Editorial Review:

Item Description:
SACRED TREASURES V: FROM A RUSSIAN CATHEDRAL features mainly 20th century and
contemporary composers. There are several selections from Liturgy of Peace by Archbishop
lonafan (Yeletskyh) of Kiev in which the eastern Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is sung to the
melodies of Western Gregorian chants, creating a musical synthesis of the two traditions.

Nikolai Kedrov Sr. s famous setting of The Lord s Prayer is sung by the Eva Quartet in
traditional Bulgarian women s folk style. They appear again in To Thee We Sing by Dobri
Christov, Bulgaria s greatest sacred music composer.

The Ektenia by N. Frunza is an exquisite example of the Slavonic style in which a single
angelic voice floats above a dense carpet of a cappella voices. The Sound of Spirit by American
composer Georgia Kelly is not from the Orthodox tradition, yet is similar in structure and feeling
to the Ektenia. Kiev s Credo Chamber Choir gives a passionate rendition of Holy God by Russia s
Georgiy Sviridov. Three hymns from Rachmaninov s version of the Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom
and one from Tchaikovsky s version, along with O Gentle Light, are powerful examples of singing
by Russia s massive mixed choirs.

Estonian Urmas Sisask s spectacular Dominus Vobiscum, though not Orthodox, reveals
the influence of Orthodox chant. It is Truly Meet is one of many pieces by composers who left
the USSR and continued to create abroad. Shen Khar Venakhi is a lovely 12th century Georgian
hymn in honor of the Mother of God. The numerous repetitions of Amen, Alleluia and Gospodi
pomilui ( Lord have mercy ) throughout the compilation create a unifying theme.

All the pieces and performances are infused with a solemn and deeply devotional quality.
The singing is spacious and warm, creating an atmosphere of holiness and benediction. The
intention was to weave hymns and verses into a seamless tapestry in which the whole is greater
than the sum of its parts, and the individual elements of the compilation become movements in
a choral symphony of timeless beauty.

ELLEN HOLMES, PRODUCER









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Disc 1:

1. Lord's Prayer (Archbishop Ionafan)
2. Our Father (N. Kedrov, Sr.)
3. Ektenia of Fervent Supplication (N. Frunza)
4. Grant This, O Lord (Sergei Rachmaninov)
5. Bless the Lord, Praise the Lord, Amen (Archbishop Ionafan)
6. The Sound of Spirit-Choral Epilogue (Georgia Kelly)
7. Holy God (Georgiy Sviridov)
8. To Thee We Sing (Dobri Christov)
9. Ektenia (Sergei Rachmaninov)
10. Dominus Vobiscum (Urmas Sisask)
11. O Gentle Light (17th Century Traditional)
12. To Thee We Sing (P. Tchaikovsky)
13. It Is Truly Meet (harmonized by M. Konstantinov)
14. Shen Khar Venakhi (Traditional Polyphony)
15. Praise the Lord, Amen (Archbishop Ionafan)
16. Amen, Alleluia (Sergei Rachmaninov)

Rating: - * Return of Sacred Treasures ... The original Sacred Treasures CD is justly acclaimed for bringing beautiful, sublime Eastern Orthodox music to American listeners. Unfortunately, the subsequent discs in the series did not live up to the original's standard. Sacred Treasures 2 was an ill-conceived recording of Allegri's "Miserere Mei" with instrumental accompaniment. Sacred Treasures 3 went back to the Eastern Orthodox music; it was good, just not that compelling compared to the first disc. Sacred Treasures IV didn't add anything, as it was a recording of Western music that had already been recorded better elsewhere. The latest in the series brings Sacred Treasures back to the sublime heights of the original, with atmospheric Orthodox church music, primarily by 20th century composers. I highly recommend this CD for anyone who is looking for beautiful, peaceful music to enjoy and to seek as a brief refuge from the harried world we live in. Rating: - * Sublime! ... I LOVE the entire Sacred Treasures series, but for some reason this one just really DOES it to me! There's something about the way the producer, Ellen Holmes, put this together that is pure magik. I have been playing it every morning as a meditative background to start my day. And to tell you the truth, I've played it so many times, I actually had to get a new one! Rating: - * Another sublime offering from Sacred Treasures ... These are some of the best performances of this repertoire to be found on CD. The album would make a great gift for any lover of choral music, but particularly those who appreciate traditional Russian sacred music and the rich legacy which it fosters in our current times. The Credo Chamber Choir, featured on Track 7, Sviridov's "Holy God," is excellent. The piece, which is lush and tonal, sounds more modern than some of the other works, and the choir displays amazing breath support, with beautiful cadences and a sense of phrasing that would put many choirs to shame. Other standout performances include those of the Eva Quartet, which is the Anonymous 4 of the Bulgarian music tradition. Their offerings (Track 2 and Track 8) help to break up the deeply beautiful, but cavernous singing in most of the selections, with a poignantly innocent and brighter sound. The album contains pieces from a variety of traditions: Bulgarian, Georgian, Estonian, the Orthodox liturgy, and even a piece by American composer Georgia Kelly, performed by the Los Angeles Master Chorale (Track 6). In this work, one can hear the synthesis of some of these musical traditions as presented by the American choral voice. Track 10, Urmas Sisask's Dombinus Vobiscum, sung by The Chamber Choir Eesti Projekt, is heavily influenced by orthodox chant, and passes the text through the different voices, finally fading back into the shadows with the basses. This is a great CD and a must-have for any serious collector. Rating: - * Excellent collection ... If you're a fan of this sort of music, you're undoubtedly already a listener of the other albums in the excellent 'Sacred Treasures' series. If enjoyed Sacred Treasures I, III and IV, you will love this collection as well. If you're new to this genre, I urge you to check it out. Sacred Treasures I, III, IV and V are an absolutely perfect place to start. All tracks are wonderful, but track 7 (Holy God / Sviridov) itself justifies buying this disk. It is an absolutely divine recording of one of the best songs by one of the finest composers of Russian choral music. If I had to pick only 3 songs to go with me onto a desert island this would be one of them. Tracks 2 and 8 also stand out. I have many other albums like this one, but I have not heard an all-woman recording in this genre before. Track 10 is steadily growing to become one of my very favorite choral songs. So, once again, I highly recommend this album!