: Wondrous are Thy works, O Lord [0.5.14]. Notable Performances
: The text also appears as the "First Antiphon" in Rachmaninoff's earlier Liturgy (Op. 31), though that version is generally simpler than the version in the Vigil [ 0.5.12 ].
: Bless the Lord, O my soul [ 0.5.34 ]. "Blagosloven esi, Gospodi" : Blessed art Thou, O Lord. blagoslovi_duse_moya_gospoda
"" (Old Church Slavonic for " Bless the Lord, O my soul ") is a central text in the Eastern Orthodox liturgy, primarily known as the Second Movement of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s masterpiece, the All-Night Vigil (Op. 37). Musical and Liturgical Context
: Rachmaninoff based this movement on a traditional Greek Chant ( Grecheskago raspeva ), though it is often mistaken for Kievan or Znamenny chant due to its deep, resonant character [ 0.5.14 , 0.5.8 ]. : Wondrous are Thy works, O Lord [0
The text is a profound expression of gratitude and awe toward creation. Key phrases include:
: This movement serves as the introduction to the Vespers portion of the service. It is a musical setting of Psalm 103 (or 102 in the Septuagint numbering). : Bless the Lord, O my soul [ 0
: This is considered the definitive choral setting, composed in just two weeks in 1915 [ 0.5.23 ].