Byzantine Catholic Church in America
 Liturgical Chant: Introduction & Resources
 | www.byzcath.org/chant |

Liturgical Chant:

Introduction & Resources

 

The purpose of this page is to provide introduce and provide resources for all those interested in liturgical chant. The references for liturgical chant provided here focus on the Carpatho-Ruthenian chant tradition (Prostopinije - Plain Chant).  Those familiar with other chant traditions are encouraged to contact us to provide information on those traditions which would be useful here. It is intended to expand this page to include primers on singing and arranging chant for cantors. Please note that the musical arrangement of liturgical texts in English is still somewhat in its infancy since it is only in this last 30-40 years that quality English translations have become available and native English speaking cantors have begun this work. ByzCath.org provides this reference information but does not necessarily endorse or vouch for the quality of the individual publishers listed on this page.

| Introduction | Books | Liturgical Texts | Liturgical Music | Other Publications | Recordings |

 

Introduction

Books

  • The Plainchant Tradition of Southwestern Rus', Joan L. Roccasalvo, East Europen Monographs, Boulder, Distributed by Columbia University Press, New York (1986) - An excellent introduction to the origins and history of Carpathian Plainchant.

  • Tserkovnoje Prostopinije, John Boksaj and Joseph Malinic, Eparchy of Mukacevo, 1906.  Reprinted and copyrighted by the Byzantine Seminary Press, Pittsburgh. In Church Slavonic. Contains music for the Divine Liturgy, Octoechos (Eight Tones), feast days, Great and Holy Week, funeral, marriage and other services. The contents of this book is also available in two paperback books edited by Fr. Andrew Sokol in 1955.  "Basic Chant" (aka "The Brown Book") contains the first 54 pages of Tserkovnoje Prostopinije, (the Eight Tones, Vespers and Matins) but with Latin letters.  "Plain Chant" contains music for the Divine Liturgies (Chrysostom, Basil and Presanctified), as well as other services (also with Latin letters). All are available from the Byzantine Seminary Press.

  • Irmologion, Stefan Papp and Nikifor Petrasevic, Presov: Greek Catholic Ordinariate, 1970 (out of print, check with your pastor for sources)

  • Prostopinije, Feodor Ratzin, Wilkes-Barre, 1925, (out of print, check with your pastor for sources)

  • A Few Words on Church Chant in Carpatho-Russia, Johann von Gardner, Orthodox Life XXX, No. 1 (Jan-Feb, 1980)

  • Russian Church Singing, Volume I, Johann von Gardner, SVS Press. - Early history of Russian chant, structure of Orthodox worship & poetical forms of its hymnography.

  • Russian Church Singing, Volume II, Johann von Gardner, SVS Press - History from the origins to the mid-17th century.

Liturgical Texts

  • Typikons

    • The Common Typikon and The Annual Typikon: A guidebook to the celebration of the Liturgy and Divine Office of the Byzantine Ruthenian Church. Arranged by Rev. David M. Petras, SEOD.  The Common Typicon provides a general guide for the celebration of the Liturgy of the Church. The Annual Typikon is published yearly and provides detailed guidance and includes references to specific liturgical texts and where to find them.  Available now via Eastern Christian Publications:

      • 2000 Typikon (Gregorian Calendar)

      • 2000 Typikon (Julian Calendar  - St. John of Kronstadt Press

      • Common Typikon

  • Liturgical Calendar and Rubrics, St. Tikhon's Seminary Press, 1988-1995

  • Cerkovnij Typikon, Alexander Mikita, Uzhorod, 1901

  • Typikcerkve Rusko-Katholiceskija, Idisore Dolnitsky, Lviv, 1899.

