The Third Rome

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Excerpts

Mikhail Glinka (1804–1857) Kheruvimskaya pyesn’ (The Cherubic Hymn)

Modest Mussorgsky(1839–1881) Angyel vopiyashe (The angel cried out to the Lady full of Grace)

Pyotr Tchaikovsky (1840–1893) Tyebye poyem (from Op. 41) (We hymn Thee, we bless Thee)

Translations of the texts

Alexander Arkhangelsky
K Bogoroditsye prilyezhno
(К Богородитсе прилежно)

Let us fervently beseech the Mother of God, though we are sinful and unworthy, and call out in repentance from the depths of our souls: "Help us. O Lady, in Thy tender-heartedness; hasten, for we perish because of our many sins. Turn not Thy servants away empty, for Thou art our only hope.”

Pyotr Tchaikovsky
Tyebye poyem
(Тебе поем)

We hymn Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks to Thee O Lord; we pray to Thee, O our God.

Nikolai Golovanov
Nïnye silï nyebyesnïya
(Ныне силы небесныя)

Now the Powers of Heaven serve invisibly with us; lo, the King of Glory enters.
Lo, the mystical sacrifice is borne up, fulfilled.
Let us draw near in faith and love and become partakers of life eternal.
Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Alexander Kastalsky
Milost’ mira
(Милость Мира)

A mercy of peace! A sacrifice of praise!
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ … be with all of you.
And with your spirit.
Let us lift up our hearts.
We lift them up unto the Lord.
Let us give thanks unto the Lord.
It is fitting and right to bow down to the Father, and he Son, and the Holy Spirit: The Trinity, one in essence and undivided. Holy! Holy! Holy! Lord of Sabaoth! Heaven and earth are full of Thy glory! Hosanna in the highest! Amen. We hymn Thee, we bless Thee, we give thanks to Thee, O Lord, and we pray unto Thee, O our God.

Alexander Grechaninov
Blagoslovi, dushe moya Gospoda
(Благослови душе моя Господа)

Bless the Lord, O my soul, blessed art Thou, O Lord. O Lord my God, Thou art very great. Blessed art Thou, O Lord. Thou art clothed with honour and majesty. Blessed art Thou, O Lord. The waters stand upon the mountains. Marvellous are Thy works, O Lord The waters flow between the hills. Marvellous are Thy works, O Lord. In wisdom hast Thou made all things. Glory to Thee, O Lord, who hast created all!

Modest Mussorgsky
Angyel vopiyashe
(Ангел вопияше)

The Angel cried out to the Lady Full of Grace: ‘Rejoice, O Pure Virgin! And again I say: Rejoice! Thy Son is risen from His three days in the tomb! With Himself He has raised all the dead! Rejoice, all ye people!’ Shine! Shine! O New Jerusalem! The glory of the Lord has shone on thee! Exult now and be glad, O Zion! Be radiant, O Pure God-bearer, in the resurrection of Thy Son!
?Dmitri Bortnyansky
Vozvyedokh ochi moi v gorï

(Возведох очи мои в горы)

I will lift up my eyes to the hills, but where shall I find help? My help comes from the Lord who has made heaven and earth. He will not suffer thy foot to stumble, and He who watches over thee will not sleep. Be sure He who has charge of Israel will neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord himself is thy keeper, he is thy defence upon thy right hand; so that the sun shall not strike thee by day, nor shall the moon by night. The Lord will defend thee from all evil: it is He who will guard thy life. The Lord will defend thy going out and thy coming in: from this time forward for evermore.

Mikhail Glinka
Kheruvimskaya pyesn’
(Херувимская песнь)

Let us who mystically represent the Cherubim, and who sing the thrice-holy hymn to the life-creating Trinity, now lay aside all cares of this life; (Amen.) that we may receive the King of All, who comes invisibly borne up by the angelic host. Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.

Alexander Arkhangelsky
Pomïshlyayu dyen’ strashnïy
(Помышляю день страшный)

I think upon the fearful day and I lament the deeds of my wickedness. How shall I answer the immortal King or how shall I dare make appeal against the judgement, prodigal that I am? Gracious Father, only-begotten Son, Holy Spirit, have mercy upon me.

Pavel Chesnokov
Blazhen muzh
(Блажен муж)

Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked. Alleluia. For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish. Alleluia. Serve the Lord with fear and rejoice in him with trembling. Alleluia. Blessed are all who take refuge in him. Arise, O Lord! Save me, O God! Alleluia. Salvation is of the Lord, and thy blessing is upon thy people. Alleluia. Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit, both now and ever and unto ages of ages. Amen. Alleluia, glory to Thee, O God!

Pavel Chesnokov
Gospodi spasi
(Господи спаси)

O God, the Savior of devotion, and all-hearing. Amen. Holy God, Holy Mighty, Holy Immortal, have mercy upon us.

Details of the recording

The CD was recorded on 21 and 22 March 2009, at St Mary Abchurch, Abchurch Lane, London, EC4N 7BA

The recording was made, engineered and edited by James Bull (Panphonic Productions) , and reproduced by Sound Performance Ltd.

The singers

Soprano
Liz Aram; Annette Foerger; Mona Hess; Nicola Johnstone; Susan Opie; Sabine Schildknecht; Patricia Wenz

Alto
Ann Flett; Tessa Freebairn; Penny Lloyd; Jill Lundquist; Mary Pearce; Mary Verdult;

Tenor
John Biggins; Margaret Jackson Roberts; Russell Moller;

Bass
Sebastian Borger; David Bressloff; Barry Creasy; Chris Jarman; Malcolm Mackenzie; David Revolta; Roland Rosner

The quartet members in Vozvyedokh ochi moi v gorï were: Mona Hess, Susan Opie, Tessa Freebairn, Ann Flett

The soloist in Milost’ mira was Malcolm Mackenzie

Acknowledgements

Collegium Musicum of London is grateful to the following, without whose help this recording would not have been possible.

Liz Aram:
inspiration and creative input

John Biggins (of Aerta Creative):
sleeve design and execution

James Bull (of Panphonic Productions):
sound engineering and editing

Barry Creasy:
management, organisation and sleeve notes

Jill Lundquist:
choir fixing

Noëlle Mann (formerly of the Serge Prokofiev Archive) and Oxford University Press: provision of editions of previously unpublished works

Judith Meier:
music hire and organisation

Peter Owens:
conducting, musical direction, and Russian-coaching

Fr. Philip Warner and Robin Thomas (of St Mary Abchurch):
hire and use of the church.