I will come clean up front in this post and say that I am sure that there will be plenty who do not appreciate this music – but then again, I suspect that is true not only of these links I am posting, but of every piece of music ever written 😃
Tomorrow is Easter Sunday in the Russian Orthodox Church. I remember, a long time ago, that each year Radio 3 would be on all night – this was in the days when it usually closed down at 11pm I think – and broadcast the Easter Vigil. Am I the only one who listened to that?
Russia has a unique choral tradition. In the same way that the Vaughan Williams Mass that I linked last week showcases the English choral tradition, so the All Night Vigil by Sergei Rachmaninoff showcases the Russian one. If you are at all familiar with his work you will find that this is very different to the symphonies and piano concerti. I have chosen to share the Нынѣ отпущаеши or Nunc Dimitis which is the 5th movement. This is another of those “close your eyes and let it wash over you” – and – as usual you can always go and find the recording of the whole work to listen to as well.