Alexander Chesnokov papers

id
198
origination
Chesnokov, A. G. (Alexander Grigorʹevich), 1880-1941
date statement
1899-1962
key date
1899
identifier (local_mss)
20336
org unit
Music Division
call number
JOB 06-2
b-number
b16328636
total components
213
total series
4
max depth
4
boost queries
(none)
component layout
Default Layout
Extended MARC Fields
false
Extended Navigation
false
created
2013-04-01 14:58:51 UTC
updated
2026-01-20 20:39:46 UTC
status note
(missing)
Display Aeon link
true

Description data TOP

physdesc
{"format"=>"structured", "physdesc_components"=>[{"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"8.5 linear feet", "unit"=>"linear feet"}, {"name"=>"extent", "value"=>"10 boxes", "unit"=>"containers"}], "supress_display"=>true}
unitid
{"value"=>"JOB 06-2", "type"=>"local_call"}
{"value"=>"20336", "type"=>"local_mss"}
unitdate
{"value"=>"1899-1962", "type"=>"inclusive", "normal"=>"1899/1962"}
date_inclusive_start
1899
date_inclusive_end
1962
keydate
1899
unittitle
{"value"=>"Alexander Chesnokov papers"}
repository
{"value"=>"<span class=\"corpname\">The New York Public Library of the Performimg Arts.</span> <span class=\"subarea\">Music Division.</span> <div class=\"address\"> <span class=\"addressline\">New York, New York</span></div>"}
abstract
{"value"=>"The papers of the Russian composer Alexander Chesnokov consist primarily of music scores; they also include unpublished librettos and manuscripts in English, French and Russian."}
prefercite
{"value"=>"<p>Guide to the Alexander Chesnokov Papers, JOB 06-2. Music Division, The New York Public Library of the Perfoming Arts.</p>"}
origination
{"value"=>"Chesnokov, A. G. (Alexander Grigorʹevich), 1880-1941", "type"=>"persname"}
bioghist
{"value"=>"<p>Alexander Grigorievich Chesnokov (Tchesnokoff) (1880, Moscow -1941, Paris) (Pseudonyms: Al. Daleau, Al. Tchayss) Russian Orthodoxy had many great composers in the early years of the twentieth century, and Chesnokov was one of the finest. Alexander Chesnokov, brother of the famous Russian church composer Pavel Chesnokov, was born on March 5, 1880 to the family of hereditary Russian precentors who lived near Moscow, in Voskresensk. As he recalled later he knew music even before he knew the alphabet. He was educated in, taught at, and wrote music for the Church's seminal musical institution, the Moscow Synodal School of Church Singing. After graduation in 1899 Chesnokov composed his first major work and was sent to continue his education in Petrograd Conservatory (Rimsky-Korsakov and Glasunov class), which he completed in 1906. A prolific choir composer, Chesnokov was the star of Orthodox choral music. After being shut down by the 1917 Revolution, he had to make ends meet by teaching or conducting state choirs and orchestras. Chesnokov emigrated in 1923 to Prague, where he conducted the Russian Student Chorus named after Alexander Arkhangelski. He then settled down in Paris. Chesnokov lectured in the Russian Conservatory and taught church singing in the Sviato-Sergievskii Bogoslovskii Institut. In Paris Alexander Chesnokov finished his <span class=\"title\">Requiem of the Mystery of Death</span>, or, <span class=\"title\">The Russian Requiem</span>, in which he honors graduates of the Petersburg Conservatory. The conservatory was seized by the Bolsheviks, and many were forced to emigrate. Hard pressed for money, he started making music-hall arrangements for a tiny publishing company, writing his own music during spare moments. Very little of what he wrote during that difficult period has been preserved, but he did manage, however, to send the <span class=\"title\">Requiem</span> to his brother in Moscow where in 1990s it had its first performance. Alexander Chesnokov was buried in France near Paris in 1941.</p>"}
scopecontent
