Here’s a bit of Skylark Ensemble’s Rachmaninoff Vespers at my parish last spring. I’m in the third row, trying to keep it together in the presence of such overwhelming beauty. This clip doesn’t quite show the astonishing basso profundo guys at full blast, but you can get a taste anyway.
@ablerism Some people seem to assume that we sing that sort of thing at my parish. Would that we could! (though Rachmaninof never intended liturgical use, I’m told).
But when you hear some Russian church choirs, it’s easy to see what inspired Rachmaninoff.
@ReaderJohn By sheer dumb luck, my very first CD purchase was Robert Shaw Chorale’s recording of Rachmaninoff’s Vespers.
@ReaderJohn @ablerism I remember being 12 years old and listening to an NPR show review and contrast multiple recordings of Vespers, including the Robert Shaw Chorale version. It’s been a favorite ever since.
@ablerism I have lost it big time hearing this piece live. With Eric Alatorre (the gentleman with the big mustache) in the bass section I would have gone straight to heaven.
@isaacgreene @cjhubbs @ablerism It’s a terrible thing to admit, but I, an Orthodox, was formed musically in the West and would, if I could, choose to give up the ghost with the Sanctus from Duruflé’s Requiem playing.
@ReaderJohn a fine choice! This Protestant will trade you Tchaikovsky’s setting of Hymn of the Cherubim and we’ll call it even.
@ReaderJohn That *is a really good one. I just heard that the Fauré Req will be sung at mass on Sunday! Another favorite.
@ReaderJohn Lovely. (And I assume from 8-9 months ago, unless you count back many months at a time?!)
@ablerism No, it was May 2018. It’s been too long. I’m starting to think one more trip to Paris may be my last international travel.
@bethanyh I’ve sung it live, and Gretchaninoff’s Holy Week Meditations, too, but in a semi-professional chorus, not at church. Among the professionals, not surprisingly, were a couple of those astonishing contrabasses. The most famous American contrabass is probably Glenn Miller.
