Alexander Ledkovsky
Encyclopedia
Alexander Borisovich Ledkovsky (June 3, 1944 in Teupitz
— December 24, 2004 in Shirley, NY) was a German-American conductor
, composer
, and music editor
of Russian
descent.
, Germany
during war-time to parents Marina Viktorovna Ledkovsky (née
Fasolt) and Boris Mikhailovich Ledkovsky
, a prominent choral director and composer/arranger of Russian Orthodox Church
music.
Having emigrated to the United States in 1952, A. Ledkovsky was educated at Trinity School
and Columbia University
, where he
earned a B.A. in Music
. Although he developed a successful career as a computer expert and software developer
, his life's love was his work as a musician
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Having studied choir direction both at university and under his father's tutelage, he took on responsibilities as assistant choirmaster at the Russian Orthodox Synod Cathedral "Our Lady of the Sign" located on Park Avenue at 93rd Street in New York
. He also ran a secondary choir for the cathedral's English-speaking parish in the late 1960s.
When his father's health declined, Alexander Ledkovsky assumed full responsibility for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
(ROCOR)'s flagship choir, on Forgiveness Sunday in 1975. He held this post until his own declining health forced him to relegate responsibilities to assistants in 2002.
(in cooperation with the Russian Choral Society and the Opera Orchestra of NY), and a number of grand occasions at the cathedral, such as the canonization of the New Martyrs of Russia in 1981, the funeral of Metropolitan Philaret and the memorial services and funerals of many renowned members of the Russian emigrate community, such as choreographer George Balanchine
.
Under A. Ledkovsky's direction, the choir produced two compact disc recordings in 1994: "All-Night Vigil for 700 Years of the Our Lady of Kursk
Icon" and "Celebrating the Composer's Centennial: Divine Liturgy of Boris. M. Ledkovsky"
In 1999, A. Ledkovsky launched one of the first websites devoted to online publication of music scores of Russian Orthodox Church Music, www.rocm.org. Although he fell ill with cancer that same year, and succumbed to the disease within five years, A. Ledkovsky was astonishingly productive in his work to create and publish numerous liturgical scores, including music for the full services of each of the services of the complete cycle of Orthodox Feasts.
After a struggle with head and neck cancer
, A. Ledkovsky died in his home on Christmas Eve
, 2004. His funeral was served by three bishop
s (ROCOR Metropolitan Laurus, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan
and Bishop Peter of Cleveland) more than one dozen priest
s, several deacon
s, and a chorus of more than 100 singers, who travelled from near and far to pay him homage.
Teupitz
Teupitz is a town in the Dahme-Spreewald district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 29 km northwest of Lübben , and 45 km south of Berlin centre....
— December 24, 2004 in Shirley, NY) was a German-American conductor
Conducting
Conducting is the art of directing a musical performance by way of visible gestures. The primary duties of the conductor are to unify performers, set the tempo, execute clear preparations and beats, and to listen critically and shape the sound of the ensemble...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
, and music editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of Russian
Russians
The Russian people are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Russia, speaking the Russian language and primarily living in Russia and neighboring countries....
descent.
Life
A. B. Ledkovsky was born in TeupitzTeupitz
Teupitz is a town in the Dahme-Spreewald district, in Brandenburg, Germany. It is situated 29 km northwest of Lübben , and 45 km south of Berlin centre....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
during war-time to parents Marina Viktorovna Ledkovsky (née
NEE
NEE is a political protest group whose goal was to provide an alternative for voters who are unhappy with all political parties at hand in Belgium, where voting is compulsory.The NEE party was founded in 2005 in Antwerp...
Fasolt) and Boris Mikhailovich Ledkovsky
Boris Ledkovsky
Boris Mikhailovich Ledkovsky was a Russian-American composer of Church music and father of composer Alexander Ledkovsky.-Life:...
