A church choir is called a choir; this word is also used to describe the place where the choir stands in a church. Those people who often visit an Orthodox church know that the basis of the service is church singing. One can hardly imagine any church service without it. A lot depends on singing in church; poor singing disrupts prayer and makes you distracted. Too pretentious “operatic” singing also distracts from prayer. Correct singing in church should humble a person and put him in the right prayerful mood. That is why priests attach such importance to the selection of singers.
A little history
Singing in church appeared in the first centuries of Christianity. At first, in churches there was no division between those who prayed and those who sang; everyone present sang during the service. This emphasized the unity of prayer, the unified spirit. Gradually, a division occurred; several believers formed a church choir, which began to be called the choir. This word is translated from Greek as “part of the earth.” Those. Initially, this word only referred to the place where the singers stood. Usually this was some kind of elevation near the altar. Later this place became known as soleya.
Then the word “kliros” began to be used to describe the church choir . After the division into Orthodoxy and Catholicism, a significant difference in the manner of church singing became noticeable. Znamenny, hook singing prevailed in Orthodoxy. And in Catholicism - chorales, which were performed to the accompaniment of a musical instrument, usually an organ.
In Russia, during the reign of Peter the Great, the Znamenny chant, in which the choir sang a melody in unison, was replaced by the partes chant. The musical theme was divided into parts, hence the name.
There were usually four parties:
- soprano;
- alto;
- tenor;
- bass.
This was an innovation and was not immediately accepted in the church environment. Gradually the Znamenny singing faded away.
Antiphonal singing gradually appeared: two choirs sang in turns. Then the canonarchs appeared - readers who proclaimed the line, and the choir repeated it. This is how the stichera sang. The leader of the choir began to be called a “regent” or “shepherd attendant.”
Audio - from here you can freely download and listen to recordings of chants. All audio files are posted exclusively with the permission of the authors or performers.
Archbishop Jonathan (Eletsky): Arrangements and compositions: Holy God (everyday chant) God is with us (Solovetsky chant) Now is the power (Valaam chant) Open the doors of repentance (Kiev chant) Chapter 5 (Znamenny chant) Body of Christ (Znamenny chant) It is worthy to eat (Galician chant) Now you let go (everyday chant) Like the cherubs (author's) My soul magnifies (author's) Thy palace (author's) Powerful 4 voices (Znamenny chant) Powerful 6 voices (Kiev chant) Dressing for you (Kiev-Pechersk chant) Having fallen asleep in the flesh (Kiev chant) You have been transformed (Znamenny chant) Christ is risen (Kiev chant) Praise the Name of the Lord (Valaam chant) Our Father (author’s) Kiev choir “Blagovest”, conductor. Victor Skoromny
Archbishop Jonathan (Eletskikh): “Liturgy of Peace” (to the melody of the Gregorian): Peaceful litany Bless, my soul, the Lord Praise, my soul, the Lord, the Only Begotten Son in Your Kingdom Come, let us worship the Holy God Prokeimenon the Apostle and Hallelujah Gospel Cherubic hymn of the Father and Son Symbol of Faith Mercy of the World Worthy to eat Petitionary Litany Our Father is One Holy Praise the Lord from heaven Blessed is the coming Body of Christ We have seen the true light May our lips be filled Be the Name of the Lord Completion Chamber choir “Kyiv”, hands. Nikolay Gobdich, 2003
To the Virgin Mary (sign. of the birth, harm.?) Many years (priest V. Starorussky) Choir of the clergy of Kemerovo, conductor. prot. John Petruchok, 2007
Nowadays strength (G. Lvovsky) “The Zealous Intercessor” (spiritual song from the collection of Archpriest Nikolai Guryanov “The Word of Life”, arranged by V. Zolotukhina) Choir of the Church of the Kazan Icon of the Mother of God in Bugulma (Tatarstan), regent Valentina Zolotukhina
Cherubimskaya (A. Alyabyev, F minor) Glory to God in the highest (D. Bortnyansky) Diligent to the Mother of God (P. Chesnokov) Virgin Mary (S. Rachmaninov) Our Father (A. Sheremetyev, solo - Baturin) Choir “Peresvet”, dir . Evgeny Kalganov, Moscow, 1990
To Your Cross (P. Goncharov) On the rivers of Babylon (V. Krupitsky) Now the powers of heaven (A. Sheremetev) Helper and Patron (D. Bortnyansky) Come, let us please (D. Bortnyansky) Combined choir of St. Nicholas (ROCOR) and St. Peter and Paul (OCA) Cathedrals, Montreal, reg. Nikolai Androsov (recording with a benevolent ending at the restoration of St. Nicholas Cathedral after the fire, 2006)
The prudent thief (M. Kotogarov) Thy Palace (Kyiv disposition, arr. M. Kotogarov) Choir of the Temple of Demetrius of Thessalonica on Blagush (Moscow), reg. Grigory Zhezhel, 2006
Bless the Lord, my soul (A. Grechaninov) Holy God (A. Grechaninov) Choir of the Church of St. Nicholas in Tolmachi, reg. Alexey Puzakov. Recording from the concert at the BZK. 2003?
