In Celebration of the Human Voice - The Essential Musical Instrument

Lege Artis Chamber Choir

Mixed Choral Chorus from St. Petersburg, Russia.

The Lege Artis Chamber Choir established by Boris Abalian in 1987 (the Latin name of the choir means "by the law of art") is an ensemble of 25 professional musicians. In the very first years of its existence, LEGE ARTIS became recognized and widely known, winning at five international competitions (Neerpelt, Belgium, 1990; Montreux, Switzerland, 1991; Tours, France, 1991; Darmstadt, Germany, 1995; Torrevieja, Spain, 1997). Today, Lege Artis enjoys a stable international reputation of a highly professional ensemble; the choir frequently tours in Germany, Italy, Switzerland, Denmark, Spain, France, the United States, Sweden, Finland, Norway and Estonia, year after year expanding its touring geography.

At home, in St. Petersburg, Lege Artis is a standing participant of such festivals as White Night Stars, Easter, Northern Flowers, Palaces of St. Petersburg. Every year, the choir presents new diversified a cappella programs at the best halls of St. Petersburg. Moreover, the choir is happy to contribute the performance of cantatas or oratorios (Masses of Bach, Mozart, and Schubert, Requiem of Mozart, St. John Passion, St. Matthew Passion, and Christmas Oratorio of Bach, Handel's oratorios, and Purcell's anthems.) The 20th century music is what Boris Abalian and LEGE ARTIS love the most. The ensemble's repertoire contains works of I. Stravinsky, C. Debussy, F. Poulenc, P. Hindemith, K. Penderecki, and of St. Petersburg's remarkable composers V. Gavrilin, S. Slonimsky, A. Knaifel, and D. Smirnov.

Discography

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Lege Artis Chamber Choir : Medieval Russian Vocal Art

Review: The legend of adoption of Christianity in Russia as stated in the Chronicle of Years and Times has it that the unprecedented beauty of divine service was the main reason for choosing the Byzantine model of Christian faith. Church singing heard by Prince Vladimir's ambassadors in Constantinople amazed them with its delightful beauty. The Byzantine aesthetics inheriting the Platonic doctrine of identity of beauty, truth, and deity proved to be very close to the heart of ancient Slavs, and had a tremendous impact on generation of a new professional singing culture in Russia. Znamenny chant, a greatest achievement of medieval culture, was the core chant in singers' repertoire over the whole history of sacred singing in Ancient Russia. New styles of singing, Putevoy and Demestvenny chants, appear in the second half of the 15th century. The Putevoy chant competed with the Znamenny in popularity, and was a nationwide model along with it. The demestvenny chant is one of the most beautiful melismatic chants in the vocal heritage of Old Russia. Another impressive branch of the ancient Russian art of singing is professional polyphony. The sound of early Russian polyphonic chants is unusual for today's audience. Their line compositions are based on a protracted putevoy chant "braided" with background voices. Added to demestvenny polyphony was a striking, rhythmically active "demestvo" part. Russian Tsar Alexey Mikhailovich, father of Peter the Great, was taught line singing as a child, and afterwards collected a remarkable music library.

Songlist: A Great and Marvelous Wonder, All Creation Rejoices In Thee, Thou That Full Of Grace, The Three-Lamped Light, Shine, Shine, O New Jerusalem., Adorn Thy Bridal Chamber, O Zion, This Is The Day Of The Lord: Rejoice Ye People, Gabriel Announces The Good Tidings, The Angel Cried Out To Her Who Is Full Of Grace, With All Peoples Let Us Honor and Glorify, It Is Meet, We Bless Thee, Virgin Birthgiver Of God, Standing Today At The Cross, Thy Nativity, O Virgin Birthgiver Of God, To Rest In Thee Arms Of The Elder, Beholding Thee Hanging Upon The Cross, Weep Not For Me, O Mother, To Behold, O Virgin, The Resurrection Of Thy Son, Today The Virgin Gives Birth To Him Who Is Above All Being, The Angel Cried Out To Her Who Is Full Of Joy, Glorious Are Thy Mysteries, O Pure Lady, Magnify, O My Soul, Shine, Shine, O New Jerusalem, Today The Temple That Is To Hold God