(All‐Night Vigil) the Text of the Vespers Is Written in Russian Church S

The language of the Rachmaninov Vespers (All‐night Vigil)

The text of the Vespers is written in Russian Church Slavic (or Russian Church Slavonic, if you prefer). This is the liturgical language of the Russian Orthodox Church, which is a semi‐artificial construct, full of archaic words and grammatical forms that are no longer used in modern Russian.

As a rough analogy, the relationship between Russian Church Slavic and modern Russian is somewhat like the relationship between the Middle English of Chaucer and modern English. However, the situation is rather more complicated in reality. Old Church Slavic, the first written language for the Slavic peoples, came to the historical Russian lands together with missionaries from the Balkans, where this language was developed. On Russian territory written Old Church Slavic was gradually adapted towards the local speech over time, but in the 14th century the Church became concerned about the “corruption” of manuscripts and scholars were brought in from Bulgaria to correct the language of biblical and liturgical texts. Later, Ukrainian and Belarusian clergy who knew Latin and Greek were brought in to ensure that the translations being used in the Russian Orthodox Church had not deviated from their original sources. As a result, Russian Church Slavic as it exists today represents a language that was never spoken as a native language by anyone; it has similarities to the Old Russian that was used in everyday life in the medieval period, but it is at least partly an artificial language that was consciously constructed for use in the church.

Russian Church Slavic is normally pronounced more or less like modern Russian, but with certain important exceptions:

 All vowels are pronounced as they are spelled, even in unstressed syllables.  Forms with ë in modern Russian are pronounced as e.  The letter щ is pronounced as [shch] (rather than [shsh’], as in most contemporary Russian varieties).  The letter г (g) was traditionally pronounced as ‘soft g’ [ɣ] in Russian Church Slavic, due to the Ukrainian influence mentioned above. In modern standard Russian this pronunciation is used only in the words Bog ‘God’ (in the nominative singular form only, where it is devoiced to [x]) and by some speakers in Gospod’ ‘Lord’ (primarily in the exclamation Gospodi! ‘Oh Lord!’). Russian choruses performing the Vespers seem to use the ‘soft g’ [ɣ] only for forms of the word Gospod’ ‘Lord’, if at all (judging by recordings available online), but this pronunciation is not always consistent.  The letter г (g) in the endings ‐ogo/‐ego and the pronoun ego ‘him; his’ is pronounced [g], rather than [v].

There are a number of mistakes in the transcription in the 1996 Shaw score for the Vespers, which seem to be due mainly to the influence of modern Russian

pronunciation. The transcription is not always consistent, either; the same sounds may be written in different ways.

In general:

 Whenever you see , , in the text, you should ignore the (i.e., these should be pronounced [sheh], [tseh], [zheh]).  Whenever you see , , you should pronounce [shɨ], [zhɨ] instead.  The spellings and represent the same sound (as in English ‘father’); and represent the same sound (as in English ‘bet’); and represent the same sound (a pure o vowel, more or less as in Latin).  In the few places where it occurs, represents the same sound as (as in English ‘yes’).  In the few places where it occurs, represents the same sound as (as in English ‘cheap’).  Al‐li‐loo‐i‐a should be pronounced al‐li‐loo‐i‐ya.

Corrections

(Mistakes in place of the stress aren’t included in the corrections below unless there is also some other change needed for the same word.)

