yurkevych.
Duration: 15'.

"A Ship of Eccentrics", vocal cycle for soprano, flute, oboe, clarinet, horn, violin, cello and piano (1989-1994)

On English children songs translated into Russian by Samuil Marshak. Duration: 19'.

Lento Pensieroso for bassoon solo (1994)

First performance: 9 January 1995 in Kharkiv.
Duration: 6'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Valeri Popov (bassoon)

Winter Elegy for alto saxophone and chamber ensemble (1994)

First performance: 24 November 1996 in Moscow by the Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, conducted by Alexei Vinogradov and Leonid Drutin (alto saxophone).
Duration: 12'.

"Crosswise" for alto saxophone and cello (1994)

First performance: 2 March 1997 in Luxembourg by Marc Sieffert and Olivier Darbellay.
Duration: 12'.

"In Private" for piano (1994)

First performance: 17 April 1997 in Ghent (Belgium) by Elena Letnanová (piano).
Duration: 9'.

Aria for trombone solo (1994)

First performance: 14 October 1998 in Lviv by Ivo Nilsson (trombone).
Duration: 9'.

"Together", five pieces for violin and accordion (1995)

Duration: 11'.

"In Low Voices" for clarinet, violin, two violas, double bass and accordion (1995)

First performance: 15 May 1995 in Kyiv by HEX Ensemble, conducted by Richard Sims.
Duration: 16'.

Quintet for clarinet, horn, violin, cello and piano (1995)

First performance: 13 November 1997 in Triest by the Ensemble Wiener Collage.
Duration: 22'.

"Looking at the Sky" for flute, clarinet and piano (1996)

Revised version from "Looking at the Sky (1991).
First performance: 24 April 1996 in Kharkiv.
Duration: 5'- 7'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Oleg Tantsov (clarinet)

"Introspection for flute and harpsichord (1996)

Duration: 11'.

"The Baptism, Temptation and Prayer of Our Lord Jesus Christ" for bass, clarinet, trombone, viola, cello and double bass (1996)

First performance: 29 September 1996 in Saint-Pierre-des-Corps by Ensemble Opus 16, conducted by Jacques Pesi and Jacques Bona (bass).
Duration: 15'.

"Crosswise" for clarinet and cello (1996)

Second version (first version: 1994).
First performance: 11 April 1997 in Odessa by Oleg Tantsov (clarinet) and Natalia Savinova (cello).
Duration: 12'.

"The Light of Thy Countenance" for four percussionists (1996)

First performance: 6 July 1997 in Loccum by Mark Pekarsky Percussion Ensemble.
Duration: 12'.

Four Movements for clarinet, viola and piano (1996)

First performance: 9 October 1997 in Lviv by Obskura.
Duration: 13'.

"Pas De Deux' for two cellos (1996)

First performance: 13 April 2001 in Odessa by Vadim Larchikov and Olga Veselina.
Duration: 10'.

"Message From A.W." for cello and piano (1996)

First performance: 13 October 1999 in Lviv by Paul Marleyn and Claudia Chen.
Duration: 2'.

Orchestration of Arnold Schönberg's Six Small Pieces for piano opus 19 for chamber ensemble (1997)

First performance: 11 October 1997 in Lviv by the Moscow Music Ensemble, conducted by Alexei Vinogradov.
Duration: 7'.

"A Prima Vista" for full symphony orchestra (1997)

First performance: 17 November 2005 at the Melos-Ethos Festival of Bratislava by the Slovak Radio Symphony Orchestra conducted by Zsolt Nagy.
Duration: 17'.

"Like a Cloud Over Pescara" for orchestra (1997)

Duration: 1'10".

"A Song of Degrees" for mezzo-soprano, flute (also alto and double bass flutes or bass clarinet), percussion and accordion (1997)

On the text of psalm 130 in English.
Duration: 10'.

"Two ... In Parallel ... Disjoint?" for clarinet and accordion (1996-1998)

First performance: 23 September 2004 at the Festival Contrasts in Lviv by Mykola Hrechukh and Roman Yusypey.
Duration: 7'.

"Aside" for clarinet solo (1996-1998)

First performance: 22 April 2001 in Tashkent by Oleg Tantsov (clarinet).
Duration: 6'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Oleg Tantsov (clarinet)

"The Annunciation", chamber opera in six episodes for soprano (also percussion) and piano (also percussion) (1998)

Libretto by Alexei Parin after the first chapter of the gospel according to St. Luke (in Russian).
First performance: 20 May 1999 in Helikon Opera of Moscow by Tatiana Kuingi (soprano) and Yuri Polubelov (piano/percussion).
Duration: 40'.

CD TNC Recordings CD-1460: Tatiana Kuindji (soprano), Yuri Polubelov (piano)

Sonata Da Camera for cello and chamber ensemble (1998)

First performance: 23 July 1998 in Viktring-Klagenfurt, Austria by the Janus ensemble, conducted by Christoph Cech and Martin Dörfler (cello).
Duration: 18'.

