Customer Reviews

Sacred Songs of Russia

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If you are looking for a comprehensive survey of the best of the Russian Orthodox liturgical tradition, your search is over. This is the mother lode. First point: I must admit to being something of a purist, and I was at first skeptical that an American choir could perform music of this genre so convincingly; but hearing is believing. Yes, they clearly have included a few honest-to-God Russian basso ringers (and maybe one or two altos); but this is an American choir performing Russian Orthodox liturgical music the way it's supposed to sound - only better. Second point: The selection of pieces is fabulous. This choir's artistic director, Elizabeth C. Patterson, consulted with Vladimir Morosan, the Last Word on the Russian Orthodox choral tradition. The results of this collaboration are reflected in both the breadth and quality of pieces selected. This is literally a millennium of music, beginning with a sample of ancient znamenny chant and ending with three stunning meditations by the late Georgiy Sviridov. Each selection is both accessible and interesting, and a prime example of its composer and/or period. Third point: The individual pieces, with very few exceptions (such as No. 3, Rakhmaninov's `Ave Maria'), are NOT the most well-known and frequently performed warhorses of the Russian Orthodox liturgy. This is not a `Top Ten' recording. That makes this collection all the more interesting. In at least one instance (No. 15, the other Rakhmaninov offering) this may be the only recording available if you're not prepared to dig deep in the discography archives of several dozen universities and conservatories. Fourth point: This is not a new recording, but it marks a standard of quality that few performers in this genre - including native Russian choral ensembles - have since met or surpassed. Elizabeth Patterson has an innate feel for this music. In her previous life, she must have been a Russian monk. Final point: For serious musicians, musicologists and aficionados, this is a perfect gateway to a deeper understanding of this tradition. Buy it!

This is not a recording that you must buy. If you really enjoy russian liturgical music, you won't hate it, but there are a lot of recordings that you would be better served with. It is true that for an american choir, they do a fine job with the language especially. Their general tone and vocal quality was a little bit lacking for me. Their basses were "ok". I thought the singing was just a little too "shouty", even for russian music. I would recommend getting a copy of the vespers as sung by the Dale Warland Singers. Another american group. . . This is the most accurate recording I have heard, and it was done live which impresses me even more!