Mysterious Nativities

One of the most fascinating characteristics of 20th-century classical music is its continuous revival of sacred music. Despite the many new developments that have taken place in our increasingly secular society, modern composers from Alfred Schnittke (1934–1998) to Dimitri Tchesnokov (b.1982) have all been inspired by ancient religious texts to compose music that is spiritual, pure, and above all, remarkably peaceful. This release is a celebration of modern sacred music, and, given how timeless the music sounds, it is astonishing to note that all the pieces were written between 1983 and 2011. Much of it is Russian or East-European in origin, with young Ukrainian composer Dimitri Tchesnokov’s Three Sacred Songs following firmly in the tradition of Alfred Schnittke’s Three Sacred Hymns. More established works such as Arvo Pärt’s Magnificat are also included, but however foreign this new music might sound, the listener remains anchored in the familiar texts, taken from psalms and prayers that have held a place in religious worship for centuries.