Russian Orthodox Music: Musique Sacree Russe

Conductor Hiermonk Amvrosiy and his all male choir stand as something of an aberration in the Russian choral scene. On the one hand they perform in a choir's usual haunts: cloisters, churches, and other pious settings. On the other hand, Hieromonk Amvrosiy and his flock gig in what some ardent believers may think of as the nether world of secular concert halls. Though this kind of boundary jumping is extremely unusual among Russian Orthodox choral groups, Hieromonk Amvrosiy and his posse can get away with because they are considered to be among the best in their field and the content of their songs are still about God. This CD, Musique Sacree Russe (Russian Orthodox Music), affords the listener an opportunity to sample director Hieromonk Amvrosiy's work in whatever setting one chooses: secular, scared, neither, or both. Musique Sacree Russe presents excellent renditions of works written by such favored 19th-20th century Moscow School of music composers as A. Grechaninov, V. Kalinnikov, N. Cherepnin, P. Chesnokov, N. Golovanov, and priest Georgy Izvekov. The sounds on this disc are powerful, sensitive, and full-bodied, yet articulate. The rich polyphonic tapestry that these pious chanters weave is multi-layered, harmonious, and often spiked with provocative counterpoints. All in all, Musique Sacree Russe (Russian Orthodox Music) is a first rate example of sacred tunes from our spiritual comrades. ~ John Vallier