Lay Aside All Earthly Cares: Russian-Syle Sacred

This exhilarating and top-selling recording of sacred choral music represents the pioneering musical and pastoral work of Father Sergei Glagolev (b. 1927) to use English in Orthodox services. Hear the spirit of the Russian choral tradition in English. The CD booklet features an important essay on liturgical composition by Father Sergei as well as complete texts of the musical selections. Listeners will hear Father Sergei's mellifluous voice singing the priest's lines on this CD in perfect balance with the inspiring voices of Cappella Romana. Conducting the ensemble on this occasion was Dr. Vladimir Morosan, one of America's most important authorities on Orthodox music in the Slavic tradition. Based in the Pacific Northwest, Cappella Romana made its European debut in March 2004 at the Byzantine Festival in London, where the ensemble performed to over 2,000 in St. Paul's Cathedral. Its New York debut took place in April 2004 at the Metropolitan Museum of Art during the exhibit Byzantium: Faith and Power 1261-1557.