Vespers is one of the eight prayer times used in the Christian tradition, each associated with specific moments of the day. These prayer times include:

Matins: Early morning prayer, Lauds: Morning prayer at sunrise, Prime: Morning prayer at the first hour of the day, Terce: Mid-morning prayer at the third hour of the day
Sext: Midday prayer at the sixth hour of the day, 'None': Afternoon prayer at the ninth hour of the day, Vespers: Evening prayer at sunset, and Compline: Night prayer before retiring. Whereas Compline may be more familiar to Western Christians, Vespers holds a special place in the heart of the Orthodox tradition, and this inspired Rachmaninoff's treatment of it here. Technically All Night Vigil is a more accurate description of Rachmaninoff's setting as it includes both Vespers and Matins. 

The themes of repentance, forgiveness, and the longing for divine connection present in the Vespers texts resonated with his own personal experiences and beliefs. Sadly while the piece was composed in 1910 and first performed in Russia, after Rachmaninoff left during the revolution to make a new home in America the piece was rarely performed there again. Its powerful settings, deep 'orchestration' and use of the full range of all voices made it a firm favourite with Western audiences, however, and it remains a seminal treatment of religion's role in getting us all through the night, be it 'til tomorrow (sleep tight) or the darker nights of the challenges all souls face from time to time.

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Some of the best known sections, not least Bogoroditse Devo (Rejoice, Mary full of Grace) can raise the rafters as much as soothe the soul, and the first half of this setting notably contrasts with the second, some say more adventurous half. The third prayer, blessed is the man (Blazen Muzh) is one of the most haunting. The alleluia motif starts quietly echoing the intricate duet of the upper voices, and it always feels like a crowd approaching a home from a distance, getting louder and more urgent as they approach a doxology, only to retreat into the distance. Imagine a Dr Zhivago torch-bearing group in the snow and it makes more sense. Another favourite that also relies on repetition is the Blagosoev Yesi Gospodi (Blessed art though, teach me thy statutes). Altos and tenors are tested throughout this piece, but you can almost see the cossack dancers bouncing on their hips here. 

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The settings in St Lawrence, Towcester, and St Mary's Bloxham will be superb to feel the richness of this central work. To set the scene we're also letting our sopranos loose on another exquisite piece, Martynov's Beatitudes. A link below will give you a flavour of what's to come.