Rather than attempting to dramatize the Gospel narrative of Christ’s Passion through music, this work remains always serene and contemplative, presenting the Gospel narrative in a neutral and objective fashion, punctuating it with selected hymns from Orthodox Holy Week services--both originally composed and “borrowed” from Byzantine and Slavic chant sources. Correctly reflecting Orthodox theological teaching, Passion and Resurrection does not treat Christ’s Passion separately from His Resurrection, as did Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ,” for example.
An Englishman by nationality, Fr. Ivan Moody (b. 1964) is an Orthodox priest serving in Lisbon, Portugal, in a parish of the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople. In terms of musical style and inspiration, he is generally identified with such late 20th-century Orthodox composers as Sir John Tavener and Arvo Pärt. An interview with Fr. Ivan, in which he discusses his music, including Passion and Resurrection, can befound at: http://www.ivanmoody.co.uk/cbcinterview.htm
The stunningly beautiful recording of Passion and Resurrection, which is showcased on this edition of “Icons in Sound,” was made in 1996 by the Ensemble Red Byrd and the Cappella Amsterdam, under the direction of Daniel Reuss, and was released on the Hyperion label. Philip Steer’s well-written liner notes, in English, French, and German, eloquently witness to the uniquely Orthodox view of the liturgical arts, which is certain to challenge and deepen viewpoints commonly held in the West. This recording is so outstanding by its beauty and deep Orthodox spirituality, that here at Musica Russica we felt compelled to give it our highest rating of FOUR STARS.
The CD is available from www.musicarussica.com by clicking here.
