Alexander Alexandrov

Alexander Alexandrov studied at Saint Petersburg Conservatory and Moscow Conservatory. Training under Nikolai Medtner is recorded. The recorded working language is Russian. Employment is recorded with Moscow Conservatory and Academic Music College of the Moscow Conservatory. Works named in the authority record are State Anthem of the Russian Federation, State Anthem of the Soviet Union and The Sacred War. Distinctions recorded are State Stalin Prize, 1st degree, Medal "For the Victory over Germany in the Great Patriotic War 1941–1945", Order of Lenin and Order of the Red Star.

• Name — Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov • Birth Name — Alexander Vasilyevich Koptelov (or Koptelev) • Born — 13 April 1883 • Birthplace — Plakhino, Ryazan Governorate, Russian Empire • Died — 8 July 1946 • Place of death — Berlin, Soviet occupation zone in Germany • Occupation — Composer, musician • Illustration — 1983 Soviet stamp honoring the 100th anniversary of the birth of Alexander Alexandrov

Alexander Vasilyevich Alexandrov, known as Sasha, was born on 13 April 1883 in Plakhino, a village in Ryazan Governorate south-east of Moscow. As a boy, his singing was so impressive that he traveled to Saint Petersburg to become a chorister at Kazan Cathedral.

A pupil of Medtner, Alexandrov studied composition at Saint Petersburg and in Moscow, where he eventually became professor of music in 1918 and choirmaster at Christ the Savior from 1918 to 1922.

Alexandrov founded the Alexandrov Ensemble, and spent many years as its director, in which role he gained favor with Joseph Stalin, the country's ruler during the last two decades of Alexandrov's life. His choir participated successfully in the Universal Exposition of 1937 in Paris.

In 1942, Stalin commissioned Alexandrov and lyricists Sergey Mikhalkov and Gabriel El-Registan to create a new Soviet national anthem, which was officially adopted on 1 January 1944 and was used by the Soviet Union until its collapse in 1991. It became the National Anthem of Russia in December 2000, with Mikhalkov writing the new lyrics. Alexandrov also composed the 1941 call to arms, "The Sacred War", and the official march of the Soviet and now Russian Armed Forces, the Song of the Soviet Army. His works include a number of settings of various Russian folk songs, for example, "Utushka lugovaya".

Alexandrov had a heart attack and died on 8 July 1946 at the age of 63, while on tour in Berlin; some records say he was returning from Germany. He was buried at the Novodevichy Cemetery in Moscow.