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Church Music Seminar with A. V. Konotop Ends in Cologne
From July 14th-19th, in the Church of Saint Panteleimon attached
to the Ecclesiastical Center in Cologne, the 4th Church Music
Seminar of the Diocese of Germany was conducted. (The first
took place in Munich, in 1998; all the rest have been in Cologne.)
These seminars have concentrated on the study of the typicon
and church singing, with the goal of offering practical aid
to the parishes in the celebration of the divine services.
Daily services permitted the seminar participants to familiarize
themselves with the order of simple, daily service and those
of doxology rank, as well as polyeleos- and vigil-rank services.
The order of an upcoming service was first explained according
to a detailed chart. Particular attention was devoted to the
life of the saint about to be celebrated, and the content of
individual portions of the service was explained. Later, at
rehearsals conducted by the choir director V. V. Kashlyaev,
choral preparation for the service was made, followed by the
actual service. Vespers and matins were served daily in the
evening, and an early liturgy in the morning. Archpriest Bozhidar
Patrnogich, rector of the Church of Saint Panteleimon, and Archpriest
Nicholas Artemov served.
This year, we were successful in inviting to our seminar Russia‹s
foremost specialist in ancient Russian chant, the musicologist
Anatoly Viktorovich Konotop. Anatoly Viktorovich attended the
seminar for the entire week, sharing his knowledge of the ancient
Russian chanter's art. His lecture, "The History of the
Art of Russian Church Singing in Musical Examples," elicited
great interest. Animatedly describing to the seminar participants
his many years of scholarly labor, Anatoly Viktorovich also
spoke about his discovery of the "ison" in ancient
Russian musical manuscripts. Possessed of the rare gift of transmitting
to those who listened to him his enthusiasm and love for the
chant tradition of the Church of Russia, Anatoly Viktorovich
evoked among the conference participants the desire to become
more deeply acquainted with old Russian chant. For his lively
participation in the music seminary, its organizers again express
their heartfelt thanks to Anatoly Viktorovich.
Archbishop Mark also participated in the work of the seminar.
Vladyka arrived from Darmstadt on Thursday, the 17th of July,
and celebrated the all-night vigil for the Holy New Venerable
martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara. After supper, an animated conversation
with Vladyka took place, during the course of which he shared
his thoughts and observations on the combining of the Church
Slavonic and German languages in the divine services in the
parishes, and answered questions. The following day, Vladyka
delivered a lecture entitled "The Structure and Significance
of the Canon at Matins." As the author of the service to
the Venerable Martyrs Elizabeth and Barbara, Vladyka also responded
to questions concerning his experience in composing this service.
In particular, Vladyka related that he desired to avoid the
verbosity which often characterizes services to Russian saints.
Vladyka explained that to avoid very lengthy troparia on the
canon, he composed not one, but two canons to the holy venerable
martyrs, thus dividing his thoughts among shorter troparia.
Vladyka explained also where the verbosity in the composition
of services has originated: "I understand where this comes
from. When we enter in prayer into the life of a saint, so much
material is revealed to us, that to express this briefly is
all but impossible... yet to do so is necessary." Soon
after his lecture, Vladyka flew to Copenhagen.
This year, for the first time, lessons in vocal technique were
conducted by Elena Ivanovna Mushchinina, a specialist in voice
from our parish in Bielefeld. There were also lessons for those
who wished to study conducting technique with the experienced
director V. V. Kashlyaev.
The following lectures were also delivered: "The Liturgical
Cycles and Their Combination in the Divine Services," by
Archpriest Nicholas Artemov; "The Liturgy of the Catechumens:
Structure and Interpretation," also by Fr. Nicholas; and
"Why Must the Precentor Know the Lives of the Saints,"
by the Nun Vassa (Larin).
On the grounds of the church, on Friday evening, the first campfire,
with the singing of Russian national songs, was organized. After
daily studies, the seminar participants sung with all their
soul in well-coordinated, harmonious ensembles, and did not
disperse until late at night.
The Cologne parish treated its guests with great hospitality.
Extra dormitory space was arranged, and thus it was possible
to accommodate all the conference participants on the grounds
of the church, allowing us to hold to an intensive course of
work from 8:00 in the morning to 10:00 at night. The meals were
beautifully organized, thanks to the hard work of the sisterhood.
Participants in the seminar felt at home and departed with the
desire to meet again next year.
The organizers of the Seminary.
From The Herald of the German Diocese
29 July 2003 |
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