News Archive

May 2009

Bournemouth Syphony Chorus to perform Rachmaninov's Vespers in aid of Priory Music Foundation

The Bournemouth Symphony Chorus visits the Priory on Saturday 30th May 2009 for a performance of Rachmaninov's mighty Vespers, given in aid of he Priory Music Foundation. The chorus will be conducted by Neville Creed, its former Musical Director. They will be joined by Joy Robinson and Lynton Atkinson as soloists, who are generously giving their services for the same cause.

Rachmaninov wrote his Vespers in 1915 in memory of Stephan Smolensky. The work had only a few performances in Moskow before Rachmaninov left Russia and was subsequently performed in New York in 1920 and translated into English by Canon Winfred Douglas with revisions by the composer.

The work comprises fifteen parts, and forms what is called in Russian the Combined Prayer Service or All Night Vigil, consisting of the vespers and matins service linked together for the night of vigil preceding the great holy days. Rachmaninov was motivated by the shocking experience of war to draw on old Russian liturgical material to give expression to his patriotic feelings and reveals the close relationship between religious feeling, folk music and national identity. The works draws upon ancient texts and liturgical melodies, and it is often difficult to hear precisely where traditional melody stops and Rachmaninov's own begin. The composer makes the most out of the possibilities inherent in the medium of an unaccompanied choir from unison to polyphony, and includes many combinations of soloist and choir. Meditative, inward-looking movements alternate with rhythmically energetic movements - particularly evident in the ninth movement, Blessed art Thou, O Lord. The All Night Vigil is now ranked amongst the highest artistic achievements in the realm of Russian church music.