Signum Classics are proud to release a LIVE recording of the stirring performance by Tenenbrae of Rachmaninoff's 'All-Night Vigil' (Vsenoshchnoye bdeniye, Op.37). The roots of the Russian Orthodox Church are traceable back into the Third Century A.D. While Western forms of Christianity continued to evolve, the Orthodox tradition has been preserved largely intact since the 11th Century, despite persecution of the Church under an intolerant Communit regime in Russia. The music of the Russian Orthodox Church features vocal chants, the oldest of which is known as 'znamenny' (from the Slavonic 'znamia' meaning 'sign'). The melody of this chant is extremely simple, and while other composers added their characteristic harmonic effects, Rachmaninoff consciously preserved the modal purity of the original in his setting of the Vespers. The professional chamber choir, Tenebrae, characteristically create an atmosphere of spiritual and musical reflection at their performances, using candlelight and movement within ecclesiastical venues. This performance of the Vespers was recorded loive as part of the North Wales International Music Festival in St. Asaph on 24th September 2004.