Sacred Music

 

Welcome to the website for the Department of Sacred Music. We have much information here for you, which is updated regularly. The Department of Sacred Music guides parishes in the Antiochian Archdiocese in all areas concerning liturgical music. Drawing from the talents of those who work in sacred music throughout the archdiocese, this department develops music publications, organizes workshops and seminars, builds community among music leaders, supports the musical development of young mission parishes, and encourages the creation of new musical arrangements. The Sacred Music webpage makes it easy to locate and download the necessary sheet music for feasts and seasons of the Orthodox liturgical year.

Visit this web page often for news and updates as the selection of files for download continues to expand.

 

Contact:

Christopher Holwey, Chairman
Follow this link to send Christopher Holwey an email message:

http://www.antiochian.org/contact/Department_of_Sacred_Music



Visit Our PDF Library of Music Downloads:


MUSIC DOWNLOADS



Music News:

(Last updated November 15, 2009)

 

  • * The Nativity of our Lord - Prefeast Series has been updated in the chant version of the Kontakion, with a corrected ison.  It is now available in Section N,
  • * The music for the Feast of the Entrance of the Theotokos, November 21st, has been updated.  Section E in Music Downloads.
  • * The Divine Liturgy by Professor Michael Hilko, sung by many of our choirs in the 1950s and 1960s, is now available in English.  See "Music Downloads," section D.
  • * New 3-part Divine Liturgy, by Richard Toensing, now available for smaller choirs.  See Section D.
  • * Standardized Music: We standardized the music to be used for various Feasts and Services, and ask that all parishes use this music when singing in combined parish gatherings, such a Conferences, Conventions, Retreats, etc.  The music is for the following:
  • Found under "Troparia of Feasts and Forefeasts"   
    * The Troparion of Pascha in English, Arabic and Greek, slow and quick versions
    * The Troparion of Pentecost
    * The Troparion of the Elevation of the Cross
    * The Kontakion of Annunciation, found under "Kontakia of Feasts and Forefeasts"
    * Gladsome Light, Byzantine chant version (sung at Great Vespers), found under "Gladome Light"
  • * The National Convention Music has been updated with a new Trisagion Hymn (10E) and Cherubic Hymn (13I) from Richard Toensing, plus revisions on the Cherubic Hymn (13H) by Christopher Holwey.  Revisions were also made to 12A & 12F, 14A, 14B, 14C, & 14F, reflecting that we DO NOT sing "Many years, master" instead of "And to thy spirit" when a bishop says "Peace be to all," and that after the Gospel, we sing "Glory to thee..." FOLLOWED BY "Many years, master" as the bishop blesses the congregation with the gospel book.
  • *  Music for the singing of Many Years to a Priest and Bishop at the end of the Divine Liturgy.  Please see the "Many Years" section, first one listed.

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  • The Music for the Sacraments of Baptism and Marriage (Wedding), plus the Memorial and Funeral Service are now available for upload. See Sections B, W, M, and F.  Choral and chant versions available for all.
  • *  Are you having a bishop at your church for the Feast of the Holy Cross?  Look at the music for "Before Thy Cross--Hierarchical," found in Section B.
  • Also available: music for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy. Each is listed in its own section: Under A for As Many As Have Been Baptized; under B for Before Thy Cross; and under T for Trisagion Hymn.
  • *  Music available for "As Many As Have Been Baptized," chant version in Arabic, under Group Heading for "As Many"
  • *  Music for ordinations of deacons and priests. See Ordination Music in Music Downloads.
  • If there is anything else you might need and you cannot find it here, please write to us!


We also now have available our revised and updated Convention Music, 2007 edition. To access the complete packet of music, go to Section N, and click on the National Convention Music there. For inidividual pieces of the Convention Music, click on the "Music Downloads" link, and then the "Music for the National Convention" link in the box. This will bring up all of the Convention music individually.

 

 

 

This year's SMI was held from July 29 - August 2, 2009!
We hope you enjoyed being with us, and will come again next year.

Please join us NEXT YEAR for our 25th Anniversary SMI:
Antiochian Village: July 28 - August 1, 2010

Also, keep in mind the West Coast SMI:
January 28-31, 2010


2009 Sacred Music Institute

 

Another group picture of 2009 SMI

 

 

Did you know... 

...that in the Orthodox Church, we traditionally do not have any musical instruments that accompany any of our hymns or singing in any of our liturgical services?  When we sing in the Church, it is always to be a cappella, which means without instrumentation.  Our music is always provided with the human voice.  Why is that?  Well, I'm glad you asked.

     Back in March, I had the pleasure of doing a workshop in Indianapolis on Sacred Music in the Liturgy.  During my studies for the workshop, I came across a wonderful quote from St. John Chrysostom about why we only use the human voice and no instruments in the Orthodox Church during our liturgical services.  Here is what that great Father of the Church had to say:

 "David formerly sang in psalms, we today also sing with him; he had a lyre with lifeless strings, the Church has a lyre with living strings.  Our tongues are the strings of the lyre, with a different tone, indeed, but with a more accordant piety."

     One of the main points I always make in my presentations is that music is the means by which we pray.  The text of the prayers, its meaning and content are of the utmost importance, and are offered to God by means of the music that accompanies that text.  So therefore, our praise and worship of God is done so by the use of our human voices, singing the words of the sacred hymns and prayers of the Church.  Our prayers are always accompanied by the type of music that brings those words and prayers to life, in whatever way is most appropriate for that particular prayer of offering.  Therefore, we see that there is no piety or prayer offered by a musical instrument, which are only brute sounds.  Rather, it is the human voice that offers much praise and glory, with a more accordant piety, to the living God who has given us this life. This is because our worship in the Church must be, as Jesus said, "in spirit and truth" (John 4:23).  It must be logical and rational worship, filled with much meaning and purpose, which can only come through the human voice. Also, our worship must be eschatological, meaning that it is reflective of the end times, namely, our life in the eternal kingdom, when we completely and fully are joined with the angels in singing the praise and glory of our God forever.

     Musical instruments, on the other hand, only hinder this type of worship, and can in no way be logical, rational, or eschatological.  Actually, they are lifeless instruments, representative of "this world," and are used more for entertainment and theatrical purposes.  The choir and chanters are not there to perform a concert, or bring about such feelings and emotions that would lead us to "Ooo" and "Ahhh" at their performance.  The focus is not on them, but rather on God and His Kingdom.  Therefore, they are there to lead us in the glory, praise, thanksgiving, honor and worship that we all are called to offer to Him by means of our human voice, which sings the prayers of the Church in a beautiful and melodious manner, lifting up our hearts and minds as we commune with the one, true, and living God:  Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

     May we always sing and praise our God with much joy and piety both in this world and in that which is yet to come.

Chris

 

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If you have any questions, please let me know. Thanks!

- Chris

When you look at music on the web site, and wish to download it to replace something else, please look at the footer of the page to see the revision number (Rev. 1, e.g.) or the date to make sure that it is the latest one out there, or at least later than the one you currently have.

Please let me know how I may help you in your parish to make your liturigical experience the best that it can be, to the glory of our God.
 

Questions and/or comments may be emailed to Christopher Holwey, Chairman of the Sacred Music Department, by clicking on the link below, filling out the entire section, and clicking on Submit at the bottom of the form.

http://www.antiochian.org/contact/Department_of_Sacred_Music

Thank you!

 

St. Romanos the Melodist
 

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