Album Notes

For many centuries the cradle of Orthodox monasticism in Rus Kiev Pechersk (Caves)Monastery was pride of Orthodox world. Later on destroyed by the atheists "heavenly like" cathedral of the Assumption of the Virgin was its adornment. The cathedral choir was the legend and the magnet which attracted thousands visitors and pilgrims.
This rare and hard to find music CD represent the best sacred chants of Russian Orthodox Church performed by the famous monastic male choir of Kiev Pechersk Monastery . During the centuries the specific style of church choir music was formed in the monastery. The origin of the monastery monk chants is in XI century when inok Anthony, arrived from Aphona, founded the Kiev-Pechersk Monastery
Church choir music of Kiev Pechersk monastery organically synthesize Byzantine tradition and folk- singing culture of old Rus.
The first track on this CD is very old and soulful traditional monastery chant "Thy resurrection" which opens the Easter Day. It's very rare recording of this chant because the church choir singing is accompanied by church bells ringing of Big Lavra's Bells Tower.
The next chant "Christ's Resurrection" by Sergey Rachmaninoff is undoubtedly a rarity recordings. Rachmanoff's works are being performed throughout the world. His symphonies, piano concertos are well known. Still, in the vast space of his music THERE ARE SOME PRESERVED CORNERS. One of which is his sacred choir music. When in 1915 the 42-years old Sergey Rachmaninoff had turned to the church choir music, he was living through a hard period of his life. He confessed he was getting weaker and older and was looking for "air, rest and solitude". The concluding words of this chant bore a special significance for the composer. He stressed the phrase "By Death Shall Death Be Destroyed" by sudden break in the sound dynamics, which turns it into an intimate confession.
"Receive Yea the Body of Christ" is Eucharistic chant. "Bless Is The Man", "O, Gladsome Radiance" and "Now Lettest Thou Depart" are very beautiful sacred chants of the all-night vigil service.
The conductor of Monks choir of Kiev Pechersk Lavra is hieromonk Kiril. He is also very good singer with very peculiar voice. His solo in "O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN REJOYS (Ave Maria)" is amazing and I'm sure this bueatiful sacred chant will melt your hart.
Under the influence of south-Slavic tunes Larva's church choir music gained a power and became one of brightest characteristics of Ancient Rus. There are only two traditional Kiev Pechersk chants on this CD ("From My Youth" and "God With Us") because there is another CD specially dedicated to traditional church choir music of Kiev Pechersk Monastery. www.cdbaby.com/churchmusic.
Twenty-three of the 26 tracks on this CD are resonantly sung by the monastic men's choir, while the mixed metropolitan's choir is featured on three tracks. One of them is "O THEOTOKOS AND VIRGIN" by J.Sarti. In 1784 Italian conductor and composer J.Sarti (1729-1802) visited Russia. He was so enraptured by Russia church choir music that he left Italy for Russia and till the end of his days he lived and worked there. He wrote many beautiful sacred chants for Russian Church and one of which is represented on this CD.
From ancient times Kolyadkas and Shchedrivkas (Ukrainian Christmas carols) became a symbol of Christmas time. You'll find some original Christmas sacred chants and traditional Ukrainian Christmas Carols at the end of this CD (tracks #20-25).