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Slavyanka (a cappella group)

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For other uses, see Slavyanka (disambiguation).

Slavyanka is an American a cappella vocal group based in San Francisco. Their repertoire consists largely of religious and secular music performed in a variety of Slavic languages. Most of the group's singers have full-time jobs outside the group and do not speak the languages sung.[1] Originally a men's chorus, the group expanded to include women in 2013.[2][3] It is currently under the direction of Irina Shachneva.[4]

History

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Slavyanka was founded in 1979 by a group of former Yale Russian Chorus members including Paul Andrews, John McCarthy, and Peter Gleick.[5] The name "Slavyanka" was chosen in reference to a 19th century Slavic name for California's Russian River.[6] In 1983, the group became a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. Directors of the group have included founder Paul Andrews (1979—1993), Aleksei Shipovalnikov (1993—1996), Gregory Smirnov (1996—2011), and Irina Shachneva (2011—Present). The group started out with around 15 men and presently has a rotating membership of around 40 men and women.

Slavyanka has sung over 400 concerts. The group toured the Soviet Union in 1986, 1989, and 1999, and returned for a tour of Russia in 2016.[3][7] In 1986, they were the first American chorus to perform in St. Petersburg's Glinka Capella.[3][8] In 2016, they were the only American choir invited to perform at the 150th anniversary of Moscow's Tchaikovsky Conservatory.[8] In 1986 and 1990, Slavyanka was chosen to perform at the Western Regional Conventions of the American Choral Directors Association.[9] The group performed for Mikhail Gorbachev when he visited San Francisco in 1990.[10]

Notable performances of historic works by the group include Sergei Rachmaninoff's All-Night Vigil, the Western premiere of Aleksei Shipovalnikov's Vespers, and the US premiere of Konstantin Shvedov's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, recovered from secreted Soviet negatives.[8][11][12]

Slavyanka's performed languages have included Russian, Ukrainian, Old Slavonic, Armenian, Croatian, Latvian, Lithuanian, Macedonian, Slovene, Georgian, and Svan.[13][14] Some of their repertoire incorporates Tuvan throat singing.[15]

Recordings

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Slavyanka has recorded 10 albums:

  • Russian Church Music (1988)
  • Russia Old & New (1991)
  • Konstantin Shvedov: Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom (1991)
  • Little Odessa, movie soundtrack (1994)
  • Slavyanka Sounds of Heaven (1999)
  • Slavyanka in Concert, Mission San Luis Obispo (1999)
  • Song of the Volga Boatmen (2000)
  • With Love from the Balkans and Caucasus (2003)
  • Slavyanka Russian Favorites (2004)
  • Slavyanka in Russia (2016)

In addition, Slavyanka's music has been featured in the films Tell Me a Riddle (1980), Little Odessa (1994), and What Dreams May Come (1998).[15][6]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Sing(ing) with Slavyanka Chorus". Slavyanka Homepage. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  2. ^ Bosworth, Sheila (September 15, 2015). "Slavyanka Chorus: 'Russia's Choral Treasures', October 4 at 2 PM in Wellesley". Patch Media. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  3. ^ a b c "Russian Choral Group Slavyanka Performs ALL-NIGHT VIGIL Tonight". Broadway World. No. 21 August 2015. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  4. ^ "Board". Slavyanka Homepage. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  5. ^ "Our Beginning 1979 to 1993". Slavyanka Homepage.
  6. ^ a b "Famed Russian-Style men's chorus comes to the coast". Independent Coast Observer. July 30, 2004. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  7. ^ "Interview with Irina Shachneva". 360° Дубна.
  8. ^ a b c "Mission Santa Clara Features Konstantin Shvedov's Liturgy". The Silicon Valley Voice. October 21, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  9. ^ Ahlgren, Calvin (January 20, 1991). "Slavyanka Carries Russian Sound Home". The San Francisco Examiner. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  10. ^ Shanahan, Michael. "Gorbachev calls for new alliances". The Sacramento Bee. No. 5 June 1990. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  11. ^ Kosman, Joshua (May 18, 2023). "An unknown Russian choral work emerges from the shadows after 100 years". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  12. ^ "Russian Men's Chorus comes to the coast". Independent Coast Observer. July 26, 2002. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  13. ^ Bartlett, Jean (January 28, 2009). "Choral masterpieces from Russia with love". Pacifica Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  14. ^ Lorenz-Fife, Iris (July 31, 1998). "Russian chorus gives mesmerizing performance". Independent Coast Observer. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
  15. ^ a b Parker, Brent (January 25, 2007). "From Russia with love". The Tribune. Retrieved March 14, 2024.
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