Chesnokov represents a late flowering of Russian Orthodox traditions in the years before the Revolution... composers sought to renew the style by returning it to it's roots in Medieval Slavic chant. Chesnokov excelled in this style, and in his many liturgical works was able to find an ideal balance between tradition and expression. His music was valued for it's clarity, both in his voicing of harmonies and in his setting of texts. The Liturgy exemplifies Chesnokov's approach, using traditional chant melodies and bringing them to the fore, but adding rich layers of harmony. These are made possible by the inclusion of female voices. (Gavin Dixon 2021)
