Comfy Space & Rachmaninov

This coming Sunday should prove extraordinary in several ways. Not only is this the second Sunday and thus our youth-centered Comfy Space liturgy, but it is also the Sunday on which several of our youths will celebrate Solemn Communion. This latter ritual is an opportunity for youths that have already been baptized to receive concentrated teaching about the Eucharistic sacrament and to celebrate its reception.

But that’s not all! The Saint Nicholas Choir will be present with the lay clerks to sing some pieces in Old Church Slavonic. These youths—some of whom will receive Solemn Communion—have been learning these works for some weeks now in preparation for a recording of choral Compline, to be released on YouTube in July.

One of these is Rachmaninov’s beautiful setting of the Marian hymn Rejoice, Virgin Mother of God (Bogoroditse Devo) from the Vespers portion of the All-Night Vigil. Here’s the text, and a performance by an English choir:

Rejoice, O Virgin Mother of God
O Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee.
Blessed art thou among women,
And blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus,
For thou hast born the Savior of our souls.

Available for your enjoyment: Bogoroditse Devo, Rachmaninov, St. John’s College Choir https://youtu.be/Eq5_--wa41U

Choir of St John's College, Cambridge, Bogoroditse Dyevo - by Sergei Rachmaninoff

We hope to see you on Sunday!

Dr Justin Appel, Director of Music