Some distinguishing features of St. Petersburg (court) church singing tradition at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries. Part 1

The differences between St. Petersburg and Moscow traditions of court singing were formed in the course of historical development of Russian church singing culture. The end of 19 - the beginning of 20 centuries was a period of searching for new ways, establishing new trends in the activities of Court Capella. The reasons of slackening of Capella s monopoly in church history of that period, observed in the field of singing (precentors ) education, censorial and publishing activities, composing and performing work, are complicated and controversial. However, St. Petersburg (court) style of church singing has been a solid basis of church singing activities of St. Petersburg church choirs not only in pre-revolutionary period, but also in the difficult for church history soviet period and up to the present. Performance mastery of St. Petersburg precentors, traditions of St. Petersburg precentors school, «precentors» church music at the turn of the century - is a heritage that requires thorough research and further development.