     

  • Byzantine Seminary Press

    • Book of Prayer (1976)

    • Epistles and Old Testament Readings for the Liturgical Year (1979)

  • Melkite Eparchy of Newton

    • Menaion - the following months are available: 

      • September

      • October

      • November

      • December

      • January

      • March

      • June

  • Sisters of St. Basil

    • Festal Menaion

    • Lenten Triodion

    • Pentecostarion

    • The Office of Vespers

    • The Office of Matins

  • Mother Katherine, The Greek Orthodox Monastery of the Assumption, Whitby, North Yorkshire Y022 4PS, UK, 1982, 1982

  • Mother Mary and Archmandrite Kallistos Ware

    • The Festal Menaion (London, Faber and Faber, 1969)

    • The Lenten Triodion (London, Faber and Faber, 1978)

    • The Lenten Triodion, Supplementary Texts (Bussy-en-Othe, France: Monastery of the Veil of the Mother of God, 1979)

    • Octoechos (Bussy-en-Othe, France: Monastery of the Veil of the Mother of God)

  • Mother Mary Supplemental texts

    • September 26 / May 8 - The Passing Away of St. John the Divine

    • October 1 - The Veil of Our Lady

    • November 8 - St. Michael and All Angels

    • December 6 - St. Nicholas

    • January 1 - The Circumcision and Memorial of St. Basil

    • January 17 - St. Anthony the Great

    • March 9 - The Forty Holy Martyrs

    • April 23 - St. George the Great Martyr

    • June 24 / August 29 - The Birth of St. John the Baptist and Beheading

    • June 29 - SS Peter and Paul

    • July 15 - St. Vladimir

    • July 22 - St. Mary Magdalene

    • August 1 - The Procession of the Holy Cross

    • August 16 - Translation of the Icon of Our Lord

    • The Vigil of he Ascension

  • Byzantine Daily Worship, Joseph Raya and Jose de Vinck (Alleluia Press, 1969)

  • Saint John of Kronstadt Press - Most service texts available in Elizabethan English.

  • Byzantine Francisicans

    • Horologion (Francisican Edition) - Volumes I and II (New Canaan, 1967, 1968) Volume II is entitled "The Days of Lent and Light.

  • Divine Prayers and Services, Seraphim Nassar (Brooklyn, 1961) - Commonly referred to as "The Five Pounder".

  • The Ferial Menaion, N. Orloff (London, 1900) Reprinted by N. P. Brill, 1421 East Grove ST. Bloomington, IL 61701)

  • The General Menaion, N. Orloff (London, 1900) Reprinted by N. P. Brill, 1421 East Grove ST. Bloomington, IL 61701)

Liturgical Music / Books with Music for Parish Use

  • The Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom - A 1997 update for private use of the 1963 "Green Book" published by the Diocese of Passaic. Contains music and is suitable by the congregation. (Acrobat Reader Required). Note: Very large file ~ 13 MB.

     

     

  • The Late Msgr. William Levkulic, a priest of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Pittsburgh and a member of the Inter-Eparchical Liturgical Commission prepared an immense collection of liturgical booklets. The following list is incomplete.  Most booklets are available in two formats, with and without music. Contact the seminary for further information.

    • December 12 - Vespers for the Feast of St. Nicholas

    • December 25 - The Office of Vespers and the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil for the Nativity of Our Lord, God and Savior, Jesus Christ

    • December 25 - "Christ is Born! Glorify Him!" - A Compline service together with traditional Carpathian Christmas Carols in English and Slavonic (1969)

    • January 6 - Theophany: Vespers and Divine Liturgy with the Great Sanctification of the Waters

    • The Hours for Great Lent and Holy Week

    • Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts

    • Hymns for Great Lent

    • Royal Hours for Great Friday

    • Akathist Hymn to Our Lord Jesus Christ and to the Blessed Virgin Mary (together in one booklet)

    • Moleben to Jesus: A Service of Prayer to Jesus, The Lover of Mankind

    • Moleben to the Most Holy Virgin Mary

    • Paraklis

  • Cantor John Vernoski has the following music available for use in the local parish. [This listing is not complete - contact him for a complete listing or for special booklets.]

