As Far as the East is from the West
By Gennady Lapaev & Kurt Sander
The East/West Festival Chorale
Peter Jermihov, Conductor
About This CD:
The bright future of Orthodox Choral music is vividly captured on As Far as the East is from the West. Eighteen new settings of hymns common in Orthodox Christian worship make their debut on this CD. Sung in both English and Church Slavonic, the music on this CD was inspired by the reunification of mother Russia with her émigré Orthodox churches.
Both Gennady Lapaev and Kurt Sander are professional musicians with years of practical experience conducting choirs in Russian Orthodox parishes. This makes them uniquely qualified to create a choral aesthetic which moves the faithful to prayer without attracting undue attention to the music itself.
Kurt Sander directs at St. George Russian Orthodox Church in Cincinnati, Ohio, and teaches at Northern Kentucky University. Gennady Lapaev conducts at the Ascension Cathedral in Tver, Russia. Both Lapaev and Sander have published numerous other choral works to critical acclaim around the world.
Peter Jermihov directs the East/West Festival Chorale, which was assembled to record this CD. Jermihov is a accomplished conductor, deeply familiar with the Russian Orthodox liturgical music.
CD Contents
- O Come, Let us Worship – Sander
- Bless the Lord, O my Soul – Lapaev
- Blessed is the Man – Sander
- O Gladsome Light – Sander
- Prayer of St. Symeon – Sander
- Virgin Mother of God, Rejoice – Sander
- Praise Ye the Name of the Lord – Lapaev
- Resurrectional Troparia – Lapaev
- My Soul Doth Magnify the Lord – Lapaev
- The Great Litany – Lapaev
- Bless the Lord, O my Soul – Lapaev
- The Beatitudes – Sander
- The Cherubic Hymn – Sander
- The Anaphors (A Mercy of Peace) – Sander
- Open to Me the Doors of Repentance – Lapaev
- Let My Prayer Arise – Sander
- The Angel Cried – Sander
- The Angel Cried – Lapaev