Spiritual Music by S. V. Rachmaninov

Abstract

One of the brightest symbols of Russian culture is the personality of S. V. Rachmaninov, whose birth in 2023 is already 150 years old, while the whole world still remembers this great name. The purpose of this article is to reveal the innovative features of the creative heritage of S. V. Rachmaninov based on the origins and traditions of Russian spiritual and musical culture. The use of biographical, historical methods, as well as the use of analysis, synthesis, analogy, allowed to show the features and genesis of spiritual and musical culture and determine the role of S. V. Rachmaninov in the development of spiritual music. The direct influence of the environment in which the personality of the outstanding composer was formed is traced, which influenced the incessant remembrance of the name of God in his works. The author revealed the personal contribution of S. V. Rachmaninoff in the spiritual musical heritage. It is emphasized that his work is a kind of synthesis of styles of different eras, while already in the first spiritual work the distinctive features of the author’s style were formed. This served as the basis for the further enrichment of Russian spiritual music through the creation of «The Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom» and «The All-Night Vigil» — works that are the pinnacle of the great composer’s work.