I wonder, Ted, if in your research you have found and experienced the type of music used in the Orthodox Monastery (Church) setting. A lot of the music, which we call chanting, is hundreds if not thousands of years old. Consider Mount Athos.... Chanting is incorporated in nearly every part of the services--there are specific kinds of cha…
I wonder, Ted, if in your research you have found and experienced the type of music used in the Orthodox Monastery (Church) setting. A lot of the music, which we call chanting, is hundreds if not thousands of years old. Consider Mount Athos.... Chanting is incorporated in nearly every part of the services--there are specific kinds of chants for specific "Feasts" (like, the Nativity of Christ or the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, or the Exultation of the Holy Cross, etc.) Every year the same "songs" are used, over and over. If you know the services fairly well, a person could understand upon entering the temple what time of year it is and what Feast is being celebrated simply by the type of music/chants. Kind of like how we are reminded of the Christmas season at the mall when we enter and hear those timeless carols. The Orthodox Monastery is one of those last places where an ancient musical tradition is being perpetuated without any concern for money or fame. The monks are singing what they live, and living what they sing. I hope you and others find an opportunity to experience Byzantine chant, not only on Youtube, but within the walls of the ancient church. There is nothing like it!!
I wonder, Ted, if in your research you have found and experienced the type of music used in the Orthodox Monastery (Church) setting. A lot of the music, which we call chanting, is hundreds if not thousands of years old. Consider Mount Athos.... Chanting is incorporated in nearly every part of the services--there are specific kinds of chants for specific "Feasts" (like, the Nativity of Christ or the Nativity of the Virgin Mary, or the Exultation of the Holy Cross, etc.) Every year the same "songs" are used, over and over. If you know the services fairly well, a person could understand upon entering the temple what time of year it is and what Feast is being celebrated simply by the type of music/chants. Kind of like how we are reminded of the Christmas season at the mall when we enter and hear those timeless carols. The Orthodox Monastery is one of those last places where an ancient musical tradition is being perpetuated without any concern for money or fame. The monks are singing what they live, and living what they sing. I hope you and others find an opportunity to experience Byzantine chant, not only on Youtube, but within the walls of the ancient church. There is nothing like it!!