Vecheri Tvoyeya Tanïya - "Of Thy Mystical Supper"

This week (and next) we come to the second of four movements of Alexander Gretchaninoff's Passion Week we'll be singing during Lent. 

Vecheri Tvoyeya Tanïya ("Of Thy Mystical Supper") is, liturgically speaking, a Communion hymn - part of a prayer said or sung just prior to Communion in the Orthodox Church. And because it's so central to the liturgy, it's been set by just about every Russian composer you can think of - and quite a few you probably can't. I found more than 20 versions on iTunes, and they don't have nearly all of them.

In fact, this isn't the first setting of the piece the St. Barnabas Choir has sung. In 2006 we sang a lovely version by Alexei Lvov (1799-1870). 

A translation of the text we're singing:

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God,
accept me today as a partaker:
for I will not speak of Thy mystery to Thine enemies, 
neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss,
but like the thief I will confess Thee:
"Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom."

What to Listen For

One of the first things you may notice is the low bass sound. It's really low. In fact, the 2nd Bass singers spend a full 40% of the piece not just on low notes, not just in the bass clef, but below the bass clef! They have long, low tones which act as a framework against which the other parts alternatively push and resolve. This is quintessential Russian chorale territory.

And mentioning 2nd basses brings up another aspect of many Russian chorales: All the parts - Soprano, Alto, Tenor and Bass - are divisi, i.e., divided into 1st and 2nd parts. This 8-part harmony is considerably more complex than our usual 4-part fare - the kind of scoring we're used to in our hymnals, too.

Part of the reason for this is simply the wide span of the music - three octaves and a third. This is a full octave greater span than many of the anthems we sing, and it takes a lot of parts to cover the span.

Another factor in this complexity is the fact this particular movement - and several others in Passion Week - was originally written for two choirs, each divided into eight parts! It took a bit of editing gymnastics to get it to work with a single choir, but we did it - it's all there.

The piece has 4 main sections. The first, which introduces a stunningly beautiful motif sung by the sopranos, carries the text

Of Thy Mystical Supper, O Son of God,
accept me today as a partaker:

It's a passionate plea, with some startling complex harmonies - can you say, 11th chord? - as the section rises to a climax before ending quietly, prayerfully.

The second section begins with the men singing in quiet octaves, almost in a whisper:

for I will not speak of Thy mystery to Thine enemies,

which the women echo in what are again, somewhat complex harmonies over the bass drone.

The section rises to a climax on the words

neither like Judas will I give Thee a kiss

before relaxing on the words

but like the thief I will confess Thee.

The third section sets the final phrase

"Remember me, O Lord, in Thy Kingdom."

again, starting softly, building to a huge climax, then, once again, relaxing. After the peak, as the music relaxes, the sopranos once again sound their lovely motif from the beginning of the piece.

The last section is something we don't generally sing in Lent - it's an Alleluia. But it's not the kind of Alleluia we'll be singing at Easter. This is quiet, prayerful - an instance of what the Orthodox Church calls, "Solemn joy." And right before the end, as the rest of the sections are holding long chords, the sopranos bring in the initial motif for one last appearance.

We'll offer the piece at the 10:30 service on March 23 and at the 9:00 service on March 30. This is beautiful, passionate, prayerful music. I hope it moves you as much as it has us while preparing it.