Pyotr Tchaikovsky: The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom

The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom is an a cappella choral composition by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, composed in 1878. It consists of settings of texts taken from the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, the most celebrated of the Eucharistic services of the Eastern Orthodox Church. Tchaikovsky’s setting constitutes the first unified musical cycle of the liturgy. Known primarily for his symphonies, concertos and ballets, Tchaikovsky was deeply interested in the music and liturgy of the Russian Orthodox Church. In 1875, he compiled a Concise Textbook of Harmony intended to facilitate the reading of Sacred Musical Works in Russia. In a letter to his friend and patroness Nadezhda von Meck in 1877, Tchaikovsky wrote: For me [the church] still possesses much poetical charm. I very often attend the services. I consider the liturgy of St. John Chrysostom one of the greatest productions of art. If we follow the service very carefully, and enter into the meaning of every ceremony, it is impossi