#2 Blagoslovi, dushe moya page, system, measure part change p. 6, 1st system, m. 4 A solo ma‐ya > mo‐ya p. 7, 1st system, m. 1 A solo Bo‐zhye > Bo‐zhe p. 10, 1st system, mm. 1‐2 A solo proh‐idoot > proy‐doot (‐doot is on the E, as written) p. 10, 1st system, m. 2 T proh‐idoot > proy‐doot (‐doot on D‐E, as indicated by the slur, and voh‐ on F‐G; ‐dɨ beginning on A to the end of this melisma) p. 11, 2nd system, m. 3 SA Tɨ > Ti p. 13, 1st system, m. 2 AT ‐zhyen > ‐zhen i‐zhye > i‐zhe #3 Blazhen muzh page, system, measure part change p. 13, 2nd system, mm. 5‐6 A this should read poot’ in both measures (the apostrophe is hard to see; please don’t sing “poot”!) p. 14, 1st system, m. 1 AT poh‐gip‐nyet > po‐gib‐nyet p. 14, 2nd system, m. 5 AT dooi is one syllable, on beat 2; delay the glide as long as possible p. 14, 2nd system, m. 6 AT s tre‐pe‐tom > s trye‐pye‐tom p. 15, 1st system, m. 6 AT Bla‐zhye‐ni > Bla‐zhe‐ni

p. 15, 2nd system, mm. 1‐2 AT shchi‐sya nan > shchi‐i‐sya nan’ (the second i comes on beat 2) p. 16, 1st system, m. 1 AT Vos‐kre‐sni > Vos‐krye‐sni p. 16, 2nd system, m. 5 SAT yest spa‐se‐ni‐yeh > yest’ spa‐sye‐ni‐yeh p. 17, 1st system, m. 1 SAT lyu‐dekh > lyu‐dyekh p. 17, 1st system, m. 2 SAT bla‐go‐slo‐ve‐ni‐yeh > bla‐go‐slo‐vye‐ni‐yeh p. 18, 2nd system, mm. 2‐3 SATB A‐min > A‐min’ #4 Svyetye tikhi pp. 20‐21 SAT The text should read as follows: Svye‐tye ti‐khi, svya‐tɨ‐ya sla‐vɨ Byeh‐smyert‐ na‐go, Oh‐tsa Nye‐byes‐na‐go, Svya‐ta‐go, Bla‐zhe‐na‐go, I‐i‐su‐sye Khri‐styeh. Pri‐ shed‐she na za‐pad son‐tsa ... p. 22, 1st system, mm. 4‐5 T solo svya‐ta‐vo > svya‐ta‐go p. 22, 2nd system, m. 2 A vo‐fsya vre‐ma‐na > vo fsya vrye‐mye‐na p. 23, 1st system, mm. 3‐4 SAT Boh‐zhi, zhi‐vot > Boh‐zhɨ, zhɨ‐vot #5 Nɨnye otpushchayeshɨ page, system, measure part change p. 24, 1st system, m. 4 AT ‐shi > ‐shɨ p. 24, 1st system, mm.3‐4 T solo ot‐pu‐shcha‐ye‐shi ra‐ba Tvo‐ye‐vo > ot‐pu‐ shcha‐ye‐shɨ ra‐ba Tvo‐ye‐go p. 24, 2nd system, mm. 1‐2 AT Tvo‐ye‐voh > Tvo‐ye‐go p. 25, 1st system, mm. 1‐3 S ot‐pu‐shcha‐ye‐shi ra‐ba Tvo‐ye‐vo > ot‐pu‐ shcha‐ye‐shɨ ra‐ba Tvo‐ye‐go p. 26, 1st system, m. 4 SATB lyoo‐dyeh > lyoo‐dyei (dyey) #6 Bogoroditse Dyevo, radooysya page, system, measure part change p. 28, 1st system, m. 2 SATB [and in similar spots]: ‐tsyeh > ‐tseh p. 28, 1st system, m. 4 SATB [and in similar spots]: ‐dooi on beat 4 is one syllable; delay the glide as long as possible p. 28, 2nd system, m. 5 SATB ‐spoht s’ Toh‐ > ‐spohd’ s Toh‐ p. 29, 2nd system, m. 2 A vzhyeh‐nakh > vzheh‐nakh p. 29, 2nd system, m. 5 A Tvoh‐yeh‐voh > Tvoy‐yeh‐go p. 30, 2nd system, m. 5 SATB ‐shikh > ‐shɨkh #7 Shestopsalmiye page, system, measure part change p. 34, 1st system, m.3 SATB ‐vyer‐zye‐shi > vyer‐zye‐shɨ #8 Khvalitye imya Gospodnye page, system, measure part change p. 36, 2nd system, mm. 4‐5 TB I‐e‐ru‐sa‐li‐myeh > I‐ye‐roo‐sa‐li‐myeh p. 37, 2nd system, m. 2 AB blahk > blahg p. 38, 1st system, m. 1 ST blahk > blahg p. 38, 1st system, m. 1 AB milost ye‐voh > milost’ ye‐goh p. 39, 1st system, m. 1 AB milost ye‐voh > milost’ ye‐goh

