O Taste and See - Hymns From the Presanctified Liturgy

O Taste and See - Hymns From the Presanctified Liturgy

Artist: Byzantine Choir of Odigitria
Item number: AB084
Category: Byzantine
Chant Type: Byzantine
Language: English
Label: St Kyrillos the Great Productions
Period: Contemporary
Length: 77'31
Release date: 2006
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1. Lenten Prayer of St. Ephraim the Syrian

2. Introit and Psalm 103

3. Lord, I have Cried

4. O Godly Apostles

5. Keeping a Spiritual Fast

6. At the Prayers of Thy Divine Apostles

7. Now is the Accepted Time

8. O Apostles of the Saviour

9. As we Venerate Today the Cross

10. My Soul

11. In My Wretchedness

12. The Light of Christ

13. Old Testament Reading

14. Let My Prayer be Set Forth

15. Now the Powers of Heaven

16. O Taste and See

17. Thanksgiving and Dismissal

18. Commentary on the Liturgy


This recording by the same Byzantine choir that recorded the Supplicatory Canon to St. Nektarios includes "the most beautiful selections of hymns and readings from the Divine Liturgy of the Pre-Sanctified Gifts, all presented in English. That is to say, it offers what is arguably among the most spiritually important services of the period of Great Lent, beginning with the recitation of the Prayer of St. Ephrem the Syrian followed by Psalm 103. The recording is of high quality, with a ringing clarity. Liner notes include hymn text in English.

By: Benjamin Williams

One senses while listening that the intent of this recording is to take you to the temple, to the place where the service is being offered. This is not a collection of Lenten hymns; rather a recording of perhaps the most sublime service of this penitential period of the church year. It is well done, conveying the feeling of penitence and reverence with impending joy. This comes across in "Keeping a Spiritual Fast" and "In my Wretchedness," wherein the chanting is both soft and sublime, sonorously presented in a manner that engages the listener and pulls them into the mood of the service. The interplay, for instance, between solo voice and chanters on "My Soul's Dignity" is superb and captures the emotion that good chanters put into their singing. While not a substitute for attending the service itself, this recording certainly accomplishes keeping the feeling alive during the subsequent days!