Sunday, July 18, 2004 AD
Orthodox Church Music
Bought a wonderful CD today - Rachmaninov's Vespers, sung by the Saint Petersburg Cappella conducted by Vladislav Chernushenko (US UK).
The liner notes describe this piece as "without doubt the most immense, accomplished and homogeneous monument in the whole repertory of Orthodox Church music." Well, I'm in no position to judge: but it is certainly glorious stuff. Just listen to the sample tracks on Amazon if you don't believe me. Sadly, the sample tracks stop just before the sixth track ("Rejoice, Virgin and Mother of God"), which is one of the highlights of the entire piece. Guess you'll just have to buy the CD, then. :-)
Aesthetically, there's an awful lot to be said for Orthodoxy: see also John Tavener, especially his extraordinary piece for solo cello and orchestra, The Protecting Veil (US UK), or his choral work based on St John's Gospel, We Shall See Him As He Is (US UK) (US links include sample tracks). Oh, and this.
The liner notes describe this piece as "without doubt the most immense, accomplished and homogeneous monument in the whole repertory of Orthodox Church music." Well, I'm in no position to judge: but it is certainly glorious stuff. Just listen to the sample tracks on Amazon if you don't believe me. Sadly, the sample tracks stop just before the sixth track ("Rejoice, Virgin and Mother of God"), which is one of the highlights of the entire piece. Guess you'll just have to buy the CD, then. :-)
Aesthetically, there's an awful lot to be said for Orthodoxy: see also John Tavener, especially his extraordinary piece for solo cello and orchestra, The Protecting Veil (US UK), or his choral work based on St John's Gospel, We Shall See Him As He Is (US UK) (US links include sample tracks). Oh, and this.
