Cycles of Grace: Hymns from the Great Feasts

Cycles of Grace: Hymns from the Great Feasts

Artist: Fr. Apostolos Hill
Item number: AB074
Category: Byzantine
Chant Type: Byzantine
Language: English
Label: Liturgica Music
Period: Contemporary
Length: 95'52
Release date: 2005
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Price: $24.98 USD
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1. Tracks 1 & 2. Troparia & Kontakion - Nativity of the Theotokos

2. Tracks 3 & 4. Aposticha & Troparion - Elevation of the Cross

3. Track 5. Katavasias - Holy Cross

4. Track 6. Exapostelarion - Holy Cross

5. Tracks 7 & 8. Troparion & Exapostelarion - Entry of Theotokos

6. Track 9. Glory & Now (9th Hour) - Royal Hours of Christmas

7. Tracks 10 & 11. Kontakion & Troparion - Nativity of Christ

8. Track 12. Katavasias of the Nativity of Christ

9. Track 13. Glory of the Praises - Nativity of Christ

10. Track 14. Troparion of the Forefeast - Theophany

11. Track 15. The Great Blessing of the Waters

12. Tracks 16, 17 & 18. Troparion, Kontakion & Doxastikon - Theophany

13. Track 19. Troparion - Synaxis of John the Baptist

14. Tracks 20 & 21. At the Lity, & Troparion (Great Vespers) - Theophany

15. Tracks 22 & 23. Kontakion & Exapostilarion - Theophany

16. Tracks 24 & 25. Troparion & Kontakion - Annunciation of the Theotokos

17. Track 26. Katavasias - Annunciation of the Theotokos

18. Track 27. Doxastikon - Annunciation of the Theotokos

19. Tracks 28 & 29. Come Receive the Light & Doxastikon - Orthros of Pascha

20. Tracks 30 & 31. Troparion & Exapostelarion - Ascension

21. Tracks 32 & 33. Troparion & The Great Prokeimenon -Pentecost

22. Track 34. Before Thy Cross - Pentecost

23. Tracks 35 & 36. The Troparion & Kontakion -Transfiguration

24. Tracks 37 & 38. Exapostilarion & Doxastikon (Matins) - Transfiguration

25. Tracks 39 & 40. Troparion & Glory & Now (after Ps. 141) - Dormition of Theotokos


In the Eastern Christian tradition, the cycle of Great Feasts follows the Church's liturgical calendar beginning on September 1 and running through August. It is comprised of twelve fixed and variable Feasts, with Pascha (Easter in the West), the "feast of feasts" around which all the rest are centered. Pascha is the ultimate variable feast, with its date changing each year. Associated with Pascha are the feasts of Palm Sunday, Ascension and Pentecost that precede or follow it by a specific number of days. Thus these Great Feasts tend to be associated together. This recording is comprised of two CDs, and is specifically focused on the Great Feasts of the Lord. Unlike Nativity and Pascha which are also holidays in our culture, and thus both visible and available for all who desire to attend, most of the Major Feasts occur on fixed days in the liturgical year, and are often celebrated on week days, making attendance difficult for many. Thus at one level, this recording makes the hymnology of the Feasts more readily available. At another level, it offers a selection of representative hymns from these Feasts available in English. Includes thorough liner notes, comments from the artist, and complete hymn text in English. Also included is a bonus track: a favorite liturgical hymn of Fr. Hill that is seldom recorded.

By: Benjamin Williams

This 2-CD set is Fr. Hill's third recording of Byzantine chant in English, and fills in a missing range of hymnology in recordings in general, and specifically of Byzantine chant in English. The concept of a recording of hymns from the cycle of the Great Feasts is commendable in itself. The selections of representative and "most loved" hymns from these Feasts does a double service: it makes them available in English, and also addresses the teaching role that liturgical hymnology naturally has. Fr. Hill's voice, while still wonderfully clear and with perfect pitch, has matured and it is evident on this recording. His voice has deepened and has become richer, able to convey warmer and deeper nuance, for instance in the Katavasias of the Holy Cross, a beautiful set of hymns sung during Matins (Orthros) of the Feast, while still hitting the thrilling highs, as in To Thee the Champion Leader. As always, he is able to convey the pathos of some hymns (the Exapostelarion of the Holy Cross, reminiscent of (Today is suspended... from Holy Week), the affection of others (Exapostelarion of the Entry of the Theotokos), the reverence of some (Kontakion of the Nativity) and the pure joy of others (the Doxastikon from the Orthros of Pascha). The arrangements presented are typical of those found in the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. The quality of the recording and engineering are very high; clean and crisp. The hymns are sung with commitment and affection, and they come through clear as a bell. If you are a fan of Fr. Hill's recordings, you'll want this CD; if you are interested in hearing the Festal hymns sung in English, this is a must have.