CD Le Chant du Monde LDC 2781123: Moscow Contemporary Music Ensemble, Alexei Vinogradov (conductor), Alexander Rudin (cello)

"Utterance" for bass clarinet solo (1998)

First performance: 5 July 2002 in Santa Fe by Gareth Davis (bass clarinet).
Duration: 7'.

"Utterance" for bass saxophone solo (1999)

Second version (first version: 1998).
Duration: 7'.

"Utterance" for baritone saxophone solo (1999)

Third version (first version: 1998).
First performance: 26 October 2000 in Freiburg (Germany) by Christoph Kirschke (baritone saxophone).
Duration: 7'.

"Shapes and Colours" for organ (1999)

First performance: 11 October 2000 in Lviv by Hervé Désarbre (organ).
Duration: 10'.

"Pas de Quatre" for alto saxophone, trombone, percussion and guitar (1999)

First performance: 28 March 2000 in Gothenborg, Sweden by the Ensemble SON.
Duration: 9'.

"Cortège" for saxophone quartet (1999)

First performance: 11 October 1999 in Lviv by the Stockholm Saxophone Quartet.
Duration: 10'.

"Pater Noster" for female or children's chorus and flute (1999)

On the gospels according to St. Luke in Latin.
Duration: 4'30".

"In the Secret Place" for mixed chorus (2000)

On psalm 91 in English.
Duration: 7'.

"Looking at the Sky" for flute, bass clarinet (or bassoon) and piano (2000)

Third version (first version: 1991).
Duration: 5'-7'.

"A Song of Degrees" for contralto, clarinet (also E-flat clarinet), percussion and accordion (1999)

Second version (first version: 1997).
Duration: 10'.

"A Song of Degrees" for mezzo-soprano, flute (also alto flute), clarinet (also bass clarinet), percussion and string quartet (1999)

Third version (first version: 1997).
Duration: 10'.

"Etude on the Soul" for soprano, tenor and string orchestra (2000)

On a text by Alexei Parin in Russian.
First performance: 16 June 2000 in St. Andrew Church of Moscow by Victoria Yevtodyeva (soprano), Fyodor Lednev (tenor) and Opus Posth, conducted by Tatiana Grindenko.
Duration: 4'.

"Arabesque" for clarinet, bass clarinet, viola and cello (2000)

First performance: 11 January 2001 in Vienna by the Ensemble Wiener Collage, conducted by René Staar.
Duration: 5'.

Sonata for piano and percussion (2000)

First performance: 19 September 2005 at the Festival Contrasts in Lviv by Yuri Polubelov and Robert Sztorc.
Duration: 17'.

Two Songs of a Wayfaring Philosopher for mezzo-soprano and viola d'amore (2000)

On a text by Hryhoriy Skovoroda.
First performance: 22 January 2002 in Vienna by Albena Najdenowa and Marianne Rönez-Kubitschek.
Duration: 9'.

Five Miniatures for guitar (2000-2001)

First performance (two movements): 20 September 2003 at the Festival Contrasts in Lviv by Magnus Andersson (guitar).
Duration: 11'.

Two Songs of a Wayfaring Philosopher for mezzo-soprano and viola (2001)

Second version (first version: 2000).
Duration: 9'.

"No Illusions" for clarinet, trombone, cello and piano (2001)

First performance: 25 October 2001 in Vienna by the Ensemble Wiener Collage, conducted by René Staar.
Duration: 5'.

"Remembrance in Prayer" for four timpani solo (by one performer) (2001)

Duration: 5'.

Sonata for cello solo (2001)

First performance: 20 September 2006 in Moscow by Alexander Zagorinsky (cello).
Duration: 14'.

"Pendulum" for trombone and marimba (2002)

First performance: 29 April 2005 in the Konserthuset of Malmö, Sweden by Ivo Nilsson and Jonny Axelsson.
Duration: 13'.

"Con Re" for four flutes, alto saxophone, violin and cello (2002)

First performance: 13 May 2002 in Yekaterinburg at the Festival "Lines of Avet Terteryan" by an Ensemble conducted by Oleg Payberdin.
Duration: 10'.

"The Blind Swallow", opera-essay in six episodes (two acts) (2002)

Concept and libretto by Alexei Parin after works by Chekhov, Pushkin, Gogol, Lev Tolstoy, Dostoyevsky, Blok, and documents related to these writers; also poems by Mandelstam, Brodsky and Aigi (in Russian).
First performance: 31 August 2002 in Loccum, Germany at the Festival Sacro Art by Soloists of the Helikon Opera and Mariinski Theatre, conducted by Theodor Kourentzis; Anatoly Ledukhovsky, stage director.
Duration: 110'.

"Green Meadows", interlude from the opera "The Blind Swallow" for flute, clarinet, alto saxophone, violin, viola and cello (2002)

Duration: 3'.

