Chanters!
Christ is Risen!
This space is to organize the Analogion here at Annunciation. We are blessed to have many people now at the chant stand, and everyone is learning quickly. Many people require more organization, however, as we must always be attentive to the responsibility we have to lead the Faithful in worship in a pious, respectful, and competent manner.
As we all are learning how to do this, there is an order of what we do first, and we then progress through the stages of learning. The first stages are not “lower,” as such, but they are foundational; they are the place where we start, and we gain competence in these before we try to progress to the next. So here are the stages, in order:
1) Reading: For this, a beginning starts with the Trisagion Prayers at the beginning of the Orthros, continues with the Royal Office (Save, O Lord, Your people…, You who were lifted on the Cross…, & O awesome and unshamable Protection), and then proceeds to master the Six Psalms at the beginning of the Orthros. Other readings throughout the service include the short prayer (“Having beheld the Resurrection of Christ…” after the Gospel reading), and the Hypakoe before the Anavathmoi.
2) Intoning: This is an extension of reading, as with the Alleluias at the end of the Six Psalms, where the final intonation: “Alleluia (x3), Glory to You, O God, our hope, O Lord, glory to You” is intoned to a particular tune. This also includes the final phrase of the Kontakion and Oikos, which are intoned on a flat tone, and then repeated by the other chanters with more melodic movement.
3) Responses: This includes the responses to the petitions throughout the service. There are various ways in which they can be done, but as a general rule, the chanters should always try to match the priest’s pitch, style, and preferences. It is good to ask the priest for a recording of how this should be done in different contexts.
4) Verses: At several points in the Orthros, there are verses that are intoned before a repeated refrain. This includes the “God is the Lord” after the Great Litany following the Six Psalms, the Praises/Ainoi at the end of the Orthros, and then in the Liturgy we do something similar once again in cooperation with the Choir for the Antiphons.
5) Evlogitaria: These six hymns are sung (almost) every Sunday, and are sung to effectively the same tune. They are often the first thing that a chanter will learn to sing. It is good to ask the priest for a recording of how these should be sung. Once they have been learned, they will always be with you.
6) Short variable hymns: these include primarily the “God is the Lord” at the beginning of the Orthros, but we can categorize the several verses of the 50th Psalm among these as well.
7) Prosomoia: These are hymns that are sung to a model hymn, and are the next step for a beginning chanter. They often include the Kathismata hymns after the “God is the Lord” at the beginning of the Orthros, as well as some of the hymns of the Praises at the end, if they are for a saint whose feast-day is being celebrated. There is a basic curriculum available from the priest which you can use to learn the most commonly used model hymns.
8) Sticheraric Hymns of the Ainoi/Praises: These are often more complex, and at a certain stage of learning, a chanter might prepare one or two of these each week.
9) Katavasies/Doxologies: These are sung much more quickly, and as a result, while they are not difficult, per se, they are more advanced than what we have listed before, as the speed at which they are sung requires greater competence.
10) Doxastika/everything else: the final hymn or hymns of the Orthros, right before the Doxology, is generally more complex, and is usually done by one of the lead chanters. This, as well as everything that is not assigned in advance, will be done by one of the lead chanters, whether Mary Haritos, Charles Woodrum, or Presvytera Elisabeth.
11) Ison: Ison can be done by everyone, but needs to be done with care and attention, as it is not an easy skill to learn. Everyone can feel free to try keeping ison, but should be prepared to be waved off by whoever is chanting, as it only works when both the melody and the ison are sung correctly.
With that said, there are also some basic concerns about order and placement. Everyone should stand where they can see the face and hands of the chanter that is serving as Proto (First). The role of the Proto is to keep the stand moving, and to assign who will do what next. Anyone who will be reading/chanting needs to make sure they are as close as possible to the microphone, and that they are raising their head and mouth towards the microphone; if we set the sound system to be sensitive enough to pick up singing from farther away, it will also pick up every whispered detail of conversation, every rustle of papers, etc. So it is necessary to be close, to face towards the microphone, to support your voice, and to project.
Below we will outline how the service goes, and what current assignments are. If anyone assigned is unable to do their assignment, then it should revert to the Proto and the other Chanters.
Current status:
Readers: Photini/Tom
Responses: Photini
Evlogitaria: Justin/Demetri
|
Responses (throughout) – 3 |
Photini |
| Readings – 1 | Tom/Photini/Justin/Demetri |
| God is the Lord Verses – 4 | Demetri/Photini |
| God is the Lord Tune – 6 | Proto first to set the tone, then Justin/Demetri, other chanters for remainder |
| Apolytikia – 7 | Chanters unless otherwise assigned |
| Kathismata – 7 | Chanters unless otherwise assigned |
| Evlogitaria – 5 | Justin/Demetri – Photini should sing along to learn and gain confidence |
| Anavathmoi – 9 | Chanters |
| Kontakion/Oikos – 2 | Tom/Photini |
| Synaxarion – 2 | Tom/Photini (unless the names in the Synaxarion are over-complicated, in which case they should be read by one of the Chanters) |
| Katavasies – 9 | Chanters |
| Let everything that breathes/Pre & Post Gospel elements – 5 | Photini/Justin/Demetri |
| Psalm 50 – 6 | Chanters start and set tone, and then Photini/Justin/Demetri can join in |
| Psalm 50 final hymns – 6 | Chanters |
| Megalynarion/Ode 9 of Canon – 9 | Chanters |
| Holy is the Lord – 6 | Chanters start, Photini/Justin/Demetri continue, Chanters finish |
| Exaposteilaria – 7 | Chanters unless otherwise assigned |
| Praises – 8 | Chanters unless otherwise assigned |
| Doxastikon – 10 | Chanters |
| Both now – 10 | Chanters |
| Doxology – 9 | Chanters |
| Liturgy – Antiphon Verses – 4 | Photini/Justin/Demetri |
| Epistle Reading | Chanters if intoned, Readers otherwise, may be done by kids, in which case please ensure they are well mic’ed (may need to request lavalier mic from inside) |
| Communion hymn | Chanters |