Customer Reviews

Sacred Works

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Ukrainian composer Valentin Silvestrov, born in 1937 describes his music as 'the world singing of itself'. This collection of a cappella sacred songs were recorded in the Cathedral of the Dormition, Kiev, have a unique beauty, politically out of fashion in the Soviet era but now finding free expression among "holy minimalists" such as Arvo Pärt. His 'Liturgical Chants', hymns, psalms and an 'Alleluia' were composed in 2005/2006 and recall an almost disembodied quality, hypnotic and haunting. Silvestrov's interest in the choir came comparatively late. Partly due to conductor Mykola Hobdych's persistent encouragement, he immersed himself more deeply in the choral world and began to study old Russian litanies. Once he had started reading them, he was so fascinated that he wrote some 40 minutes of music within two weeks. By treating the choir as an ensemble of "extremely modest" soloists and dividing the sections into small groups, Silvestrov acquires unique sonic and harmonic effects and an utmost flexibility of melody and rhythm.

The works contained on this recording are as follows: Liturgical chants (2005) Litany, Four spiritual songs - Christmas Song, Dithyrambic Song, Cherubic Song, Alleluia, Bless, O Lord, O Holy God, The Creed, Gloria, Hymn of the Cherubs, The Beatitudes, Ave Maria, Two spiritual songs (2006) Alleluia, Ave Maria, Two spiritual chants (2006) A Mercy of Peace, To Thee we Sing, Two Psalms of David (2006) Fret not thyself because of the ungodly (Psalm 37), O Praise God in His Sanctuary (Psalm 150), Diptych (1995) The Lord's Prayer, Testament (from the poems of T.H. Shevchenko), Alleluia (2006) Evening, Morning, and Night.

Kiev Chamber Choir is conducted by Mykola Hobdych, the person responsible fo the composition of many of these works. Though the solo sections are brief and intermittent, the voices are so fine that they deserve mention: Mykola Hobdych, Ernest Biekirov, Petro Biletskij, Oleksander Biloshapka, Tetiana Havrylenko, Petro Hrekov, Taras Mudrak, Roman Puchko, Victor Sachok and Victoria Zabolotska. Together with the choir these gifted singers create a sense of light and beauty that defies description. It is, simply, beautiful music, and the acoustic of the Cathedral of the Dormition, Kiev enhances the aural experience. This is music for the soul. Grady Harp, February 12

Sacred Works is lovely. I do not know the language but that matters not. The feeling invoked by this perfect compostion and the performance of the singers puts me on Cloud 9 (at least - probably Cloud 300! The Holy Spirit comes into my house or car anytime I play this disc. A true work of sanctity.

My mother had been feeling a little blue, so I thought that the beauty of this CD would bring her some joy. I was right! She called to say how much she was inspired, and had it playing in the background. There's something so lovely about choral music, no matter what your mood is - it enhances it and fills a room with light.