A Lenten Musical Journey, Day 6

Today’s piece is a Russian cantata: Sergey Taneyev’s “John of Damascus.” Sometimes described as “The Russian Requiem,” it’s huge, densely melodic, and filled with gorgeous longing. That last bit is what makes it particularly appropriate for Lenten meditations, methinks. (There’s a through-line here from the last few days, as well, and not just because Taneyev and Tchaikovsky were both Russian. Taneyev actually studied under Tchaikovsky, and even succeed him as professor of harmony — and later piano and composition — at the Moscow Conservatory.)

The opening movement — the Adagio — is particularly perfect for our purposes, in my view. (The entire work is worth a listen, though. Emphatically so.)

Attribution(s): “Taneev” is licensed under Public Domain via Wikimedia Commons; “The Bells,” from Shutterstock.