Rare choral gems and celebrated sacred music from the Russian Orthodox Church.

Most Christian liturgies are strongly associated with singing, but none are defined by the intoned human voice quite like those of the Eastern Orthodox Churches. The ‘spoken’ word is entirely absent from the Russian liturgy, lacking as it does the element of spiritual theatre endowed by the solemn chants of the Znamenny, Kievan and other chant traditions. No surprise then, that there should be a wealth of choral music associated with this liturgy, dating back to the 16th Century and evolving more-or-less uninterrupted until the sudden decline in the Church’s fortunes which accompanied the Bolshevik Rebellion in 1917.

Russian choral music has been a feature in Tenebrae’s concert performances since the choir’s inception, and this exquisite collection includes some little-known gems, rarely heard outside Russia, as well as some familiar favourites from this vast area of choral repertoire.

Programme

Rachmaninov – Priidite, poklonimsia from All-Night Vigil
Rachmaninov – Velikaya Yektenia from Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Rachmaninov – Heruvimskaya pesn from Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Rachmaninov – Nïne otpushchayeshï from All-Night Vigil
Golovanov – Heruvimskaya pesn
Kalinnikov – Svete tihiy
Glinka – Heruvimskaya pesn
Chesnokov – Svete tihiy
Golovanov – Otche nash
Chesnokov – Tebe poyem
Rachmaninov – Prositelnaya Yektenia from Liturgy of St John Chrysostom
Gretchaninov – Nïne silï nebesïya
Chesnokov – Heruvimskaya pesn
Sheremetiev – Nïne silï nebesïya
Rachmaninov – Bogoroditse Devo from All-Night Vigil
Rachmaninov – Blazhen muzh from All-Night Vigil
Golovanov – Slava Ottsu (Yedinorodnï)
Tchaikovsky – Legend (The Crown of Roses)
Kedrov – Otche nash
Rachmaninov – Vzbrannoy voyevode from All-Night Vigil

Artist(s)

Nigel Short, Tenebrae