Grechaninov, Aleksandr Tikhonovich (1864–1956)

Russian composer. He studied under Rimsky-Korsakov, and earned a living composing music for the Russian Orthodox Church. He left Russia after the Revolution and settled in Paris, France, in 1925. In 1929 he moved to the USA.

Although the son of semiliterate small shopkeepers, Grechaninov managed to study piano at the Moscow Conservatory under Vassily Safonov, but in 1890 he went to St Petersburg as a composition pupil of Rimsky-Korsakov.

Works Stage operas Dobrinya Nikitich and Sister Beatrice (after Maeterlinck's play, 1910); incidental music for plays.

Church music much music for the Russian Church, including 44 complete liturgies; Catholic Church music, including Masses and motets.

Choral Music Pictures for bass solo, chorus, and orchestra; other choral works.

Orchestral five symphonies (1894–1936), elegy for orchestra; concertos for cello, violin, and flute.

Chamber four string quartets.