Херувимская песнь (Kheruvimskaya pesn)–Русский хор Йельского университета

Yale Russian Chorus: Kheruvimskaya pesn (The Cherubic Hymn), by Gavril Ya. Lomakin (1812-1885), transcribed by Denis Mickiewicz. Gavril Lomakin published his setting of the Divine Liturgy based on znamenny chant in 1884. A serf of the Sheremetiev family, in whose private church he sang, Lomakin was granted his freedom and became a singing teacher in several of the foremost St. Petersburg musical establishments, includig the Court Choral Academy. The liturgy proceeds through various litanies, hymns, and the Collects, Epistle and Gospel to the Major Entrance, or offertory procession. The choir begins the Cherubic Hymn as the celebrant, accompanied by torch-bearers and thuriers, emerges from the Altar, carrying the chalice and paten, containing the Holy Gifts of bread and wine, which are about to be consecrated. The hymn is interrupted here as the celebrant, standing before the Royal Doors, offers his intentions for all living Christian rulers, Bishops, and laymen. He then re-enters the Altar, and the Royal Doors are closed and the curtain behind them is drawn, in preparation for the Anaphora (central Eucharistic prayer). The choir completes the hymn, which now assumes a more triumphant character, as the words call to mind the triumphal processions of ancient conquerors, who were carried into the city on shields and spears by their soldiers. The reference in this latter half of the hymn is to Christ as Christus Victor.


Alumni of the Yale Russian Chorus 60th Anniversary Gala Concert, Woolsey Hall at Yale University, November 13, 2013. Denis Mickiewicz conducting.