The Glory of Byzantium

Lycourgos Angelopoulos (Artist), Divna Ljubojevic (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Jade Records
• ASIN: B000ENC75E
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,827 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #29 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > General
  • #30 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > General AAS
  • #37 in Music > Classical > Historical Periods > Early Music > Vocal & Song > General AAS

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

64 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Blend of Two Styles of Byzantine Chant, June 27, 2006

By 

Volkert Volkersz (Snohomish, WA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glory of Byzantium (Audio CD)

The product description here doesn't tell you that this album features two different performing artists on alternating tracks.

Lycourgos Angelopoulos is well respected in the world of Byzantine chant musicians for his fine work at preserving this glorious ancient liturgical Christian music in the original Greek. Here we find examples of the more melismatic styles of Greek chant.

The surprise for me when I first listened to this recording was the delicate and angelic voice of the Serbian Orthodox woman, Divna Ljubojevic. For a brief moment I thought I was listening to Celtic music, but some of the melodies will be familiar to those who have attended Orthodox services where Slavic-style music is sung.

So here we have two alternating, and contrasting, versions of Byzantine chant. My first time through the recording, I was surprised at this juxtaposition of the two styles, but then I listened to the Greek separately, with its use of microtones, and then the Serbian, with its more Western-sounding tonal system. Now I find the combination to be a refreshing way to approach this prayerful and diverse music.

The track titles will give the listener a hint to the text that is being sung, but unfortunately there are no transliterated texts or translations in the liner notes.

For me, the exciting discovery on this recording is the voice of Divna. I will be looking for more works by her in the future.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Just What I Was Listening For, November 12, 2008

By 

Jeff Farrow - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Glory of Byzantium (Audio CD)

For about a year I have been looking to expand my Orthodox Church CD collection. I did find a few recordings on Amazon that were excellent--but unfortunately the performers were all-male choirs. I think female singers (along with males) represent a major difference with the Orthodox approach, in contrast to early Roman Catholic religious chant (i.e. Gregorian chant & male only choirs.)

I have discussed this aspect the female element plays in the Orthodox Church elsewhere. The Orthodox Church calls Mary, the mother of Jesus,The Holy Mother of God. This is an official designation, elevating her to a level closer to Divinity than the Catholic "Blessed Virgin Mary."

This wonderful CD opens with a male/female choir performing "Hail, Mary." It's depth of rich tonality is a good introduction to the lovely tapestry of sound & feeling to follow. 2 selections later an all-female choir sings yet another interpretation of "Hail, Mary" that is shorter in duration, but exquisite. In fact, the GLORY OF BYZANTIUM is exquisite in every detail. Each selection represents top of the line production value, as well as a pleasing variety of chant & singers. The art work is absolutely beautiful too.

This is one CD of several in the BYZANTIUM series--and you can believe I plan to include them all in my collection.

Orthodox Chants from Russia
Russian Chant for Vespers
The Orthodox Collection
Lay Aside All Earthly Cares: Orthodox Choral Works in English
Hymns to the Mother of God at the Moleben

20 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The glorious voice of Ljubojevic, January 5, 2007

By 

Arthur King - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Glory of Byzantium (Audio CD)

It is well worth the price of this album to be able to listen to the glorious voice of Divina Ljubojevic singing Psalm 102. The best performances on the album, IMO, are those which include female voices.