Vechnaya Pamyat (Eternal Memory). traditional Russian

 

This is the last hymn of the Pannykhida (Memorial Service for the Reposed). It has only two words, Vechnaya Pamyat (“Eternal Memory”). An Orthodox choir from Moscow under the direction of Viktor Popov sings it in the traditional Russian setting. It can make the stones weep.

It is presented against a background of Russian memorials. I dedicate this to all fallen Orthodox warriors. May the Lord grant them eternal repose. We thank and honour them.

Rodina Slyshit (The Motherland Hears). Dmitri Khvorostovsky

Rodina Slyshit was a popular song of the Soviet period (it dates from 1961, from the time of the space flight of Yuri Gagarin). This recording has an interesting wrinkle to it. It starts off with a home recording of Dmitri Khvorostovsky as a boy singing this song accompanied by his father Aleksandr on the piano. Then, it segues into a contemporary recording of Mr Khvorostovsky with full orchestra. The song has a backdrop of “mood landscape” paintings by Pavel Osinyn.

BMD

Video. Blagoslovi Dushe Moya Gospoda (Vespers)

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The first psalm (Psalm 103, Septuagint numbering) of the Vechernya (“evening service, Vespers) in the Ipatiev Monastery Chant, with harmonisation by Archimandrite Matfei Mormil, the grand old man of modern Russian Orthodox chant. Mr Gorbik, the director of this choir, is one of his students. This is accompanied by icons of the New Martyrs of Russia. The final image is particularly powerful. It is a new pattern of icon of the Mother of God called Stand for Christ with the Martyr’s Cross. It has become popular in the homeland over the last ten years.

BMD

Dmitri Belyukin. The Death of Pushkin

The Death of Pushkin (Dmitri Belyukin, no date (1990s-2000s?))

My cyber-friend Mimi has just made a post mentioning Aleksandr Pushkin (1799-1837). She wishes me to give some links to sites concerning this great Russian poet. No problem! But, let’s take a second to give an overview of the man that most consider the greatest poet in the Russian language.

Pushkin is considered the founder of modern Russian literature, and he published his first poem at fifteen. There is a famous painting by Ilya Repin depicting him reciting his verses in front of Derzhavin, a famous poet of the age preceding him (it is posted below). Pushkin was a political liberal, and was often in trouble with the authorities. He is the one person most responsible for the founding of modern literary Russian, and his poems (such as The Bronze Horseman) are known by most Russians by heart. He died two days after being wounded in a duel.

To get a more detailed view of Pushkin, here are some links:

1. Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aleksandr_Pushkin

2. http://www.kirjasto.sci.fi/puskin.htm

3. Pushkin’s Poems http://www.pushkins-poems.com/

4. The Pushkin Page http://falcon.jmu.edu/~pleckesg/Pushkin/

5. Pushkin Memorial Museum http://www.museum.ru/pushkin/pushe1.htm