Bogoroditse Devo by Rachmaninov, Choral Vespers Chant, St. Louis Catholic Church, Austin, TX

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Comprised of 15 movements, Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigils draws from the three canonical hours of Russian Orthodox Vespers (1-6), Matins (7-14) and the First Hour (15). "Bogoroditse Devo” opens in solemn adoration in the low ranges but crescendos at 1:36, unleashing emotion and energy suggesting an ocean wave that crests, tumbles and slowly trickles its way to shore, its rivulets of sound finally coming to their rest. The zenith amplifies the words "Yako Spasa rodila" echoing the cries and pangs of childbirth in the words "for you have borne." Mary's welcome suffering delivers to us the One who will lift those in darkness as the "the Savior of our souls." The closing hushed tones transport us to a place we know in the darkest recesses to be our deepest and most true feeling of kinship with the ineffable All that is, and has ever been. Rachmaninov cherished this work to the end, requesting that it be played at his funeral:
"Rejoice, virgin mother of God,
Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you.
Blessed are you among women,
and blessed is the fruit of your womb,
for you have borne the Savior of our souls."
Director of Sacred Music: Eric Newell, BA, MA, DMA (in progress)
Vespers Schola Members:
Doug Haunsperger
Teresa Haunsperger
Tim Hissam
Mike Monahan
Sarah Saldana
Dominique Sharifi
Michael Smith
Nikos Warren