An introduction to the choral music of Galina Grigorjeva

This study will examine Galina Grigorjeva’s compositional style and the influence of the Russian Orthodox tradition on her choral music. Grigorjeva, born in 1962, is a Ukraine-born Estonian composer, and has written over seventy compositions to date, twenty-two of which are choral works. She currently works as a freelancer composer in Tallinn, Estonia. This study begins with Grigorjeva’s professional biography and an overview of her background and education. It includes a discussion of Byzantine and Znamenny chants and how these traditions contribute to a deeper understanding of Grigorjeva’s music. It will then discuss some of the musical influences and the characteristics of Grigorjeva’s music, including her approach to rhythm, text, harmony, texture, timbre, and melody. Three selected choral works—On Leaving (1999), Nature Morte (2008), and In paradisum (2012)—which collectively exemplify the composer’s unique compositional style will then be investigated. Additionally, this study will offer an annotated catalog of Grigorjeva’s entire choral output to benefit readers in adding fresh choral repertoire. The purpose of this exploration is to introduce this great composer and her works to choral musicians looking for hidden gems of choral literature.

Name thesis:degree_name

A.Mus.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Music

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2021

Author dc:creator

• Ahn, Won Joo

Contributors dc:contributor

• Megill, Andrew
• Coleman, Barrington L.
• Solya, Andrea
• Sweet, Bridget

• Galina Grigorjeva
• Choral Music
• Estonian Composer
• Russian Orthodox
• Znamenny Chant

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2020 Won Joo Ahn

Language dc:language

en

Handle dc:identifier

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/109344

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:www.ideals.illinois.edu:2142/109344