Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31; Orthodox Hymn Settings - Moscow Chamber Choir

Rachmaninov: Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31

Moscow Chamber Choir / Vladimir Minin 

USSR Chamber Choir / Valeri Polyansky 

Recorded at the Smolensk Cathedral of the Dormition in 1988
Settings by Chesnokov, Arkhangelsky, Davidovsky
Irina Arkhipova, mezzo-soprano; Sergei Babeshko, baritone

“although the best-known Rachmaninov works are not uncharacteristic, they represent only one side of his musical personality. Some of his finest scores have nothing to do with the piano, or the orchestra, and ranking high among them are his two major religious pieces, the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, and the Vespers … the culmination of 100 years of effort by Russian composers to fuse liturgical and art music. Certainly they were not unexpected for Rachmaninov, because the tones of Russian religious choirs – dark, rich, sonorous – haunted his inner ear as much as the sound of piano” (Gramophone)

Pavel Chesnokov (1877-1944): 1. Let My Prayer be set forth before Thee 7:48
2. O Fervent Intercessor, Most Holy Queen, Op.43 No.6 4:29
3. The Eternal Council, Op. 40 No.2 3:35
Alexander Arkhangelsky (1846-1924): 4. Praise Ye the Name of the Lord 5:28
Gregory Davidovsky (1866-1952): 5. Lord now lettest Thy Servant Depart 2:16

Sergei Rachmaninov (1873-1943): Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, Op.31 [53:53]
6. Bless the Lord, O My Soul 4:05 7. Glory be to the Father and Only-Begotten Son 2:39
8. In Thy Kingdom remember us, O Lord (3rd Antiphon) 4:52
9. The Little Entrance: Come, let us Worship 1:33
10. Lord, be Merciful to the Faithful and the Trisagion 3:48
11. Augmented Litany 3:34 12. Cherubic Hymn 5:10
13. The Creed 6:06 14. A Mercy of Peace 3:52
15. To Thee we Sing 3:07 16. Hymn to the Mother of God: It is Truly Meet 2:20
17. The Lord’s Prayer 4:05 18. Communion Hymn: Praise the Lord 2:11
19. Blessed is He and we have seen the True Light 1:28
20. Let our Mouths be filled with Thy Praise 3:28
21. Blessed be the Name of the Lord 0:38 22. [Dismissal]: Glory be to the Father 0:52