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A listening guide
(1) Ouverture – 0:00 – 4:08
The solemn beginning (shaked by the strings tremolos) takes us immediately into the drama, with plenty of trills and powerful chords of the orchestra over a dotted rhythm. There are however quicker themes and passages, which are nearly heroic, while other ones are more tenouos, including an organ solo. When the choir starts singing, the tempo changes from Allegro to Adagio.
(2) “Strashnoje i prjeslavnoje tainstvo dnes djejstvujemo sritsa: (Frightful and most potent secret, to which we are privy on this day:) – 4:08 – 6:10 (End of Ouverture)
Now everything stops, then the music progressively gathers momentum, although the tempo is clearly slower than before. The choir insists on the word ‘dnes’ (this day), which is the shorter one of the line, highlighting the topicality of the Mystery, that is actually timeless.
(3) njeosjajemyj udjerzhivajetsa: vjazhetsa rasrjeshajaj Adama ot klatvy; (The holy one has beeen taken prisoner. He, who freed Adam, is himself in bonds;) – 6:11 – 7:13
ispytujaj sjerdtsa i utroby njepravjedno ispytujetsa; (He, who nourished heart and soul, is now become sacrifice) – 7:14 – 7:44
v tjemnitsje zatvorjajetsa, jazhe bjezdnu zatvorivy; (He, who has passed over the abyss, now lies in prison) – 7:45 – 8:00
Pilatu prjestoit, jemuzhe trepetom prjedstojat njebjesnyja sily; (He, before whom the heavenly powers trembled, appeared before Pilate) – 8:01 – 8:21
zaushajetsa rukoju sozdanija Sozdatjel’: (the hand of the Creator strikes down his creation) – 8:22 – 8:37
na drejevo osuzhdajetsa sudjaj zhivym i mjertvym: (the Judge over death and life is himself condemned to the cross) – 8:38 – 9:01
vo grobje zakljuciajetsa razoritjel’ ada. (He, who has conquered damnation, is destined for the grave.) – 9:02 – 9:39
All the paradoxical images contained in this passage of the Byzantine liturgy are treated one by one and with special care by Sarti. The first one stands out against the other in terms of relevance and length, but the violent fifth scene sticks out as well, with a meaningful pause stressing the contrast between the words ‘sozdanija’ (creation) and ‘Sozdatjel’ (the Creator).
(4) Izhe vsja tjerpjaj milosjerdno, i vsjeh spasyj ot kljatvy, (O you, who suffers out of love and rescues mankind from damnation) – 9:49 – 10:08 and 10:25 – 10:51
nezlobivje Gospodi, slava tjebje” (Lord without Malice, Honor and Glory be Yours!). – 10:09 – 10:24 and 10:52 – 12:00
The appeal to God and His mercy is seald by the unexpected “piano” on the word “milosjerdno” (“out of love”) and the marvellous passage “Nezlobivje Gospodi, slava tjebje” shortly before the end.
(5) Da voskrjesnjet Bog, (Arise, o Lord) – 12:01 – 13:19
It’s one the most exciting episodes of this Oratorio, with shining contributios from the orchestra and the choir.
(6) i rastociatsa vrasi Jevo, i da bjezhat ot litsa Jevo njenavidjashii Jevo. (And his enemies were dispersed. Before His glance they who hated Him do flee.) – 13:20 – 20:52
It’s a long and powerful fugue, divided into three episodes and particularly fit for the line. Some passages suggest the idea of the ‘dispersion’ of God’s enemies. The choir highlights several times the word ‘vrasi’ (enemies) and the expression ‘i da bjezhat’ (do flee), with some scuplted or nearly hammered figures.
(7) Jako iscjesajet dym, da iscjesnut, jako tajet vosk ot litsa oghnja, (As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts in the flame,) – 20:53 – 21:40
tako da poghibnut grjeshnitsy ot litsa Bozhja, (so will the evildoer before the glance of the Lord.) – Da 21:41 a 22:12
A circular tune, initially threatening, then unexpectedly light, describes the idea of “melting” and “disappearing”. The neat cut on the word “tako” (so) confirms resolutely the comparison.
(8) а pravjednitsy da vozvjeljatsa, da vozradujutsa prjed Bogom, da nasladjatsa v vjesjelii. (But the righteous will rejoice and jubilate before the presence of the Lord.) – 22:13 – 29:04
A violin solo introduces the line with an embellished theme, describing the sober rejoicing of the righteous, It’s the only piece of the Oratorio which is sung by the soloists. Towards the end (from 28:35) there is time for a little violin cadenza.
(9) Vospojte Bogu, pojtje imjeni Jevo (Praise the Lord, honor His name.) – 29:05 – 29:37
Hvalite Boga vo svjatyh Jevo, hvalite Jevo vo utvjerzhdjenii sily Jevo. (Praise the Lord in His Holiness;Praise Him in His everlasting dwelling!) – 29:38 – 30:00
Hvalite Jevo na silah Jevo, hvalite Jevo po mnozhestvu vjelicestvija Jevo. (Praise Him for His wondrous deeds!Praise Him for his eternal strength!) – 30:01 – 30:23
Hvalite Jevo vo glasje trubnjem, hvalite Jevo vo psaltiri i gusljeh. (Praise Him with fanfares, Praise Him with harp and zither!) – 30:24 – 31:33
Hvalite Jevo v timpanje i litsje, hvalite Jevo vo strunah i organje. (Praise Him with drum and born, Praise Him with lyre and organ.) – 31:34 – 32:10
Hvalite Jevo v kimbaljeh dobroglasnyh, hvalite Jevo v kimvaljeh vosklitsanija (Praise Him with crashing cymbal, With crashing cymbal praise the Lord!) – 32:11 – 32:53
Vsjakoje dyhanije da hvalit Gospoda. (All who lives, praise the Lord!) – 32:54 – 33:43
Alliluia
(Halleluja)” – 33:44 – 34:30
The parade of the instruments listed by the Psalm gives to Sarti the opportunity to bring into play the trumpet, the pizzicatos (‘harp and zither’), the drum and last but not least the organ: when the the ‘crashing cymbal’ is evoked, the orchestra and the choir prove all their potential, while in the following passage (from 32:54), after a quiet moment, we have a paroxysmal crescendo that bursts into the final Allegro.