#9 Blagoslovyen yesi Gospodi page, system, measure part change p. 40, 2nd system, m. 4 A vme‐niv‐sha‐sya > vmye‐niv‐sha‐sya p. 41, 1st system, m. 2 S Tyen‐byeh > Tye‐byeh p. 42, 2nd system, m. 2 T oo‐chi‐ni‐tsɨ > oo‐che‐ni‐tsɨ p. 42, 2nd system, m. 3 T bli‐sta‐ya‐sya > bli‐sta‐yai‐sya p. 42, 2nd system, m. 2 B bli‐sta‐ya‐sya > bli‐sta‐yai‐sya p. 43, 1st system, m. 1 SA ‐shya > ‐she p. 43, 1st system, m. 1 TB vye‐shcha‐shyeh > vye‐shcha‐sheh p. 43, 1st system, m. 3 SA oo‐ra‐zoo‐myeh‐tyeh > oo‐ra‐zoo‐myey‐tyeh p. 44, 2nd system, m. 3 ST ‐shchɨ‐yah > ‐shchi‐yah p. 46, 2nd system, m. 2 S pri‐shyed‐shi‐ya > pri‐shed‐shɨ‐ya p. 46, 2nd system, mm. 3‐4 ATB pri‐shyed‐shi‐ya > pri‐shed‐shɨ‐ya p. 47, 1st system, m. 3 SAT zhi‐vah‐ > zhɨ‐vah‐ p. 47, 2nd system, m. 3 SATB Bohk > Bohg p. 48, 2nd system, m. 1 TB Yeh‐vo Sɨ‐no‐vyeh > Yeh‐go Sɨ‐no‐vi p. 48, 2nd system, m. 3 TB Tro‐i‐tsye > Tro‐i‐tse p. 49, 1st system, m. 1 TB sse‐ra‐fi‐mɨ > ssye‐ra‐fi‐mɨ p. 49, 1st system, m. 3 ATB pri‐znoh > pri‐snoh p. 49, 2nd system, mm. 1‐3 ATB text should read i vo vye‐ki vye‐kov a‐min’, Zhɨ‐zno‐dav‐tsah rozhd‐shɨ p. 50, 1st system, mm. 2‐3 SATB Ra‐dost zhe Ye‐vye vpye‐cha‐li > Ra‐dost’ zhe Ye‐vye fpye‐cha‐li p. 50, 2nd system, mm. 1‐2 SATB Pahd‐shi‐ya zhe ot zhi‐zni ksei > Pahd‐shɨ‐ya zhe ot zhɨ‐zni ksyei p. 50, 2nd system, m. 3 SATB Bohk > Bohg #10 Voskresenie Khristovo vidyevshe page, system, measure part change p. 53, 1st system, m. 3 TB ‐shyeh > ‐sheh p. 54, 2nd system, m. 2 SATB Bohk > Bohg p. 55, 1st system, m. 2 SATB i‐me‐noo‐yem > i‐mye‐noo‐yem p. 56, 1st system, m. 4 SATB ra‐dost > ra‐dost’ p. 56, 2nd system, m. 2 ST ra‐dost > ra‐dost’ p. 57, 1st system, m. 1 ST ‐voh > ‐goh p. 57, 1st system, m. 1 AB ‐pya‐ti‐yeh > ‐spya‐ti‐yeh p. 57, 1st system, m. 2 AB ‐pyef > ‐pyev p. 57, 1st system, m. 3 ST ‐pyef > ‐pyev p. 57, 2nd system, mm. 1‐2 TB smyert rah‐zroo‐shi > smyert’ rah‐zroo‐shɨ p. 57, 2nd system, mm. 3‐4 SA smyert rah‐zroo‐shi > smyert’ rah‐zroo‐shɨ #11 Vyelichit doosha moya Gospoda page, system, measure part change p. 58, 2nd system, m. 1 B Bo‐zhe > Bo‐zye p. 58, 2nd system, m. 3 SAT khe‐roo‐vim > khye‐roo‐vim p. 59, 1st system, m. 1 SAT se‐ra‐fim > sye‐ra‐fim

