Having Seen the Resurrection of Christ

As we have noted in other reviews (cat. Nos. D113, D126), the men's Monastery of the All-Merciful Savior in Ekaterinburg, Russia, has been the focus of an extraordinary revival of early znamenny chant. Because of their fortuitous collaboration with the local conservatory and the involvement of the late Valery Kopanev, conductor of the excellent Domestik Municipal Choir, this monastic choir performs the chants on a level of musical excellence unmatched by many other choirs. This CD presents the Paschal Matins and Liturgy in a way they haven't been heard in Russia for hundreds of years. But even though the chant melodies, taken from 16th-century manuscripts of the Solovetsk and Suprasl' Monasteries, are not immediately familiar to the modern listener, the joy and radiance of the Paschal celebration shine through as brightly as ever. This CD holds important keys to understanding the first 600-700 years of Russian Orthodox liturgical singing, and also offers an outstanding model to those who are attempting to introduce traditional chant in missionary settings in both the Old or New Worlds. Titles are given in English and Russian.--V. M.