Let Thy Spirit (Tschesnokoff)

Gary Gackstatter's arrangement of Tschesnokoff's most famous hymn, "Salvation is Created," is lovely and accessible.

Genre: Band | # of Players: Standard
Level: 2 | Duration: 2:45

Instrumentation
Flute 1/2
Oboe 1/2
Clarinet in Bb 1/2
Clarinet in Bb 3
Bass Clarinet
Alto Saxophone 1/2
Tenor Saxophone
Baritone Saxophone
Bassoon

Horn in F 1/2
Trumpet in Bb 1
Trumpet in Bb 2/3
Trombone 1/2
Trombone 3 or Bass Trombone
Euphonium
(Baritone T.C.)
Tuba

Timpani
Percussion 1 (suspended cymbal, crash cymbals)
Percussion 2 (bass drum)
Percussion 3 (bells, chimes)

Program Notes
Pavel Tschesnokoff (1877–1944) was a leading composer of Russian church music until the formation of the Soviet Union in 1917, at which point all composition of sacred music in Russia came to a halt. Tschesnokoff’s music was not performed publicly again until 1991, long after his death. With the dissolution of the Soviet Union, there was a resurgence of music, particularly of choral groups, in the Russian Orthodox Church, and many congregations favored familiar compositions from the pre-Revolutionary years, such as “Salvation is Created,” Tschesnokoff’s most famous hymn. The text of the hymn is as follows:

Let Thy Holy Spirit come upon us on earth,
Alleluia, Alleluia!

- Gary Gackstatter