    • "Byzantine Worship Guides" - A handout designed to be distributed to each worshipper which contains the changeable liturgical texts for each Sunday and Feast Day along with an introduction to each feast and commentary on the Epistle and Gospel Readings. Currently used in about 150 parishes and distributed on a monthly basis. Approved by Bishop Andrew of Passaic.

    • Great Vespers for Saturday Evenings - Contains the complete texts for Saturday Evening Vespers according to the Eight Tones with music provided for "O Lord, I have cried....", "O Joyful Light", The Great Prokimenon, "Count Us Worthy", and the "Canticle of St. Simeon".  An edition containing music for all the stichera is in preparation. (1988 - 66 pages)

    • Great Vespers for Saturday Evenings from the Sunday of the Publican and Pharisee to Flowery Sunday - Similar to the above except it contains only the first 4 stichera of the Resurrectional Tone together with all of the stichera for each Sunday according to the Triodion. (1988 - 88 pages)

    • Vespers for Sunday Evenings during the Great Fast (Forgiveness Sunday through the Fifth Sunday and for Flowery Sunday) - Similar to the above. (1988 - 50 pages)

    • Great and Holy Wednesday: The Service of Holy Anointing

    • Jerusalem Matins (Matins of Holy Saturday) - Music for the Jerusalem Matins book published by the Eparchy of Parma in 1984 (1985 - 52 pages)

    • Vespers for the Feasts of the Liturgical Year - Vespers for most of the 12 Great Feasts, along with other lesser feasts, are currently available in individual booklets for each feast.  Some of these booklets from the mid-1980's are in the process being updated but are still available in the original format. Most are available in both "Vespers Only" and "Vespers and Divine Liturgy" format.  The "Vespers and Divine Liturgy" format follows the order of Vespers (Invitation to Worship, Psalm 103, Litany of Peace, Psalm 140 with stichera, "O Joyful Light", Great Prokimenon and Old Testament readings) and then continues the short litany before the "Holy God".  It then provides the music for the changeable parts of the Divine Liturgy.

      • September 8 - Nativity of the Theotokos

      • September 14 - Universal Exaltation of the Holy Cross

      • October 1 - Protection of the Theotokos

      • November 21 - Entrance of the Theotokos into the Temple

      • December: Pre-Christmas Vespers - A vesper service designed to be celebrated during the latter part of Advent.  Ideal as a prayer service preceding a pre-Christmas evening of confessions on a weeknight, or a Sunday evening pot-luck dinner.

      • February 2 - Meeting our Our Lord with Simeon and Anna

      • March 25 - Annunciation to the Theotokos

      • Ascension of Our Lord

      • June 29 - Feast of SS. Peter and Paul

      • August 6 - Transfiguration of Our Lord

      • August 15 - Dormition of the Theotokos

    • Matins

      • August 15 - Dormition of the Theotokos (with Burial Service)

    • Christmas Carols - A booklet containing 22 Christmas Carols arranged in a suggested order for the parish Christmas celebration. Also includes an arrangement of the Cherubic Hymn to "Nova Radost" (1987 - 16 pages - Text only - contains no music)

    • Hymns for Great Lent and the propers for the Divine Liturgy of St. Basil the Great - Contains 13 Lenten Hymns together with the music for the Typical Psalms, the Beatitudes, and "In You, O Woman Full of Grace" for the Basil Liturgy in a single booklet that can be placed in the pew. (1984 - 20 pages)

    • Evening Prayer - A short service consisting of Psalm 103 and "O Joyful Light".  Ideal for a non-church setting to begin a Bible Study or to conclude a conference when a full vespers would be too much. (8 pages)

    • The Sacrament of Repentance - A short prayer service ideal for use prior to confessions.  Consists of Psalm 50, a litany and troparia of repentance, a Gospel reading and a dismissal. (5 pages)

Other Publications

Recordings

 

The following listing is limited to recordings of Carpathian Prostopinije. There are many available recordings of the Divine Liturgy.

| Introduction | Books | Liturgical Texts | Liturgical Music | Other Publications | Recordings |

 

| Home - http://www.byzcath.org | This page last modified on 02/01/2003