I’m struck by the shear beauty of the Russian Orthodox’s sacred music and how it is a prayer continually to God for unity and for peace. It is in some words too beautiful to accurately describe. This is perhaps where the composer John Taverner got his influence from. The texture of singers goes naturally up and down in tune but that is natural when singing a capella. You could tell the faith in these people are very strong by the very sound of the music they make and the words they speak. These are pleas to the Lord to make their ways straight—that they owe it all to God. If only we had an English translation of what they were saying. I could guess that it is a prayer for repentance unto belief in God, which is perfect. The echo depth adds a flavor quotient to this performance that would otherwise be seen as too dry. The pleading factor is what draws this reviewer to this work, that the Holy spirit would convicts them to turn to God and worship Him. The brilliance of the voices lifting up their voices is enough for anyone to hear conviction and feel like there is an aspect of otherworldliness to this current life other than this life itself. They are beautifully positioned in digestible phrases that keep one wanting more.
These were written way back when choral music was cool, especially sacred music. These are really precious gems that are worth more than a few listens to sink down in your spirit. Music speaks to your heart often times more than words themselves do and this is evidence of that. The music is connected with the spirit in these recordings and in others. It’s the perfect music to be born again to.
