Chrysostom

Chrysostom

Artist: St John of San Francisco Men's Chorale
Item number: AJ095
Category: Russian
Chant Type: Russian
Language: Church Slavonic
Label: St John of San Francisco Men's Chorale
Period: Contemporary
Length:
Release date: 2008
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Price: $17.98 USD
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1. Bless the Lord, O my soul - A. Kastalsky

2. Blessed is the man - Pochaev

3. 1st Tone Dogmatikon - Znamenny chant, harm. A. Kastalsky

4. O Gentle Light - Georgian chant

5. The Lord is King - Archimandrite Matthew

6. Litany at Litiya - Greek chant

7. Theotokos, Virgin, Rejoice - Deacon S. Trubachev

8. Praise ye the name of the Lord - M. Konstantinoff

9. Megalynarion to St. John Chrysostom- customary

10. Blessed art Thou, O Lord - Znamenny chant, harm. B. Ledkovsky

11. Today is salvation - Znamenny chant

12. Greeting of the Bishop with bells: It is truly meet - Greek chant, harm. A. Lvov

13. Vesting of the Bishop (a) Go up the mountain, (b) Thy Soul Shall Rejoice

14. Ton Despotin - A. Lvov

15. 1st Antiphon: Bless the Lord, O my soul - Ancient chant

16. Beatitudes - J. Gardner

17. We venerate Thy Cross - Znamenny chant

18. Prokimenon in the 1st tone - Kiev-Pechersk Lavra chant

19. Alleluia, in the 2nd tone - Byzantine

20. Cherubic Hymn - 17th Century melody "the thief saw"

21. A mercy of peace - Kievan chant harm. A. Kastalsky

22. It is truly meet - Ryl Monastery

23. Our Father - Smirnov

24. In everlasting remembrance - N.N. Kedrov-the son

25. Troparion to St. John Chrysostom - Valaam Monastery Chant

26. Memory Eternal - customary

27. Festive Bell Peal


"Chrysostom" is the second production of St. John of San Francisco Men's Chorale, directed by Nicholas Kotar, and is a recording dedicated to the life and memory of St John Chrysostom. The Chorale was asked to sing the services celebrating the jubilee of St John Chrysostom at a memorial sponsored by the Russian Orthodox Chruch Outside of Russia in Setember, 2007, and that performance became the genesis of this project. The hymns selected are from the Vigil and Liturgy, with classic arrangements by major Russian composers such as Kastalsky and Lvov as well as chant arrangements (Znamenny, Kievan, etc.) and some contemporary arrangements. Hymns are performed in Church Slavonic with some in English. 20 page liner notes booklet with full hymn text in English and Church Slavonic.

By: Benjamin Williams

As noted, this recording includes hymns from the Vigil service and Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, prepared as part of the jubilee celebration in the Hierarchs honor. As such, one would expect to hear the major hymns, arrangements by major composers, other traditional arrangements, and on top of that a great performance. All are delivered. The selection of arrangements is terrific, the performance it absolutely top notch, the recording is crystal clear, and the engineering/mastering is super too. On top of that, it is one of the few recordings of Russian chant released in the last few years that delivers all of this in a lush, rich Russian choral sound?one that gives the impression of many, many great voices singing together in a large and acoustically perfect cathedral. Many of the hymns just seen to sweep over you, carrying you off to where the angels sing. This recording took place at Holy Virgin Mary Cathedral in San Francisco, which explains part of the effect. Hymns are sung both in Church Slavonic and English, and having a portion of the hymnology in English is both welcome and delightful. Finally, the inclusion of old chant forms along with classic arrangements and contemporary arrangements makes this a representative cross-section of the beauty and wonder of Russian choral music.