The Angel Cried: Sacred Choral Music from Russia

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
In the mid-80s, it was noted in an article by a curious vocal specialist that the once-ubiquitous, even stereotypical, deep Russian bass voice had become relatively scarce. Happily, with the end of the Soviet empire and the resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church--and, therefore, increased demand--those foundation voices of the liturgy have returned in plenty. Several of those basses (along with some fine tenors, altos and sopranos) are heard to fortunate effect in this recording. There is a rare example of Tchaikovsky writing in traditional liturgical mode in the song that gives the album its title. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Tracks:

The Russian Soil: Chants Dedicated To Russian Saints
Prayer Of Repentance For Russia
The Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom: Eucharist
I Cried Out To The Lord
Three Chors From The Cycle Days Of Battle, Op.45: On The Sickbed
Three Chors From The Cycle Days Of Battle, Op.45: Deliver Us From Evil
Three Chors From The Cycle Days Of Battle, Op.45: Mother Of God
O Praise Our Lord
Blessed Is The Man
The Angel Cried
Praise The Lord, O My Soul
Vespers: Joyful Light
Vespers: Lord Now Lettest Thou Thy Servant Depart
Vespers: Rejoice, Virgin, Mother Of God
Funeral Mass: Angel
Funeral Mass: Prayer
Funeral Mass: Requiem: Upokoi, Bozhe (Let Them Rest In Peace, O Lord)
Funeral Mass: Requiem: Trisiyatelnoye
Funeral Mass: Requiem: With Thy Holy Ones Let Them Rest In Eternity
Funeral Mass: Requiem: God, Have Mercy On Us - Victoria Smirnova/Denis Khramov
Funeral Mass: Requiem: Blessed Assumption - Victoria Smirnova/Denis Khramov
Funeral Mass: Requiem: Eternal Memory - Victoria Smirnova/Denis Khramov
St. Dmitry Rostovsky's Psalm Of Repentance
Hymn To The Holy Virgin
Three Sacred Chorales: Rejoice, Pure Virgin, Mother Of God
Three Sacred Chorales: O Lord Jesus Christ
Three Sacred Chorales: Our Father

Customer Reviews:

Contemporary Russian Orthodoxy.......2005-12-13

This album is for sophisticated listeners who already know their way around Russian music, and specifically around the Russian sacred choral tradition, at least more than just a little. (NOTE: By `sophisticated,' I do not mean to hint that the music on this album is obscure, dissonant, weird, inaccessible, etc. With the exception of Nos. 1 - 4 and 8 - 11, however, these selections are just lesser known - and undeservedly so.) This recording serves as fitting evidence that the Russian Orthodox choral tradition did NOT die when the Bolsheviks seized power in 1917. To the contrary, this tradition was maintained and revived by many of the composers represented on this album. The album's producers thoughtfully begin with some better known selections: a traditional chant, Tchaikovsky, Arkhangel'sky, Chesnokov and Ippolitov-Ivanov. But even in the case of Chesnokov - who makes a fitting bridge between the `choked off' tradition of the Soviet era and the present - the selections include a triptych of para-liturgical choral essays. (His `Angel Cried,' selection No. 10 on this album, is worth the purchase price alone. If you've never heard this work before, prepare to be transfigured!) Recording No. 11, the best known liturgical composition of Ippolitov-Ivanov, represents this choir's final genuflection to the `traditional' Russian sacred choral tradition, and then we're off! Agafonnikov, Lebedev and Kikta are all living composers who continue to make contributions to this genre. The late Alfred Schnittke, better known for his symphonic, operatic and other modern classical (secular) achievements, is also represented here - given possibly more than his fair share on this CD because of name recognition. If anyone who should be here is missing, that would be Georgiy Sviridov, who wrote a number of stunning para-liturgical pieces in the Russian Orthodox style; but Sviridov's choral work is well-represented elsewhere in the Russian Orthodox (and related) discography. I could raise other quibbles, but that would be unfair. Finally, the performers are equal to the music - suffice it to say that this is one of the finest professional choirs in today's Russia. If the Russian Orthodox liturgical tradition speaks to you, and if you've already become acquainted with the big names (Bortnyansky, Tchaikovsky, Rakhmaninov, etc.) then this recording is definitely for you.

The Angel Cried: Sacred Choral Music from Russia

Average customer rating:

A perfectly bound CD and truly angelic

The Angel Cried: Sacred Choral Music from Russia

Manufacturer: Philips
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000041M0
Release Date: 1997-11-11

Tracks:

Hymn To The Mother Of God
Fervent PrayerTo The Mother Of God
Cherubic Hymn No. 2
Lord, Now Lettest Thou
Cherubic Hymn
Beneath Your Tenderness Of Heart
O Come, Let Us Worship
We Praise Thee
Our Father
O Gladsome Light
Bless The Lord, O My Soul
O Lord, Bless Thine Inheritance - Trisagion
Fervent PrayerTo The Mother Of God: Fervent Prayer To The Mother Of God
The Angel Cried

Amazon.com

In the mid-80s, it was noted in an article by a curious vocal specialist that the once-ubiquitous, even stereotypical, deep Russian bass voice had become relatively scarce. Happily, with the end of the Soviet empire and the resurgence of the Russian Orthodox Church--and, therefore, increased demand--those foundation voices of the liturgy have returned in plenty. Several of those basses (along with some fine tenors, altos and sopranos) are heard to fortunate effect in this recording. There is a rare example of Tchaikovsky writing in traditional liturgical mode in the song that gives the album its title. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Customer Reviews:

A perfectly bound CD and truly angelic.......1999-08-23

A perfectly bound CD in which the integral theme remains true throughout. Its general ambience is heavenly though there is but one thing missing, the soprano has simply not been aloud to portray its acute, necessary qualities.

Track Listings:

Track Listings

track listings

Track Listings

Find the Way Out [Import]

Mendelssohn: Variations Serieuses/Liszt: Concert Etude/Mozart: Sonata in D/Schumann: Kreisleriana

I Watched the Devil Die

Good Time Music: San Francisco Style

I Love Rock & Roll, Vol. 18

Out of the Ghetto: Get Off with Us

Like 3 O'Clock in the Morning/After Hours

Mendelssohn: Concerto for Violin, Piano and Strings/Concerto for Violin and Strings

Not Life Threatening

Looking In

Make Believe [Enhanced]

Latin Throne, Vol. 2 [Explicit Lyrics]

Historia (Bonus DVD) (Amaray Case) [Enhanced]

The Bluebird Recordings 1937-1938

Piano Jazz: McPartland/Hampton