Our Father (I. Dvoretsky, 2) Christ is Risen (Slavic-Greek-Latin) Opening Psalm (Greek hymn, harmonic by I. Spiridonov) Blessed is the man (Greek chant) Now let us go (Samsonenko) Zadostoynik for the Introduction (harmonic. P. Turchaninova) My wounded soul (A. Lvov) Vouchsafe, O Lord (Kiev) The Council of Angels (P. Chesnokov) The prudent thief (P. Chesnokov) It is worthy to eat (Dem. ternary, archbishop-input) From my youth (known. chant) Thy Supper (A. Lvov) Mercy of the World (V. Zinoviev) We sing to You (P. Chesnovkov) In Thy Kingdom (V. Kalinnikov) Easter Hours (arch. Feofan) I Believe (A. Arkhangelsky) Many years (everyday life and Moscow ) Male choir “It is worthy to eat”, director. Evgeny Dremov, Pittsburgh, 1998
The mercy of the world (N. Haszler) Communion concert “Blessed Xenia, God-Wise” (N. Haszler) Troparion (concert) ap. Andrew the First-Called (N. Haszler) Choir of Peter and Paul under the direction of. Yuri Gurbo. St. Petersburg, 2000 (CD “Hymns of the Divine Liturgy” composed by N. Haszler) / added. by/
Bless, my soul, the Lord Cherubic hymn It is worthy to eat (K. Shvedov, from the Liturgy for m/x, op. 40) Choir “Slavyanka” (San Francisco), conductor. Alexey Shipovalnikov, 1994
Opening Psalm (A. Shipovalnikov) Blessed is the husband (A. Shipovalnikov) Choir “Slavyanka” (San Francisco), conductor. Alexey Shipovalnikov
Bless, my soul, the Lord (E. Chikhachev) To the Chosen Voivode (E. Chikhachev) It is worthy to eat (K. Tuev) You have wrought salvation (S. Puchinin) To the Heavenly King (V. Ponomarev) To the Quiet Light (A. Michel) Blessed is the husband ( S. Anisimov) From my youth (E. Markaich) It is worthy to eat (P. Ivanov-Radkevich) Vocal Quartet of V. Ponomarev, Krasnoyarsk, 2001-2003
Only Begotten Son (V. Ponomarev) Holy God (Yu. Orlov) Cherubic Song (K. Tuev) It is Worthy to Eat (E. Chikhachev) Now You Let Go (V. Ponomarev) Vocal Quartet of V. Ponomarev, Krasnoyarsk, 1999
Opening Psalm (A. Neduev) to Sveta Quiet (A. Neduev) to the Virgin Mary (A. Neduev) “Moscow New Choir”, conductor. Tatiana Ursu, 2000
To the Virgin Mary (I. Diaghileva) Trisagion (I. Diaghileva) In Thy Kingdom (Arch. Jonathan) Trisagion (S. Tolstokulakov) Flesh asleep (S. Trubachev) Praise the name of the Lord (S. Trubachev) Tone of despotism (M. Lisitsyn) End Liturgies (K. Stankovic) Body of Christ (S. Mokranjac) Degree 2 voices (D. Alemanov) Elitsy (early partes of the 17th century) Elitsy (N. Diletsky) Mercy of the World (V. Feiner) Cherubic No. 4 (V. Feiner) Quiet Light (V. Fainer) Stichera to Boris and Gleb (V. Fainer) Doors of Mercy (I. Diaghilev) To the Heavenly King (V. Fainer) Choir of the Church of Sts. Boris and Gleb in Samara, regent Olga Vechkanova
Body of Christ (Valaam. nap.) Lesser Doxology (N. Tsololo) Now You Let Go (Priest V. Starorussky) Cherubic (N. Bakhmetev) Holy God (S. Lokotkov) Choir “Rhapsody” of the Holy Dormition Cathedral in Tokmak (Ukraine ), regent Sergei Lokotkov
Now let go (AVProf)Student Quartet. and Rev. Linen. Region College of Culture and Art, 2004
Concert “The Lord Will Hear You in the Day of Sorrow”, ps. 19 (N. Saykovich) Concert “Rejoice in the Lord, ye righteous,” ps. 32 (N. Saykovich) Chamber choir of students, dir.-choir. fak. RAM named after Gnesins, dir. Irina Kolenchenko
02/05/08 Bless, my soul, the Lord (V. Kovaldzhi) Praise, my soul, the Lord (V. Kovaldzhi) It is worthy to eat (V. Kovaldzhi) In eternal memory (V. Kovaldzhi) Choir quartet by the author, 1998
Having fallen asleep in the flesh (N. Diletsky 1) Having fallen asleep in the flesh (N. Diletsky 2) Great Litany, Greater Litany (trio), Greater Litany (choir), Small Litany (V. Feiner) Christ is Risen, Quiet Light, Cherubic No. 12, Saint of the Baptism (V. Feiner) Choir of the Church of St. Boris and Gleb, Samara. reg. Olga Vechkanova.
Contemporary singing
Currently, the church choir stands either on the sole (a raised platform near the pulpit) or on top, a special building that is located on the second floor. From above, the sound becomes better, the sound is more spacious, especially in high stone churches where the acoustics are good.
In modern churches you can most often hear partes singing and everyday life. Sometimes the works of composers are sung, although some abbots believe that such chants should only be sung in a concert hall, but not in a church.
Znamenny singing, oddly enough, can be heard more and more often in modern churches. Priests believe that such singing is stricter and more prayerful. Although it is more difficult and requires perfect pitch and good singing skills.
Antiphons can also be found in our churches. Two choir members take turns singing stichera or beatitudes, or psalms. Canonry is also common, this is how prokeemnas are now performed.
