[.ca] Sergey Rachmaninov: Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31

From Amazon.com:
You might not expect to find an outstandingly well-sung and idiomatic recording of so profoundly Russian a work as Sergey Vassilyevich Rachmaninoff's Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom emanating from the Heartland and a group called the Kansas City Chorale, but you would be limiting yourself and your expectations unnecessarily. This is a beautifully realized performance of a spiritually moving and harmonically lovely score. It is a more complete version than that recorded by the St. Petersburg Chamber Choir, and for that reason is the first choice in CDs of this music. --Sarah Bryan Miller

Not just good, but THE BEST:
How do you get an an American choir from the midwest to make a superior recording of the most recorded major work in Russian Church Music? First, they use an actual Protodeacon (Fr. Andre Papkov) for the exclamations. Most recordings don't even use a deacon (which during the litanies is like listening to half of a conversation), and those recordings that do have a deacon, usually have some non-Orthodox singer come in and sing the part. This makes for a superfluous and mediocre performance by the "deacon," who usually has absolutely no knowledge of how a deacon in the Russian Orthodox Church sould sound. Second, the choir is coached by experts who specialize in the field of Russian Liturgical Music. Other recordings don't even come close to what a Russian choir should sound like. This choir has REAL "Russian" basses who are mellow and the foundation of the choral sound, and not those loud, out-of-control baritones. The sound is beautifully blended and doesn't feature the sopranos screaming above the rest of the choir, like on other recordings. Their diction is perfect and crystal clear, which makes them sound like Russians. Thus, it is no wonder why Nos. 8 (Cherubic Hymn), 12 (We Hymn Thee), and 14 (Our Father) sound like you've entered the heavenly realm. Finally, the CDs are packaged with beautiful and informative liner notes, and a complete translation of the entire liturgy, in both English and in the Slavonic phonetic.

This sure doesn't \osound\c like Kansas!:
Don't jump to conclusions and assume that a group that calls itself the "Kansas City Chorale" can't perform the Rachmaninov "t. John Chrysostom Liturgy" the way it should be. I nearly missed out on what is a truly amazing and gorgeous recording because of musical snobbery. 'What could people in Kansas possibly know about Russian?' Apparently, quite a lot. And with the aid of the sumptuous, golden voice of Father Andre Papkov, a singer from the New England Conservatory who has made it his business to become a definitive voice in Russian liturgical singing, you get the full sense of this most gorgeous mass. I actually preferred it over several Russian recordings, sad to say, because the Kansas City Chorale was better able to capture the idiomatic style that is central to this type of singing - seamless and blended, with huge architectural harmonies and extremely effective dynamics that bely their small size (only 30 singers although they sound like at least double that). Buy this one and you won't be sorry!

Not just beautiful but awesome...:
For all the years,I've been looking for some kind of inspirational music to help ease and soothe the tension and all the problems of the world that I have been having.I have collected many religious songs,choral work,instrumental and so on.This one I have found while browsing on the net and someone accidentally or maybe proposedly put it in my e-mail through "beliefnet.com".When I listened it,I said to my self this is what I have been looking for.The music and the choir is so beautiful,I wondered how the choir can make such a wonderful arrangement.Sometimes I wish I could bring this CD to the next world if I'm allow to.Try it,I'm sure you will love it....

Heavenly:
This Protestant loves beautiful church music whereever he can find it. And Russian Orthodox church music is just about the most beautiful in the world. As a Protestant, I obviously do not how this SHOULD sound. I only know that some of this music is so hauntingly lovely it's scary. I also know that the choir is outstanding here and that the sound quality of the CD is extraordinary. Buy this. You won't regret it.

Authentic Russian singing from the prairie!:
Who would ever have guessed that such an authentic-sounding performance of this quintessentially Russian choral music would originate from Kansas City? The Kansas City Chorale, surely one of the finest groups currently singing in the US, is augmented by several extra basses (who sing those low C's with apparent ease) and by a US-based Russian orthodox priest singing the celebrant. It's no surprise that a New York Times music critic nominated this recording for record of the year.

• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 1, The Great Litany
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 2, Bless The Lord, O My Soul
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 2, The Little Litany
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 3, Glory To The Father...Only Begotten Son
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 3, The Little Litany
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 4, In Thy Kingdom
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 5, Come, Let Us Worship
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 6, O Lord, Save...Holy God
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 7, The Augmented Litany
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 8, The Cherubic Hymn
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 9, The Litany Of Supplication And Father, Son...
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 10, The Creed
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 11, A Mercy Of Peace
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 12, We Hymn Thee
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 13, It Is Truly Fitting
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 13, The Litany Before The Lord's Prayer
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 14, Our Father
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 15, And To Your Spirit... Only One Is Holy
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 16, Praise The Lord From The Heavens
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 17, Blessed Is He And We Have Seen
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 18, Let Our Mouths Be Filled
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 18, The Little Litany
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 19, Blessed Be The Name Of The Lord
• Liturgy Of St. John Chrysostom, Op. 31: No. 20, Glory To The Father And Many Years