Titov Vasily Polikarpovich

Main article: History of music in Russia

Vasily Polikarpovich Titov (real name and surname Vasily Titovich Korobov) is a Russian composer, stands out for his scale of talent and fertility.

Biography

There is no exact data on the dates of birth and death of Titov. It is assumed that the composer was born around 1650.

In 1678, he was first mentioned as a choirboy in the Choir of the Sovereign Choirboys. Judging by archival data, the singer soon took a leading position in the choir of Ivan V - obviously, thanks not only to vocal, but also to composer talent.

Probably, by the mid-1680s, Titov was quite known as a composer. Titov composed music for the "Poetic Psalter" by Simeon Polotsky (the composer presented a copy of this manuscript with dedication to the ruler Princess Sophia), as well as for the collection of Polotsk "Months." The Rhymmotvor Psalter is a collection of three-voice treatments of the Psalter, on which Titov worked in 1682-1687 (according to other sources: in 1680, after 1682, in the 2nd half of the 1680s), was published in 1687.

• The full text of the "Rhymmotvorna Psalms"

Titov's psalms on these texts are considered in Russian musicology the beginning of the cantic tradition in Russian music, although, apparently, a further and partially begun study of various archives will allow the establishment of earlier monuments of this genre.

Until 1698, Titov continued to serve as a singing clerk (until the dissolution of the choir), then was an inspector at the Moscow City Hall and, probably, was in charge of the singing school. Manuscript of the turn of the XVII-XVIII centuries. calls Titov also "the royal master that the Savior has in Nova" (i.e. in one of the cathedrals of the Moscow Kremlin) "a priest's clerk."

Using texts of a religious nature, the composer managed to overcome their limitations and create sincere and full-blooded music addressed to man. An example of this is the festive choral concert "Rts to Us Now" (1709), which in allegorical form glorifies the victory of Russian weapons in the Battle of Poltava, is one of the peaks of Titov's works. Pierced by the feeling of a bright celebration, masterfully conveying the mood of mass jubilation, this concert captured the composer's immediate response to the most important event of his time.

There is no documentary information about the future fate of the musician. Some researchers, following the music historian N. Findeisen, attribute the date of Titov's death presumably between 1710 and 1715.

Titov's extensive work covers various genres of part singing. Based on the experience of the older generation of masters of part writing - Diletsky, Davidovich, S. Pekalitsky - Titov gives his choral scores baroque pomp and juiciness. His music is gaining widespread recognition. This can be judged by the numerous lists of Titov's works preserved in many manuscript vaults.

The composer created more than 200 large works, including such monumental cycles as services (liturgies), "Dogmatics," "Theotokos of the Resurrection," as well as numerous party concerts (c. 100).

• "Services of God Vasily Titov." N.Yu. Plotnikova, 2012

The exact number of Titov's works is difficult to establish, since musical manuscripts of the XVII-XVIII centuries. the name of the author was often not indicated.

The musician used a variety of performing compositions: from a modest three-voice ensemble of the cantic type in the "Poetic Psalter" to a polyphonic choir with 12, 16 and even 24 voices.

Being an experienced singer, Titov deeply comprehended the secrets of an expressive, nuanced choral sound. Although his works do not involve instruments, skillful use of the choir's capabilities creates a juicy, multi-membrane sound palette. The colorfulness of choral writing is especially characteristic of party concerts, in which powerful exclamations of the choir compete with transparent ensembles of various voices, different types of polyphony are effectively compared, contrasts of frets and sizes arise.

The lively emotionality, warm soulfulness of Titov's music retain the power of influence on the listener today. However, shortly after Titov's death, the musical tastes of the Russian public changed, and the composer, like the tradition he represented, was practically forgotten. In 2022, Titov's music is included in the repertoire of concert choral groups, his "Great Perennial"^[1] sounds in churches].

CD with music of the XVIII century

Three Russian composers: Nikolai Leontyev, Ivan Yunkin, Ignatius Dubrovsky - Soloists of Catherine the Great

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Three Russian composers: Nikolai Leontyev, Ivan Yunkin, Ignatius Dubrovsky - Soloists of Catherine the Great

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Notes