A gentleman in the RC church where I am organist gave me a copy of the text for an "Akathist to the Holy Virgin." It is a service that starts in tone 6, then goes to tone 8. He thinks it is Russian in origin. He is presenting various forms of prayer and hymns to the Mother of God in a workshop to be held at the church. I would like to find, preferably online, any sheet music for this Akathist so he will have an example of the notation to show to the workshop participants. Anyone know where something like this can be found.
Thanks,
Charles

I don't understand exactly for what it is you are asking. There are a lot of different melodies and settings. Would Greek and Slavonic exemplars do? Does it have to be in English?

In Christ,
Adam

English would be good, but Greek would also work. This is the Akathist service that begins,
Priest: Blessed is our God, always, now and ever, and unto the ages of ages!
People: Amen
tone 6
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, etc.

The intro to the booklet about akathists is by a Fr. Michael Carney. The service follows. The gentleman I mentioned wants a notation example of how these are sung to show a group of RCs learning various ways the Mother of God is praised and honored in the east. He wants to show them that these are musical settings, not just texts. If anything is online, I can print it out and give it to him.

I found the text that he is using-if is on fatheralexander.org . It is not that the Hymn starts in Tone 6-it is all in Tone 8. Does your associate understand that everything prior to "Kontakion 1 (Tone 8)" is not a part of the Hymn proper?

Here are some links i have found so far-i do not think they are exactly what you want.

http://www.culture.gr/2/21/218/218eu/e218eu9.html

An Ikon of the hymn:
http://www.macedonian-heritage.gr/HellenicMacedonia/en/img_B32222b.html

modern compsition in Italian:
http://www.akathistos.net/

In German (has the Pochaev melody at the end):
http://www.angelfire.com/nh/milleniumikons/AkathistosDt.pdf

The thing is, that mostly there is at most music for the first Prooimion and Oikos, and then the rest is sung from text (if any music notated music is used at all).

Here are two sites that have closer to what you are looking for:

In the context of Matins of Saturday of the Fifth week of the Fast (the place where it occurs in the service books):
http://www.unmercenary.com/chant/glakath.html

This has two settings of the Prooimoion in English:
http://www.angelfire.com/music4/orthodoxchant/AllRussian/Triodion.html

Many thanks for your help. I have passed these along to the workshop leader who will also, I am sure, be grateful. Thanks again.