Benedict Sheehan: Ukrainian War Requiem

by Pro Coro Canada, Axios Men's Ensemble

Overview

As a conductor and composer, Benedict Sheehan has created work that explores Orthodox musical and spiritual traditions, often leading his St. Tikhon Choir. For the Ukrainian War Requiem, released in early 2025 to mark the third anniversary of Russia's attack on Ukraine, he leads different groups; one of them, the Axios Men's Ensemble, is devoted to Eastern Orthodox music, but the other, Pro Coro Canada, is not. Both groups are based in Edmonton, Alberta, where Sheehan's Ukrainian War Requiem was premiered and recorded. The music is centered on a Ukrainian memorial ritual called panakhydia, into which Sheehan incorporates first hints and then full-blown at the end. The language is comparable to that of Sheehan's music in the past that refers directly to traditional Orthodox pieces, but it may seem to a general listener that his structures here are more squarish, more direct, oriented toward the expression of text with a specific goal in mind. That goal is to memorialize the many thousands of Ukrainians who have died in the war thus far and those who continue to die. The commitment of all involved in the music is palpable and moving for any listener, and so too can any listener explore this recording for ideas about how traditional materials may be used in absolutely contemporary situations. ~ James Manheim

Product Details

Release Date:	03/21/2025
Label:	CAPPELLA RECORDS
UPC:	0753459810446

Tracks

1. Ukrainian War Requiem~Trisagion Prayers
2. Ukrainian War Requiem~Psalm 90
3. Ukrainian War Requiem~Great Litany
4. Ukrainian War Requiem~Alleluia & Troparia
5. Ukrainian War Requiem~Evlogitaria of the Departed
6. Ukrainian War Requiem~Sessional Hymn of the Departed
7. Ukrainian War Requiem~Psalm 50
8. Ukrainian War Requiem~Canon
9. Ukrainian War Requiem~With the Souls
10. Ukrainian War Requiem~Litany for the Dead
11. Ukrainian War Requiem~Eternal Memory & Light
12. Ukrainian War Requiem~In Paradisum

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Michael Zaugg   Primary Artist,Conductor
Axios Men's Ensemble   Primary Artist,Ensemble
Pro Coro Canada   Primary Artist,Choir/Chorus
Michael Hawes   Baritone (Vocal)
John Tessier   Tenor (Vocal)
Yuliia Zasimova   Soprano (Vocal)
Vasyl Pudchenko   Bass (Vocal)
Andrew Bortz   Bass (Vocal)
Andrew Whiteside   Tenor (Vocal)
Boris Derow   Tenor (Vocal)
Douglas Graham   Baritone (Vocal)
Fr. Taras Koberynko   Tenor (Vocal)
Laren Steppler   Tenor (Vocal)
Nathan Bootsma   Tenor (Vocal)
Pavlo Fondera   Baritone (Vocal)
Rob Curtis   Baritone (Vocal)

Technical Credits

Mark Donahue   Mastering Engineer,Engineer,Mixing
Finbarr O'Reilly   Cover Photo
Mark Powell   Package Design,Executive Producer
Benedict Sheehan   Composer,Liner Notes
Donald Sheehan   Text Translation
John of Damascus   Text
Blanton Alspaugh   Producer
Andrij Bebko   Text,Editing
Anna Zavyiboroda   Photography
Bohdan Prytula   Text,Editing
Dushan Bednarsky   Text,Editing,Liner Notes
John Mikitish   Text Translation
Ksenia Maryniak   Text,Editing
Nicole Tung   Photography
Oleksiy Chekal   Title
Steve Lewis   Graphic Design