| Church Slavonic language | Transcription | Translation |
| (2) Страшное и преславное таинство днесь дѣйствуемо зрится: | Strashnoje i prjeslavnoje tainstvo dnes djejstvujemo sritsa: | Frightful and most potent secret, to which we are privy on this day. |
| (3) неосязаемый удерживается; вяжется разрѣшаяй Адама отъ клятвы; испытуяй сердца и утробы неправедно испытуется; въ темницѣ затворяется, яже бездну затворивый; Пилату предстоитъ, емуже трепетомъ предстоятъ небесныя силы; заушается рукою создания Создатель: / на древо осуждается судяй живымъ и мертвымъ: во гробѣ заключается разоритель ада. | njeosjajemyj udjerzhivajetsa; vjazhetsa rasrjeshajaj Adama ot klatvy; ispytujaj sjerdtsa i utroby njepravjedno ispytujetsa; v tjemnitsje zatvorjajetsa, jazhe bjezdnu zatvorivy; Pilatu prjestoit, jemuzhe trepetom prjedstojat njebjesnyja sily; zaushajetsa rukoju sozdanija Sozdatjel’na drejevo osuzhdajetsa sudjaj zhivym i mjertvym: vo grobje zakljuciajetsa razoritjel’ ada. | The holy one has beeen taken prisoner. He, who freed Adam, is himself in bonds; He, who nourished heart and soul, is now become sacrifice. He, who has passed over the abyss, now lies in prison; He, before whom the heavenly powers trembled, appeared before Pilate; the hand of the Creator strikes down his creation; the Judge over death and life is himself condemned to the cross; He, who has conquered damnation, is destined for the grave. |
| (4) Иже вся терпяй милосердно, и всѣхъ спасый отъ клятвы, незлобиве Господи, слава тебѣ. | Izhe vsja tjerpjaj milosjerdno, i vsjeh spasyj ot kljatvy, nezlobivje Gospodi, slava tjebje”. | O you, who suffers out of love and rescues mankind from damnation, Lord without Malice, Honor and Glory be Yours! |
| (5) Да воскреснет Бог, | Da voskrjesnjet Bog, | Arise, o Lord. |
| (6) и расточатся врази Егo, и да бежат от лица Его ненавидящии Его. | i rastociatsa vrasi Jevo, i da bjezhat ot litsa Jevo njenavidjashii Jevo. | And his enemies were dispersed. Before His glance they who hated Him do flee. |
| (7) Яко исчезает дым, да исчезнут, яко тает воск от лица огня, тако да погибнут грешницы от лица Божия, | Jako iscjesajet dym, da iscjesnut, jako tajet vosk ot litsa oghnja, tako da poghibnut grjeshnitsy ot litsa Bozhja, | As smoke disappears, let them disappear; as wax melts in the flame, so will the evildoer before the glance of the Lord. |
| (8) а праведницы да возвеселятся, да возрадуются пред Богом, да насладятся в веселии. | а pravjednitsy da vozvjeljatsa, da vozradujutsa prjed Bogom, da nasladjatsa v vjesjelii. | But the righteous will rejoice and jubilate before the presence of the Lord. |
| (9) Воспойте Богу, пойте имени Его. Хвалите Бога во святых Его, хвалите Его во утвержении силы Его. Хвалите Его на силах Его, хвалите Его по множеству величествия Его. Хвалите Его во гласе трубнем, хвалите Его во псалтири и гуслех. Хвалите Его в тимпане и лице, хвалите Его во струнах и органе. Хвалите Его в кимвалех доброгласных, хвалите Его в кимвалех восклицания. Всякое дыхание да хвалит Господа. Аллилуиа. | Vospojte Bogu, pojtje imjeni Jevo. Hvalite Boga vo svjatyh Jevo, hvalite Jevo vo utvjerzhdjenii sily Jevo. Hvalite Jevo na silah Jevo, hvalite Jevo po mnozhestvu vjelicestvija Jevo. Hvalite Jevo vo glasje trubnjem, hvalite Jevo vo psaltiri i gusljeh. Hvalite Jevo v timpanje i litsje, hvalite Jevo vo strunah i organje. Hvalite Jevo v kimbaljeh dobroglasnyh, hvalite Jevo v kimvaljeh vosklitsanija. Vsjakoje dyhanije da hvalit Gospoda. Alliluia. | Praise the Lord, honor His name. Praise the Lord in His Holiness; Praise Him in His everlasting dwelling! Praise Him for His wondrous deeds! Praise Him for his eternal strength! Praise Him with fanfares, Praise Him with harp and zither! Praise Him with drum and born, Praise Him with lyre and flute, Praise Him with crashing cymbal, With crashing cymbal praise the Lord! All who lives, praise the Lord! Halleluja! |