{"value"=>"<p>The Alexander Chesnokov Papers consist of 8.5 linear feet of material dating from 1899 to 1962. They consist primarily of published and unpublished vocal, piano and orchestral music scores, libretti, and manuscripts of his work <span class=\"title\">Theory of Sound -- Colour Synaesthetics</span>. Delsarte' Theory of Analogies applied to Music and Colour.</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p class='list-head'>The Alexander Chesnokov papers are arranged in four series:</p>\n<ul class='arrangement series-descriptions'>\n<li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20336#c587842'>Series I. Scores</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1899-1941, undated</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contain: published and unpublished music piano and vocal scores by Alexander Chesnokov as well as other composers.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20336#c588026'>Series II: Writings</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1906-1938, undated</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contain: manuscripts of Chesnokov's librettos and his book <span class=\"title\">Theory of Sound-Colour Synaesthetics</span>, as well as published scores.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20336#c588043'>Series III: Subject Files</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1916-1962, undated</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contain: articles from Russian newspapers dedicated to the Chesnokov works; program with his performance; lyrics by unknown authors in Russian, French, and English.</p></div></li><li><div class='series-title'><a href='/mus/20336#c588052'>Series IV: Oversized Materials</a></div>\n<div class='series-date'>1926-1927, undated</div>\n<div class='series-description'><p>This series contain: art works by Chesnokov and holograph manuscript of his <span class=\"title\">Symphony</span>.</p></div></li></ul>\n", "type"=>"arrangement"}
arrangement
{"value"=>"<p> <ul> <li>Series I: Scores, 1899-1941, undated</li> <li>Series II: Writings, 1906-1938, undated</li> <li>Series III: Subject Files, 1916-1932, undated</li> <li>Series IV: Oversized Materials, 1926-1927, undated</li></ul></p>", "supress_display"=>true}
acqinfo
{"value"=>"<p>The Alexander Chesnokov Papers were donated to the Music Division in 1969 by Galina Chesnokov</p>"}
userestrict
{"value"=>"<p>For permission to publish, contact the Curator, Music Division</p>"}
physloc
{"value"=>"*ZB-4357 [Microfilm]", "type"=>"local_call", "supress_display"=>true}
{"value"=>"*ZB-4362 [Microfilm]", "type"=>"local_call", "supress_display"=>true}
{"value"=>"*ZB-4375 [Microfilm]", "type"=>"local_call", "supress_display"=>true}
altformavail
{"value"=>"<p>Gloria, Vocal score (box 3, f. 8); Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Piano-vocal score (box 3, f. 26); Requiem, Vocal score- sketches (box 4, f. 15); Silence, Choir and solo voices SAT (box 4, f. 32); Symphony, Orchestral score (box 10, f. 2) Available in microfilm as part of Alexander Chesnokov papers collection; service copy classmark: *ZB-4357</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Unpublished vocal scores (selections from boxes 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 7) and lists of the Russian Church music works (box 9, f. 2) Available in microfilm as part of Alexander Chesnokov papers collection; service copy classmark: *ZB-4362</p>"}
{"value"=>"<p>Unpublished vocal music, piano-vocal scores, sketches (selections from boxes 1-6) Available in microfilm as part of the Alexander Chesnokov papers collection; service copy classmark: *ZB-4375</p>"}
langmaterial_code
cze
eng
fre
rus
langmaterial
{"value"=>"The Subject files series contains material in Czech, English, French, and Russian"}
processinfo
{"value"=>"<p>Processed by Liavon Yurevich; Machine-readable finding aid created by Liavon Yurevich.</p>"}
extent_statement
8.5 linear feet (10 boxes)
date_start
1899
date_end
1962

Update Collection TOP

Update from EAD XML File

Resources TOP

PDF finding aid



https://nyplorg-data-archives.s3.amazonaws.com/uploads/collection/pdf_finding_aid/muschesn.pdf

File attachments

No files attached.

Repository Assets

No UUIDs attached.

Living at NYPL Archives

Sign in to add or edit a living at feature for this collection.

Export Collection to ArchivesSpace