Castalian Alexander D.

Born in 1856, graduated from the Moscow Conservatory where he studied harmony, counterpoint and theory and composition with Tchaikovsky, Hubert and P. Taneyev. Consists of the Director of the Moscow Synodal School and the Synodal Choir, as well as a member at school "Supervisory Board" in charge of the activities of the church choirs in Moscow and the purity of style of worship performed in church hymns. In formulating its direction and nature of his work had a great influence SV. Smolensky. In his church-singing and choral compositions Kastalsky - representative of a new direction, seeking a solid foundation of purity of style in the stock extant ancient church chants and Russian folk songs. Deeply studied the warehouse, with his characteristic popevkami (t. e. routinely melodic turns), . Castalian in their arrangements of ancient melodies leave them intact, . but it is enveloped by a thin contrapuntal fabric, . based on the development of henchmen and popevok, . as a restorer of the original ancient choral style, . a creator of a new, . complicated by modern technology, . but rooted in the same folk-Russian style,
. Religious hymns Kastalsky distinguished his church, an exquisite choral declamation, stressing the importance of the text and match the text with the nature of music. In 1899. compositions performed Kastalsky Synodal choir when he was in Vienna. Published more than 65 (selected titles) church hymns Kasalskogo (cm. Directory, published by P. Jurgenson), . including the "Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom," "Two Russian Songs" ( "a blade of grass" and "Glory"), "Songs of the homeland"; "Peschnoe Action" (the ancient chants), "From the past centuries"; cantata "Verse of the church singing "(to the 25-year anniversary of the Synodal School)," Reading clerk Luda Moscow's message to Patriarch Hermogenes Tushinite traitors in 1609 ";" Celebrations in Ancient Rus' (circle of pagan rituals, . with stage chant); "8 pieces for piano on the Georgian theme" etc.,
. - See. Article H. Reliable ( "Russian Musical Newspaper", 1904).