All-Night Vigil, Op. 37

Sergey Rachmaninoff

Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir (Paul Hillier, cond.)

album cover

Pulling an All-Nighter, Old-School Style

With this piece for unaccompanied chorus, composer and pianist Sergey Rachmaninoff transformed centuries-old chants from the Russian Orthodox Church service into bold (and timeless) spirit music. It was written in 1914, during the years of the Great War and just before the Russian Revolution of 1917, a period of major upheaval in Russia and throughout the world. Though he was in what historians now see as his composing prime, Rachmaninoff spent much of that year touring as a performer. Some suggest that the All-Night Vigil was his response to the hardships of war, his way of seeking solace in chaotic times.

The piece is, to be sure, far more contemplative than the great Russian's other works from around the same time. For ten of the piece's fifteen sections, Rachmaninoff (1873–1943) starts with the liturgical chants that underpin the Orthodox service; the other five follow chant structure more loosely, with orchestral shadings and moments when the voices approximate bells or trumpets. Then, breaking with church style, he uses multiple layers of harmony to enhance the fervent emotional tones. Rachmaninoff created shapely melody lines that resemble liturgical chant and at the same time reach well outside the rigid prescriptions of church music. Listen for the passages for tenor and mezzo-soprano soloist, which are saturated with a rhapsodic lyricism.

There is something almost mystical about Paul Hillier's version of the All-Night Vigil. Hillier emphasizes the inward turn of the piece, and under his direction the ensemble sings in a way that's gently stirring. Though the singers recognize the "hybrid" nature of Rachmaninoff's composition, they treat it as spiritual music, reflecting both the influence of the Lutheran church and the ancient pagan beliefs that still prevail in modern Estonian society. This is true of the gilded sopranos and the quintes-sential Russian basses; to experience the bone-rattling power of low notes, check the Nunc Dimittis, which shows off the rich hues of this Estonian choir. They're deep. Like the work itself.

Genre: Classical
Released: 2006, Harmonia Mundi
Key Tracks: "Lord, Now Lettest Thou," "O Gentle Light," "The Six Psalms," "My Soul Magnifies the Lord"
Catalog Choice: The Bells/Symphonic Dances, Russian State Symphony Orchestra (Valery Polyansky, cond.).
Next Stop: Giuseppe Verdi: Requiem
Book Pages: 625–626

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Comments:

#1 from Anastasia - 11/04/2008 7:33

This recording of Rachmaninov’s Op. 37 is far superior to the Estonian Choir, and even more superior to Robert Shaw’s attempt. This is hands down, across the board, no contest, the best recording of this music. In particular, the best version of “Nunc Dimittis”. It is performed by Russians in a Russian church and is unparalleled in beauty. I’ve listened to it for years and it still gives me chills every single time.

#2 from shane, Nashville, Tn - 12/20/2008 6:54

As a fan of Rock and Jazz for the last 35 years, I am only now starting to explore the world of classical music. This recording is a thing of beauty, and you do not have to be religious to appreciate it. I highly recommend it to everyone.

#3 from Andrew, Columbus, OH - 11/17/2010 11:47

I had a chance recently to hear the State Symphony Capella of Russia perform selections from this during a North American tour.

“The Six Palms” was performed so perfectly that this one piece is easily in my top TEN, let alone top 1000.

Thanks for the great website!

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