Sergei Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil, Op. 37—often referred to as the Vespers—was composed in just two weeks in February 1915, during the turmoil of World War I. It stands as one of the pinnacles of Russian choral music and one of Rachmaninov’s most profound spiritual creations. Though often associated with the liturgy of the Orthodox Church, the Vigil is not a liturgical work meant for actual worship services, but rather a concert setting that draws deeply from the Orthodox tradition.

Rachmaninov was inspired by the resurgence of interest in ancient Russian chant during the early 20th century, championed by figures such as Stepan Smolensky, one of Rachmaninov’s teachers. The composer based ten of the fifteen movements on traditional chant melodies—Znamenny, Greek, and Kiev traditions—while the remaining five are his own “conscious counterfeits,” written in a chant-like style. Scored for unaccompanied mixed choir, the work showcases Rachmaninov’s remarkable command of choral sonority, harmonic richness, and textural variety.

The All-Night Vigil is a composite of texts from the Orthodox services of Vespers, Matins, and Prime—three parts of the all-night vigil preceding major feast days. The fifteen movements follow the structure of this long service, beginning with “Come, Let Us Worship” and culminating in the serene “To Thee, the Victorious Leader.” Highlights include the radiant “Bogoroditse Devo, rejoice” (No. 6), Rachmaninov’s most beloved choral piece, and the hauntingly introspective “Nyne otpushchayeshi” (No. 5), which the composer requested be sung at his own funeral.

Premiered in Moscow on March 10, 1915, by the Moscow Synodal Choir under Nikolai Danilin, the work was met with overwhelming acclaim. Critics hailed it as a masterpiece of modern sacred art, though after the 1917 Revolution, religious works like this were banned in Soviet Russia, and performances became rare until its rediscovery in the mid-20th century.

Today, Rachmaninov’s All-Night Vigil endures as one of the greatest achievements in choral music—fusing deep spirituality, ancient tradition, and lush Romantic expression into a work of timeless beauty.