Russian Christmas Vigil of Nativity of Christ

Russian Christmas Vigil of Nativity of Christ

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
One thing you'll appreciate soon after you begin listening to this recording of Russian sacred Christmas music is how different Russian Orthodox Church traditions are from their Western counterparts. We are brought in touch with these differences only because of the remarkable efforts of Anatoly Grindenko and his Russian Patriarchate Choir, who nearly single-handedly restored ancient Orthodox liturgy to modern practice. This recording presents both monophonic and polyphonic chants, here recorded for the first time, which were used in various Russian monasteries during the 16th and 17th centuries. You won't recognize anything "Christmasy" here--the chants are specifically Russian, complete with drones and lots of open fourths and fifths, and follow the form of a service known as the "Vigil of the Nativity of Christ." But these 12 male singers consistently convey both the solemnity and joy of their subject, from the opening "Prophecy of Isaiah" to the hymn "O Mild Light" and the concluding "Great Doxology." This is an intriguing, musically compelling, and absolutely professional presentation that gives us a rare look at a tradition nearly lost. --David Vernier

Russian Christmas Vigil of Nativity of Christ, Music, Anatoly Gridenko, Russian Patriachate Choir, Christmas / Chanukkah, Christmas Music, Classical

Russian Christmas Vigil of Nativity of Christ

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