"Apostle John's Testimony" for soprano, baritone, mixed chorus and orchestra (2003)

Text: St. John's Gospel; Revelation (in Ancient Greek).
First performance: 16 October 2004 in the Novosibirsk Opera House by Natalia Zagorinskaya (soprano), Andrzej Belecki (baritone) and the Choir and Symphony Orchestra of the Novosibirsk Opera House, conducted by Theodor Kourentzis.
Duration: 20'.

"Know Yourself", symphony for unaccompanied mixed chorus (2003)

Text: Hryhory Skovoroda and other sources (in bookish Old Ukrainian, Old Slavonic, Ancient Greek, and Latin).
First performance: 5 May 2006 at the 4th Festival of Contemporary Sacred Music in Uzhhorod by the Chamber Choir Cantus conducted by Emil Sokach.
Duration: 35'.

"Lost Song" for alto saxophone, percussion (one performer), button accordion and double bass (2003)

First performance of this first version: 18 November 2003 in Linz, Austria by the Ensemble Vienna Collage.
Second version for alto saxophone, percussion (one performer), key-button accordion and cello.
First performance of this second version: 26 February 2004 in Freiburg, Germany by Ecco New Ensemble Freiburg.
Third version for clarinet, percussion (1 performer), accordion and Ccllo.
Duration: 8'.

"E. de Cavalieri Rappresentatione Di Anima e Di Corpo", sacred performance in three acts with prologue (2003)

Instrumentation and performance adaptation for eight singers and eight instruments.
For three sopranos, mezzo-soprano, tenor, two baritones, bass, oboe (also percussion), bassoon (also percussion), string quartet, guitar, harmonium (or accordion).
First performance: 9 July 2003 at the Ludwigsburg Festival in Germany by soloists of the Helikon Opera and Novaya Opera, conducted by Theodor Kourentzis.
Duration: ca. 70'.

"Bestiarum", opera in two acts (2004)

Libretto by Alexei Parin and the composer after F. Kafka, C. Gozzi and H. Chr. Andersen.
First performance: 19 August 2004 in Loccum (Germany) at the Festival Sacro Art by soloists of the Perm Opera House anmd soloists of the orchestra of Yekaterinburg Opera House, conducted by Yevgeny Brazhnik.
Duration: 90'.

Requiem for mixed chorus and string orchestra (1991-2004)

Text: Catholic liturgy (in Latin)>
First performance: 25 September 2004 at the Festival Contrasts in Lviv by the Chamber choir Gloria and the Chamber Orchestra Leopolis conducted by Volodymyr Syvokhip.
Duration: 22'.

"A Sermon on the Mount" for soprano, alto saxophone and piano (2004)

Text: St. Matthew's Gospel 5. 2-10, 12 (in Ancient Greek).
First performance: 26 October, 2004 in the Philharmony Hall of Yekaterinburg by Svetlana Krupina (soprano), Yevgeniy Moroz (alto saxophone) and Igor Stefanovsky (piano).
Duration: 5'.

"Christmas Tunes" for oboe, violin, cello, accordion and piano (2005)

First performance: 21 December 2005 in the Arnold Schönberg Center of Vienna by the Ensemble Wiener Collage, conducted by René Staar.
Duration: 6'.

"Seven Screen Shots" for contrabass and piano (2005)

Duration: 10'.

"Romeo and Giulietta. Fragment", music and sound installation to the drama performance by A. Zholdak after W. Shakespeare (2005)

First performance: 22/23 October 2005 at the Festival Spielzeit Europa in Berlin by artists of the Kharkiv Taras Shevchenko Drama Theatre.
Duration: ca. 3 hours.

"Oratio Dominica (Pater noster)" for mixed chorus (2006)

Duration: 3'30".

"Chamber Concerto" for piano and twelve instrumentalists (2006)

First performance: 14 October 2006 in Ettelbruck, Luxembourg by the Luxembourg Sinfonietta, conducted by Marcel Wengler and Annie Kraus (piano).
Duration: 11'.

"Chamber Symphony" for thirteen iInstrumentalists (2006)

First performance: 28 September 2006 at the Festival Warsaw Autumn in Warsaw by the Polish-German Youth Ensemble, conducted by Rüdiger Bohn.
Duration: 16'.

"Music in Memory of Valentyn Bibik" for clarinet, cello and piano (2006)

Duration: 4'30".

"The Elder's Vision" for mixed choir and chamber ensemble (2006)

Text: Hryhoriy Skovoroda (in old bookish Ukrainian language).
First performance: 18 October 2006 at the Tchaikovsky Philharmony Hall of Moscow by the New Siberian Singers and the Klangforum Wien, conducted by Theodor Kourentzis.
Duration: 14'.

"Double Reflection", prelude in Memory of D. Shostakovich for piano (2006)

Duration: 5'.

Music to Ihor Podolchak's film "Las Meninas" (2006)

Sonata for Cello and Piano from the film "Las Meninas" (2006)

Duration: 17'.

Thanks to the composer for additional information

For more information please check Alexander Shchetynsky's website

You can contact Alexander Shchetynsky direct by e-mail.

Please send your comments

Return to Onno van Rijen's Soviet Composer's Page

Return to Onno van Rijen's Home Page