The Sacred Spirit of Russia

Led by Craig Hella Johnson and featuring the distinctive American basso profundo Glenn Miller, Conspirare offers a fervently sung and eclectic collection of choral music such as might be heard in the splendor of a Christmas liturgy from a Russian Cathedral. – from Harmonia Mundi package notes

Track Listing

FROM THE MATINS SERVICE

1. The Great Doxology No. 2 (Op. 57) – Alexander Kastalsky, 1856-1926

FROM THE LITURGY OF THE WORD

2. Bless the Lord, O My Soul, (Liturgy, Op. 37, No. 2) – Mikhail Ippolitov-Ivanov, 1859-1935
3. Glory… / Only Begotten Son, (Liturgy No. 2, Op. 29, No. 2) – Alexander Gretchaninov, 1864-1956
4. The Beatitudes – Vladimir Martynov, b. 1946
5. Come, Let Us Worship (Op. 8, No. 2) – Pavel Tchesnokov, 1877-1944
6. Christmas Troparion (Inexpressible Wonder, No. 4) – Georgi Sviridov, 1915-1998
7. Today the Virgin (Op. 7b, Znamenny Chant) – Alexander Kastalsky
8. As Many Have Been Baptized (Op. 18c, Znamenny Chant) – Alexander Kastalsky

FROM THE LITURGY OF THE FAITHFUL

9. Cherubic Hymn (Op. 7, No. 1) – Pavel Tchesnokov
10. The Creed (Liturgy No. 2, Op. 29, No. 8) – Alexander Gretchaninov
11. A Mercy of Peace (Znamenny Chant, Op. 6) – Alexander Kastalsky
12. Hymn to the Mother of God for the Nativity, Znamenny Chant
13. Our Father (Liturgy No. 2, Op. 29, No. 11) – Alexander Gretchaninov
14. Praise the Lord from the Heavens (Liturgy, Op. 42, No. 9) – Pavel Tchesnokov

SACRED CONCERTOS

15. A Wondrous Birth (A Wondrous Birth, No. 7) – Georgi Sviridov
16. We Should Choose to Love Silence (Concerto for the Nativity of Christ) – Andrei Ilyashenko, 1884-1954
17. Now the Powers of Heaven (Passion Week, Op. 58, No. 6) – Alexander Gretchaninov
18. Do Not Cast Me Off in My Old Age (Op. 40, No. 5) – Pavel Tchesnokov

CLOSING OF THE LITURGY

19. Let Our Mouths Be Filled (Liturgy, Op. 31, No. 18) – Sergei Rachmaninov, 1873-1943
20. Blessed Be the Name of the Lord (Liturgy, Op. 31, No. 19) – Sergei Rachmaninov
21. Preserve, O Lord, for Many Years (Liturgy, Op. 79) – Alexander Gretchaninov

22. Our Father – Nikolai Kedrov, Sr., 1871-1940