Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – A New Joy: Orthodox Christmas (2006) [Official Digital Download 24bit/88,2kHz]

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – A New Joy: Orthodox Christmas (2006)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/88,2 kHz | Time – 55:24 minutes | 922 MB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © harmonia mundi

This Christmas CD includes Estonian, Russian, and Ukrainian unaccompanied liturgical music, hymns, and carols written for the Orthodox Church, which (except for the 1990 piece by Arvo Pärt, and Mykola Leontovych’s “A Song of Good Cheer,” known in the West as “Carol of the Bells”) were suppressed during the Soviet era and have only since then come to light. The music is for the most part written in a late Romantic tonal idiom in the choral tradition of Rimsky-Korsakov, Mussorgsky, and Rachmaninov, and while some pieces have the Slavic gravity associated with Orthodox liturgical music, some have a simpler, folk-like flavor. Alexandr Kastalsky (1856-1926), Kirill Stetsenko (1882-1922), and Georgiy Izvekov (1874-1937) are the composers most generously represented, and their music, written for performance by church choirs rather than for professional singers, while not simple, is within the capability of many amateur groups and would be a welcome addition to the repertoire of Christmas music in Western churches.

Paul Hillier’s performance with the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir is reverent and nuanced, and the choir sings with fervent energy, impeccable intonation, and vibrant tone. The sound is ideal for the music, clear, spacious, and atmospheric.

Tracklist:

1-1. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Bell-ringing at St. Alexander Cathedral, Tallinn, Estonia (00:33)
1-2. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Our Father (Otche nash) (03:00)
1-3. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Rejoice, O Virgin (01:27)
1-4. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Verses before the Six Psalms No. 2 (01:48)
1-5. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Shepherds of Bethlehem (01:31)
1-6. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Oh, What a Wonder! (02:27)
1-7. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Today the Virgin Gives Birth (01:53)
1-8. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Verses before the Six Psalms No. 1 (02:28)
1-9. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – The Angels Exclaimed (01:37)
1-10. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – A New Joy (01:31)
1-11. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Bells Rang Early In Jerusalem (02:08)
1-12. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – When Augustus Ruled Alone upon Earth (03:04)
1-13. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – A Song of Good Cheer (01:44)
1-14. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Throughout the World (01:31)
1-15. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – The Legend (02:46)
1-16. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Bells. Ode 1 (02:58)
1-17. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 3 (01:34)
1-18. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 4 (02:02)
1-19. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 5 (01:41)
1-20. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 6 (02:00)
1-21. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 7 (02:02)
1-22. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 8 (02:09)
1-23. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Refrain before Ode 9 (01:08)
1-24. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Ode 9 (01:40)
1-25. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – God Is With Us (05:16)
1-26. Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir – Blessed Is the Man (03:16)

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