Sacred Treasures: Choral Masterworks From Russia

This may be a time when the great choral works can lend some solace to a troubled world and perhaps that is why there is a leaning toward this music from Gregorian Chant through the great composers major Passions to this realm of Russian liturgy. But it is not just time-appropriate to listen again to this magnificent CD of Choral Treasures from Russia: this is simply a recording of vast spaciousness that captures the particular mystery of Russian choral singing.

Opening with mood setting bells the recording features fine Russian and Bulgarian choirs singing works by Rachmaninoff, Tchaikovsky, Gretchaninov, Lvovsky and other composers less well known. The thrill that the 'Russian bottom' range of choral singing is not something that seems accessible by non-Slavic choirs. Here the basses utterly rumble with rich tone and the remainder of the chorus members sing with that special rich vowel sound that is breathtaking. There are other CDs from which to choose, but this is surely one of the finest. Grady Harp, September 05

This selection includes several composers of 19th Century Russian Cathedral Music, when the Orthodox Church in Russia was at its creative height.

Yet this album fails to convey what the Orthodox Liturgy is about, and the intentions of the composers.

Listening to this album, one would believe that all Orthodox music is written at an adagio tempo, beginning in the piano range, swelling to a great climax at forte volume at some midpoint of the text, and then diminishing again to a piano. This is false: an American New Age selection of Mystical Music, not a representation of the liturgical tradition. This CD fails to capture the moments of jubilance, of loud, even shouted alleluias, of allegro tempos, of dissonant chords resolving into glorious harmonies.

For example, this CD contains several versions of the Cherubic Hymn, one of the high points of the Orthodox Eucharistic Liturgy. In Orthodox liturgy, this hymn begins with the choir singing about the choir of angels preparing for the incarnation of Christ in the Bread & Wine of the Eucharist, sung while the clergy do the preparatory prayers and incense the church & congregation. The second portion is an ecstatic welcome to that incarnation, full of alleluias, ebullient joy, rapture. This CD contains only excerpts, the first portion of the hymn: none of that exultant joy is captured here. The settings are incomplete, artificially truncated. They contain neither the complete intention of the composer nor the integrity of the liturgical text.

For students of either the composers or of Orthodox Liturgy, this CD will ineluctably fail to satisfy. Which is tragic: the choir attains a dazzing level of performance, a balance of voices, an astonishing breath-control, phenomenal intonation. The reverb is enough to indicate a vast, worshipful space, without creating so much echo as to be distracting or annoying (as some recordings of Orthodox liturgical music can be). For persons seeking a comparatively shallow, new-Age "mystical experience by media," the CD retains merit.

This is simply the most beautiful sacred choral music I have ever heard. The long, sustained, exquisite harmonies transport me to another place and time -- a welcome relief from our hurried and noisy world. It soothes, it lifts, it calms, and renews the mind, body, and soul. It is a frequently played favorite at our house.

Some slow-paced choral music bogs down and drags. Although slow and soothing, this never drags, but imparts a lovely energy even in its calm. My Catholic childhood probably allows me to feel particularly at home with this music, but this is not a prerequisite to loving this CD. We have aethiest friends who also count it among their favorites. It was their first choice for calming their infant daughter.

Please don't stay away from this CD because it is sacred music. Since it is not in English, you won't be distracted by the words. It is simply a sublime listening experience for anyone.

I love this CD. If the criticisms of the Russian Orthodox believer on this site is to be believed, then we are all missing out on the immense grandeur of sacred Slavic music. Evenso, this is a gorgeous CD. I can only imagine these voices rising up in the onion domes of the Orthodox churches. Furthermore, the basses are astounding as are the tenors. And that is why I have given only 4 stars to this CD. The acoustical recording is poor. The treble and the bass knobs need to be negated when these choirs hit the high notes or the low notes. There two other gorgeous works of sacred music that I recommend: 1. Ennio Moriccone's The Mission; 2. Rachmaninov's Vespers. Beautiful in their own right. Yes, that Ennio Morriccone.

There are 3 different CD's about Russian Choir "A Cappella" music which can be discussed & reveal a certain enjoyment to different people with different needs or means:

"Ikon" sung by the Holst Singers on Hyperion is the middle ground that gives a well balance & beautiful music from an English choir group. If you did not know they were English, you would think of them as Russian. Most songs are Russian classics from Sviridov, Gretchaninov, Kalinnikov, & Tchaikovsky with modern versions from Part, Gorecki, & Nystedt. The highlight is from the female sopranos which give an angelic & awl inspiring spiritual uplift that must not be missed.

"Sacred Treasures" sung by several groups including The Russian State Symphony Cappelle, The Leningrad State Academic Choir, The Bulgarian National Choir, & a few other groups on Hearts of Space give the most authentic Russian that to English ears may sound slow & uneventful. Yet to a person that knows Russian, this CD will cause the most goose bumps due to its rightful intensity with music from Rachmaninov, Bortniansky, Kedrov, Gertchaninov, Tchaikovsky, Christov, Turchaninov, & Lvovski.

"Ancient Echoes" sung by the Chorovaya Akademia on RCA Victor may give the best first impression due to its well made production that will give a serious work out to any professional stereo system, yet with further study will reveal an over dramatized style that may get in the way. Songs from the composers Sheretiev, Nikolsky, Golovanov, Strokin, Bortnyansky, Grechaninov, Riutol, Tchaikovsky, & Chesnokov.

If your into Russian "A Cappella" music, give these 3 CD's a try & decided for yourself.