VOCES8: Spaséñiye, sodélal (Salvation is created) - Pavel Tschesnokoff REACTION! 

"This is such a haunting melody and marvelously performed. As for the sadness in this song: Pavel Chesnokov wrote this hymn shortly before the 1917 Communist Revolution in Russia. Immediately afterwards, the communist government banned the production of sacred music and forced religious composers such as Chesnokov to compose purely secular music. In 1931, the communist government dynamited the Cathedral of Christ the Savior (whose last choir master was Chesnokov), an event that so traumatized him that he stopped writing music all together. In 1944, Pavel Chesnokov would die of starvation while standing in a bread line, 30 years denied the Eucharist and having never heard his own hymn sung." I have copied this from a comment on the Voces 8 web site as i could not have said it better. It explains so much about this music. There are several things I wish to mention; this recording is from a rehearsal, not a performance. That explains the performers casual dress. I believe the microphones are behind the singers. Please note that this, as are most of Voces 8 performances, is being done from memory. One seldom mentioned point about Voces 8 is their incredible volume of work. If you go to RU-vid and search Voces 8, the list goes on and on.

I’ve been following these guys for years. Heavenly music!!!!!!❤ Thankyou for this- we need more Voces8. You would love Eric Whitacre’s “ Sleep”. It’s the most calming beauty you’ll ever here. I think Voces8 does it too.

I have sung this song several times. My fave was with the Indianapolis Men's Chorus. I will try to figure out a way to link to it so you can hear it with all male voices. Thank you for this reaction to this wonderful piece.

Great way to start my day. Beautiful.

Wow. Sounds like angels. That is an eternal sound.