Russian sacred choral music is one of the most outstanding phenomena of the entire European musical culture and has brought forth some superlative works. Ever since the opening up of Russia at the end of the 1980s, this music has become increasingly known and appreciated in the West. If many western choirs still shy away from these compositions, it is probably because of the scarcity of relevant practice-based sheet music.

The two-volume choir book RUSSIA a cappella closes this gap very impressively, and in its content also sets new standards. The first volume, Sacred part songs for mixed voices, presents on an unprecedented scale the broad spectrum of Russian a-cappella choral art. Spread across seven chapters which reflect, in chronological order, the most important styles and trends, the 81 compositions contained in the book represent the entire historical development of Russian sacred choral music. In addition to the genuine classics that are a “must” in any compilation of this kind, here you will come across many a new discovery, some of them even being published for the first time. An appendix with a short introduction to Orthodox liturgical music, an informative overview of Russian sacred choral music, thumbnail biographies of all of the composers whose works are contained in the collection and instructive notes on the works themselves, supplies the necessary background information and makes an essential contribution to understanding the works and the conditions that gave rise to them.

Oriented primarily towards practical concert work, the book provides a rewarding and many-faceted repertoire for both dedicated amateur choirs and ambitious chamber and concert choirs. Equally, the book offers compositions for use in divine service, and a thematic index lists the possible uses of the pieces in the course of the ecclesiastical year. The notation has been carefully edited on the basis of reliable sources. In addition to the original Church Slavonic texts in a well thought-out phonetic transliteration, all of the choral pieces have been provided with singable English and German versions based as closely as possible on the originals. These have been written specifically for the present edition, taking the approach that the musical material of the compositions should be left as far as possible untouched – an exercise that has been carried through with this level of consistency for only the first time. In addition to representative choral recordings on CD, audio aids to pronunciation (spoken by native speakers) will soon be available online.

The editor, Pavel Brochin, received his education in Moscow and has been a successful actor on the German choral scene for over 25 years. For this choir book he has made profitable use of his equally deep knowledge of both cultures. Volume 1 of RUSSIA a cappella opens up new perspectives on the Russian sacred choral culture in all its diversity and individuality and so also makes a valuable contribution to understanding between nations.

Additional material

• • Angel wopijaše [1.2 MB]
  • Blagoobrasnyj Iossif [742.4 KB]
  • Blagosslowi, duše moja, Gosspoda (Ippolitov-Ivanov, Shvedov) [1 MB]
  • Blagosslowi, duše moja, Gosspoda (Lomakin, Dmitriev) [1.3 MB]
  • Blaženi, jaže isbral [384.1 KB]
  • Bogoroditse Dewo, radujssja [499.6 KB]
  • Čertog Twoj [471 KB]
  • Da molcit fssjakaja plotj [1.3 MB]
  • Dewa dnessj [688.6 KB]
  • Diwnoje imja Twoje [588.6 KB]
  • Dosstojno jesstj [796.3 KB]
  • Fsskuju, Gosspodi [1.8 MB]
  • Gosspodi Bože naš [1.7 MB]
  • Gosspotj prosswešcenije moje [1.5 MB]
  • Heruwimsskaja pessnj [751 KB]
  • Hwalite Gosspoda ss nebess [260 KB]
  • Hwalite imja Gosspodne [731 KB]
  • Islijajte pred Nim ssertsa waša [1.3 MB]
  • Jedinorodnyj Ssyne [1.2 MB]
  • Kamo pojdu ot Duha Twojego [1 MB]
  • Na heruwimeh nossimyj [531 KB]
  • Na odre bolesni [883.7 KB]
  • Ne imamy inyja pomošči [847.3 KB]
  • Nowoje čudo [606.1 KB]
  • Nyne otpuščáješy [650.8 KB]
  • Nyne ssily nebessnyja [639.6 KB]
  • O tebe radujetsa [1022.4 KB]
  • Otče naš [915.9 KB]
  • Pat Twaju saščitu [1.4 MB]
  • Pokoj Sspase [1022.9 KB]
  • Pomyšljaju denj sstrašnyj [874.7 KB]
  • Rasbojnika blagorasumnago [555.5 KB]
  • Roždesstwo Twoje, Bogoroditse [744.1 KB]
  • Roždesstwo Twoje, Hrisste [760.4 KB]
  • Sso sswjatymi upokoj [1.4 MB]
  • Ssobora Perwago [1.2 MB]
  • Sswete tihij [824.6 KB]
  • Sswyše prorotsy [715.5 KB]
  • Tain jessi, Bogoroditse, raj [613.5 KB]
  • Tebe, Boga, hwalim [3.6 MB]
  • Tebe pojem [369.4 KB]
  • Utoli bolesni [775.5 KB]
  • Utwerdissja ssertse moje [1.6 MB]
  • Wečeri Twojeja Tajnyja [802 KB]
  • Weličanije Passhi [498.8 KB]
  • Widehom sswet isstinnyj [471.8 KB]
  • Wsbrannoj Wojewode [588.6 KB]
  • Wsyde Bog [312.2 KB]
  • Inhalt / Contents [1.5 MB]