“I was less interested in God and religious ceremonies than in singing of unrivalled beauty.” What Sergei Rachmaninov later said about his early childhood contact with the Orthodox liturgy and its rituals also applied to his later life as a composer. Singing plays a central role in the Russian Orthodox rite: almost the entire service is sung, instruments are not permitted and only the word should take centre stage. This mystical a cappella singing is characterised by its Byzantine tonal system based on eight notes and its strong bass foundation. In combination with the peculiar language of the special Church Slavonic, the result is an archaic, exotic and fascinating world of sound, which Rachmaninov masterfully combines with his modern tonal language in his Ganznächtliche Vigil, written two years before his emigration to the USA.

SERGEJ RACHMANINOW (1873 – 1943)
Ganznächtliche Vigil · All-Night Vigil op. 37
1. INTONATION – PRIIDITE, POKLONIMSIA
Kommt, lasst uns anbeten · Come, let us worship
2:42
2. BLAGOSLOVI, DUSHE MOYA
Lobe den Herrn, meine Seele · Bless the Lord, O my soul
4:47
3. BLAZHEN MUZH
Selig ist, wer nicht dem Rat der Gottlosen folgt · Blessed is the man
4:59
4. SVETE TIHIY
Heiteres Licht · Gladsome Light
3:00
5. NINE OTPUSHCHAYESHI
Herr, nun lass deinen Knecht · Lord, now lettest thou thy servant
3:15
6. BOGORODITSE DEVO
Gegrüßt seist du, Jungfrau Maria · Rejoice, O virgin
3:01
7. SHESTOPSALMIYE
Hexapsalm · The Six Psalm
2:45
8. HVALITE IMIA GHOSPODNE
Lobet den Namen des Herrn · Praise the Name of the Lord
2:10
9. BLAGOSLOVEN YESI, GHOSPODI
Gepriesen seist du, Herr · Blessed art Thou, O Lord
5:45
10. VOSKRESENIYE HRISTOVO VIDEVSHE
Christi Auferstehung haben wir geschaut · Having beheld the resurrection of Christ
3:21
11. VELICHIT DUSHA MOYA GHOSPODA
Meine Seele erhebt den Herrn · My soul doth magnify the Lord
6:43
12. SLAVOSLOVIYE VELIKOYE
Ehre sei Gott in der Höhe · Glory be to God on high
6:33
13. DNES’ SPASENIYE
Heute ist das Heil uns gekommen · Today hath salvation come
1:47
14. VOSKRES IZ GROBA
Als Du aus dem Grabe auferstanden bist · Thou didst rise from the tomb
3:11
15. VZBRANNOY VOYEVODE
Dir, siegreiche Anführerin · To Thee, the victorious leader
1:52
Total time: 56:00

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