p. 60, 2nd system, m. 3 SAT khe‐roo‐vim > khye‐roo‐vim p. 61, 1st system, m. 1 SAT se‐ra‐fim > sye‐ra‐fim p. 62, 1st system, m. 3 SAT Sil‐nɨ > Sil’‐nɨ p. 62, 2nd system, m. 2 SAT ‐voh > ‐goh p. 62, 1st system, mm. 2‐ B text here and in the following measures should read: Sil’‐nɨ i svya‐toh i‐mya Yeh‐go, i mi‐lost’ Yeh‐go vroh‐dɨ roh‐dohv bo‐ya‐ shchim‐sya Ye‐goh p. 62, 2nd system, m. 3 SAT khe‐roo‐vim > khye‐roo‐vim p. 63, 1st system, m. 1 SAT se‐ra‐fim > sye‐ra‐fim p. 64, 1st system, mm. 1‐2 SATB Niz‐lo‐zhi sil‐nɨ‐ya > Niz‐lo‐zhɨ sil’‐nɨ‐ya p. 64, 2nd system, m. 2 SATB blahk > blahg p. 65, 1st system, m. 1 SAT khe‐roo‐vim > khye‐roo‐vim p. 65, 1st system, m. 2 SAT se‐ra‐fim > sye‐ra‐fim p. 66, 2nd system, m. 1 ATB ‐voh > ‐goh p. 66, 2nd system, m. 3 B ot‐tsyem na‐shim > ot‐tsem na‐shɨm p. 67, 1st system, m. 3 or 4 SATB Ye‐voh > Ye‐goh p. 67, 2nd system, m. 3 SAT khe‐roo‐vim > khye‐roo‐vim p. 68, 1st system, m. 1 SAT se‐ra‐fim > sye‐ra‐fim #12 Slavosloviye vyelikoye page, system, measure part change p. 69, 1st system, m. 4 A f che‐lo‐vye‐tsyekh > f che‐lo‐vye‐tsekh p. 70, 1st system, m. 3 A fsye‐der‐zhi‐tel‐yoo > fsye‐dyer‐zhɨ‐tyel‐yoo p. 71, 1st system, mm. 3‐4 A Ang‐che Bo‐zhi Sɨ‐nyeh O‐tyets > Agn‐che Bo‐zhɨ Sɨ‐nyeh O‐tyech p. 71, 2nd system, mm. 1‐2 TB Ang‐che Bo‐zhi > Agn‐che Bo‐zhɨ p. 72, 1st system, m. 1 A1 A1 ‐ra > ‐shoo on the quarter note; A2, T, B sustain ‐ra p. 72, 2nd system, m. 1 S Goh‐spod > Goh‐spod’ (2nd syllable begins on F) p. 72, 2nd system, m. 5 SATB ‐min > ‐min’ p. 73, 1st system, m. 1 SA dyen > dyen’ p. 73, 2nd system, m. 1 SA dyen > dyen’ p. 73, 2nd system, m. 3 TB fdyen > vdyen’ p. 74, 1st system, m. 2 SAT fdyein > vdyen’ p. 74, 1st system, m. 4 B na‐shikh > na‐shɨkh p. 74, 2nd system, m. 1 SAT fdyein > vdyen’ p. 74, 2nd system, m. 1 B khval‐no > khval’‐no p. 74, 2nd system, m. 3 B ah‐min > ah‐min’ p. 75, 1st system, m. 2 SATB mi‐lost > mi‐lost’ p. 75, 2nd system, m. 3 ST(B) Is‐tye‐ > Is‐tse‐ p. 77, 1st system, m. 2‐3 SATB as it occurs: pri‐bye‐zhi‐shche > pri‐bye‐zhɨ‐ shche p. 77, 1st system, m. 4‐2nd B1 text should read vrohd i rohd

