Russian Folk Song. Выйду ночью в поле с конём. I Shall Leave for the Field Tonight on My Horse. Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus

A beautiful folk song sung by the Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus. The first 35 seconds feature the soloist singing alone, unaccompanied, then the chorus gradually breaks into full harmony. This video is of a live performance in April 2008 in Podolsk, the soloist is Vladislav Kosaryov. Get a load of those LOW Russian basses! Dreamy…

Franz Schubert. Ave Maria. sung by Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus

This is an a cappella rendition of the beloved old Schubert standard by the Peresvet Male Chamber Chorus in a live concert video from Podolsk in April 2008. The soloist is Yuri Barkov. 

Sergei Vasilevich Rakhmaninov. From the Vigil, op 37. State Capella Choir of St Petersburg

A performance from the famous setting of the Vigil by Rakhmaninov. It is performed by the State Capella Choir of St Petersburg under the direction of Vladislav Chernushenko. The paintings are by Ivan Glazunov, Honoured Painter of Russia.

Rejoice, O Virgin Birthgiver! composed by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev.

A contemporary setting of this vigil hymn by Bishop Hilarion Alfeyev is matched with photos of ordinary Orthodox Christians in Russia and Alaska. They look rather similar, do they not? Well, we do share a common faith, after all! To their credit, the faithful of the Alaska Church have strayed the least from the practises of the Mother Church. of all Orthodox in America.

Remember to keep the Church of Alaska in your prayers as it going through a Way of the Cross at present. These native people were the first Orthodox in America, and they need our help NOW.

Ask for the intercessions of Patriarch St Tikhon for the Alaska Church he loved so much.

Beautiful Zlatibor: A Blessing from Orthodox Serbia. Part 1. music by Enrique Granados

This is the beautiful land that our Serbian brothers are defending from Albanian misrule. A look at the wonders of the their countryside is enough to convince one of the intensity of the Serbian love for such a motherland. To those with eyes to see, the beauty of the Serbian soul is as evident as is the beauty of the Serbian landscape. The music is by Enrique Granados, played by the incomparable father-and-son team of Celedonio and Angel Romero.

May God preserve Serbia in this time of trial. To my Serbian co-religionists, I pray for you daily. We shall not forget you.

Beautiful Zlatibor: A Blessing from Orthodox Serbia. Part 2. music by Pyotr Ilyich Chaikovsky

This is Part 2 of a video triptych of the beautiful region around Zlatibor in Serbia. Serbia is one of the most lovely regions in the Balkans, certainly more so than Albania, a sad and decrepit place. The music is the scherzo from Chaikovsky’s Symphony nr 4 in F minor, op 36 played by the Vienna Philharmonic under the direction of Claudio Abbado.

Keep the Orthodox Christians of Serbia in your prayers. May God preserve them!

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Beautiful Zlatibor: A Blessing from Orthodox Serbia. Part 3. music by Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov

Part Three of a triptych of the natural beauty of Zlatibor in Serbia, with a focus on the area in the winter season. The music is from Rimsky-Koraskov’s Le Coq d’Or Suite played by the Russian National Orchestra under the direction of Mikhail Pletnev.

Bush and Rice wish to dismember Serbia so it is easy prey for the Muslims. I remind them that Russia liberated the Balkans from the Ottoman boot in 1878, and the Orthodox people have never forgotten this. Russia shall never allow Serbia to be bullied by Muslims again.

Homage to the Serbian People! ¡Homenaje a la Gente Servia! Music by Enrique Granados

This is my tribute to the brave people of Serbia. For the proper mood, I chose a pensive piece by Enrique Granados, played by Celedonio and Angel Romero (father and son, both maestros of the classical guitar). There are NO pictures of the “riot” at the US embassy, as it involved only some 300 people out of the over 150,000 gathered for the rally and the following molieben. The Western news media lied to the people of the West by their obsession with this minor episode. Americans should be ashamed for focusing on this unrepresentative incident. Serbians wish to be their friends, but, they shall NEVER grovel before Bush and his neocon allies.

This video has a Spanish title because Spain has not recognised the UCK criminals in Kosovo. Bravo, to Spain!(more)

When Brothers Dwell in Unity… (Kogda Brat’ya Obitayut v Vseedinstve…). music from the Rakmaninov “Vespers”

I have taken photos of the participants and services at the recent Clergy Conference in Los Angeles CA and matched them with a setting of Blazhen Muzh (Blessed is the Man) from the vespers service by Sergei Rakhmaninov.

I find the choice of music for this video to be an imperative call for all of us. Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly not only applies to us in the laity, it applies to our clergy as well.

There are clergy and bishops following this command, and there are others… who are not. The former are good trees bearing sweet and wholesome fruit. The latter are bad trees bearing poisonous fruit that must be cut down and cast into the fire!

May the example shown by the clergy in Los Angeles be imitated by ALL our clergy, not just some of them!

Doma… s Sem’ei. At Home… with Family. music: “An die Musik” by Schubert, sung by Lotte Lehmann

This is my all-time favourite recording of Schubert’s An die Musik. Lotte Lehmann was not only one of the greatest singers of her time, she showed great courage in her open opposition to the Nazis. I chose Russian domestic art to accompany this, one of the most-loved pieces in my musical life.

A great song by a great composer sung by a great soprano who was a great woman. What more do you need?