www.byzcath.org Forums Mysteries: The Life of Worship Vespers, Matins & the Divine Liturgy The Revised Divine Liturgy So, will these chants ever be heard again in the BCC?

As a convert to RC, I had always had a fascination with the East. I attended the local Ruthenian parish in my area for over a year before deciding that, in light of the liturgical reforms, I would stick to the Roman rite. I didn't see the point in becoming a fully involved member of the Ruthenian parish and even switching rites if the Spirit moved me only to be deprived of the very Eastern spirituality I was looking for. I thought, "maybe things will work out very well and the bumps will be smoothed over and the Byzantine tradition will thrive." This may all happen and I certainly hope it does.

Still, I pray and worry about the Ruthenians. I came across this page via Facebook and began to wonder whether any of these chants would ever be heard again in America (outside of Orthodoxy).

http://www.grkat.nfo.sk/hudba/chrys-svb-07.mp3

These are simply sublime and deeply prayerful. I don't think it matters where you come from or where you're at in life, these hymns rejuvenate the soul. We often times forget that for all its blessings, this country is extremely deficient when it comes to beautiful things that elevate the heart to God. Sursum corda -- lift up your hearts -- is shared in liturgies East & West. Sometimes, a kickstart is needed and a beautiful hymn can do that.

Are these beautiful songs in a beautiful language heard now? Will they be under the new reforms? I'm not asking whether someone will translate them into English and adjust the music to support the change in language.

If not, what does it say about the direction and vitality of the Ruthenian rescension here in this nation? Are people on this board of the opinion that the hymns in the link can be changed with no loss to the rescension?

I sure hope so. I always preferred this song in Slavonic; and the tones we used in Slavonic differed from the English, if I recall correctly. There were 2 or 3 tones in English I liked, but none compared; and though the new tones are close, they don't evoke the childhood awe in me.

Of course, the link you provided was NOT the tone I remember, probably because that's an arrangement for a choir.

Amiň.
Svjatyj Bo�e, svjatyj kr�ipk�j, svjatyj bezsmertnyj, pomiluj nas. (3)
Slava Otcu, in Synu, I Svjatomu Duchu, I nyň� i prisno, i vo v�iki v�ikov, amiň.
Svjatyj bezsmertnyj, pomiluj nas.
Svjatyj Bo�e, svjatyj kr�ipk�j, svjatyj bezsmertnyj, pomiluj nas.

Singing it quietly to myself right now, I've got goosebumps!

Dave

Those are choral arrangements, not the traditional Subcarpathian Rusyn Prostopinije chant.

Christos Razhdajet'sja! Slavite Jeho!

Ung

You know, as Ung and Dave said above this is a choral piece.
And I haven't had time to check the composer, it is on the tip of my tongue but I can't spit it out.
It's not anything you'd find in a pew book as it isn't any of the tones etc..

Thanks for the correction. I came across the link from a Catholic chant group on Facebook, so I didn't really pay attention like I should have to the formal distinction between choral arrangements and chant when I posted.

I guess what I was shooting for though are some thoughts regarding the general direction of the liturgical music, with the choirs in the recordings kind of giving a lofty standard for which to shoot. I certainly hope that the new liturgy will inspire the kind of musical beauty heard here in whatever form.