system m. 1 p. 77, 2nd system, mm. 2‐3 T1 text is missing from score; should be Goh‐ spo‐di po‐mi‐looi mya, Is‐ (one syllable on each half note) p. 78, 1st system, m. 1 T1 ‐tsyeh‐li > ‐tseh‐li p. 78, 1st system, m. 2 T2 Is‐tsyeh‐li > Is‐tseh‐li p. 78, 1st system, m. 2 A ‐shikh > ‐shɨkh p. 78, 1st system, m. 4 S ‐shikh > ‐shɨkh p. 78, 2nd system, m. 4 SATB Bohk > Bohg p. 79, 1st system, m. 2 SAT1 zhi‐voh‐ta > zhɨ‐voh‐ta p. 79, 1st system, m. 3 B2 Bohk > Bohg p. 79, 2nd system, m. 1 T2B1 zhi‐voh‐ta > zhɨ‐voh‐ta T1 T1 sings oo‐zrim svyet here p. 79, 2nd system, m. 2 SATB mi‐lost > mi‐lost’ p. 81, 2nd system, m. 3 SATB Aht‐soo > Oht‐tsoo p. 82, 1st system, m. 2 SATB vye‐kof a‐min > vye‐kov a‐min’ #13 Dnes’ spasyeniye page, system, measure part change p. 83, 1st system, m. 1 SATB Dnyeis > Dnyes’ p. 83, 1st system, m. 3 SATB bɨst > bɨst’ p. 83, 2nd system, mm. 3‐4 SATB na‐chal‐ni‐koo zhi‐zni > na‐chal’‐ni‐koo zhɨ‐ zni p. 84, 1st system, m. 2 SATB smyert > smyert’ p. 84, 2nd system, mm. 3‐5 SATB mi‐lost > mi‐lost’ #14 Voskryes iz groba page, system, measure part change p. 85, 1st system, m. 4‐2nd SATB rah‐ster‐zahl > rah‐styer‐zahl system, m. 1 p. 85, 2nd system, m. 4 SATB rah‐zroo‐shil > rah‐zroo‐shɨl p. 87, 1st system, m. 3 SA ‐si i na > ‐si ya na (ya replaces i on beat 3) p. 87, 1st system, m. 4 SATB pro‐po‐vyet > pro‐po‐vyed’ #15 Vzbrannoy voyevodye page, system, measure part change p. 88 SATB as it occurs: poh‐byeh‐di‐tyel‐na‐ya > poh‐ byeh‐di‐tyel’‐na‐ya p. 88 last m.‐p. 89 first m. SATB as it occurs: iz‐bavl‐shye‐sya > iz‐bavl‐she‐ sya p. 89, 2nd system, m. 1 SATB Tɨ > Ti p. 90, 1st system, m. 3 SATB der‐zha‐voo > dyer‐zha‐voo p. 90, 2nd system, m. 5 SATB byet > byed p. 91, 1st system, m. 2 SATB zo‐vyom Tɨ > zo‐vyem Ti