, a prominent choral director and composer/arranger of Russian Orthodox Church
Russian Orthodox Church
The Russian Orthodox Church or, alternatively, the Moscow Patriarchate The ROC is often said to be the largest of the Eastern Orthodox churches in the world; including all the autocephalous churches under its umbrella, its adherents number over 150 million worldwide—about half of the 300 million...
music.
Having emigrated to the United States in 1952, A. Ledkovsky was educated at Trinity School
Trinity School
-Australia:*Trinity College, Perth*Trinity Grammar School *Trinity Grammar School -Spain:*Trinity Language School, a private accredited Spanish language school in El Puerto de Santa Maria, Cadiz-United Kingdom:...
and Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
, where he
earned a B.A. in Music
Music
Music is an art form whose medium is sound and silence. Its common elements are pitch , rhythm , dynamics, and the sonic qualities of timbre and texture...
. Although he developed a successful career as a computer expert and software developer
Software developer
A software developer is a person concerned with facets of the software development process. Their work includes researching, designing, developing, and testing software. A software developer may take part in design, computer programming, or software project management...
, his life's love was his work as a musician
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
of the Russian Orthodox Church.
Having studied choir direction both at university and under his father's tutelage, he took on responsibilities as assistant choirmaster at the Russian Orthodox Synod Cathedral "Our Lady of the Sign" located on Park Avenue at 93rd Street in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
. He also ran a secondary choir for the cathedral's English-speaking parish in the late 1960s.
When his father's health declined, Alexander Ledkovsky assumed full responsibility for the Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia
The Russian Orthodox Church Outside Russia , also called the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad, ROCA, or ROCOR) is a semi-autonomous part of the Russian Orthodox Church....
(ROCOR)'s flagship choir, on Forgiveness Sunday in 1975. He held this post until his own declining health forced him to relegate responsibilities to assistants in 2002.
Musical work
During his tenure, which lasted more than a quarter-century, A. Ledkovsky led a number of unique projects, including concerts at Lincoln Center, performances at Carnegie HallCarnegie Hall
Carnegie Hall is a concert venue in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, United States, located at 881 Seventh Avenue, occupying the east stretch of Seventh Avenue between West 56th Street and West 57th Street, two blocks south of Central Park....
(in cooperation with the Russian Choral Society and the Opera Orchestra of NY), and a number of grand occasions at the cathedral, such as the canonization of the New Martyrs of Russia in 1981, the funeral of Metropolitan Philaret and the memorial services and funerals of many renowned members of the Russian emigrate community, such as choreographer George Balanchine
George Balanchine
George Balanchine , born Giorgi Balanchivadze in Saint Petersburg, Russia, to a Georgian father and a Russian mother, was one of the 20th century's most famous choreographers, a developer of ballet in the United States, co-founder and balletmaster of New York City Ballet...
.
Under A. Ledkovsky's direction, the choir produced two compact disc recordings in 1994: "All-Night Vigil for 700 Years of the Our Lady of Kursk
Our Lady of Kursk
Our Lady of Kursk is an icon of Theotokos of the Sign, apparently painted in the thirteenth century and discovered in a forest near Kursk ca. 1300. It was preserved in the Black Hermitage of the Roots , an abbey founded on the spot of its discovery...
Icon" and "Celebrating the Composer's Centennial: Divine Liturgy of Boris. M. Ledkovsky"
In 1999, A. Ledkovsky launched one of the first websites devoted to online publication of music scores of Russian Orthodox Church Music, www.rocm.org. Although he fell ill with cancer that same year, and succumbed to the disease within five years, A. Ledkovsky was astonishingly productive in his work to create and publish numerous liturgical scores, including music for the full services of each of the services of the complete cycle of Orthodox Feasts.
After a struggle with head and neck cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, A. Ledkovsky died in his home on Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
, 2004. His funeral was served by three bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s (ROCOR Metropolitan Laurus, Bishop Gabriel of Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and Bishop Peter of Cleveland) more than one dozen priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
s, several deacon
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
s, and a chorus of more than 100 singers, who travelled from near and far to pay him homage.
External links
- Russian Orthodox Church Music: Scores from the library of the Synod Cathedral Choir