Entering an Orthodox church, everyone discovers a new world of liturgical art. This is the architecture of the temple, and the art of icon painting, poetry and, finally, chant. What is the name of the church chant? Let's consider in more detail.
Liturgical art - what is it?
To understand the essence of church singing, it is necessary to perceive it holistically. Divine service art combines the unconnected, and the strict rules developed over the centuries do not at all restrict freedom of expression. Famous Orthodox works (the name of the church chant we will learn a little later) of such famous authors as Cosmas of Mayum, Andrei of Crete, Roman Sladkopevts and other church figures are striking with their freedom and courage. Mosaics, frescoes, icons of Andrei Rublev, Dionysius and other icon painters help to elevate the mind and heart to the primary source of beauty and harmony.
The temple is a place where worship is held, where people partake of the Bloodless Sacrifice, so the chant should correspond to everything that happens around. Only then can it rightfully be called a church.
The One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church is a gathering of brothers and sisters by faith. Consequently, church Orthodox chants are applied cathedral art. In other words, a collective art aimed at serving the goals and objectives of the Church.
Choral singing
It is not surprising that choir singing is mostly choral: all voices are evenly distributed, each part is sung impassively, not loudly and not quietly, surprisingly delicately and softly. Either it is performed in one voice (unison) with an eason (when several voices hold one bass note) - this is either a Byzantine chant or a significant one.
If sounding music has all of the above merits, then it can rightfully be called liturgical art.
What is the name of the church chant?
The chants in the Orthodox Church have their own names and are divided into several types:
- Troparii.
- Kondaki.
- Verses.
- Irmosy.
- Ikosy.
- Powerful.
- Ipakoi.
- Mother of God.
- Psalms
In addition to them, at the Divine Liturgy and All-night Vigil, special chants are sung, such as the Cherubic, Grace of the World, Great litany, Great and Lesser Glories, and so on.
Conventionally, church hymns can be divided into two groups: liturgical (temple) and non-liturgical (extra-temple). Liturgical chants are performed directly during the Liturgy, All-Night Vigil and during everyday services. These include troparia, kontakion, stichera, irmos, ipakoi, ikos, sedate. Mother of God singing, the singing of psalms, akathists, and greatness can be heard outside of worship. They are not included or sanctified by the statutory tradition. In another way they are called paraliturgic (from the word "couple" here means "about") singing.
These include carols, verses about saints, penitential, marriage, wedding chants, folk songs and so on.
What are the names of Negro church chants?
In the seventies of the nineteenth century, the first collections of folk and spiritual Negro songs appeared.
They were assembled and released by the first African-American composer Harry Burley. Interestingly, all the works were performed by a many-voiced choir without accompaniment. Black singers easily harmonized the melody, sometimes the lead singer was the leader.
Negro chants are often called gospels. The word takes its roots from English Gospel music, that is, evangelical music. The African-American gospel differs from the Euro-American one, but what unites them is that they originated in the same environment - the Methodist Church of the southern United States of America.
Unlike Orthodox and Gregorian chants, Negro gospel is sung quickly, cheerfully and with dance notes. The founder of the gospel was the Methodist priest Charles Tindley, who himself wrote music and words to it.
Many contemporary performers included and include gospels in their concert program. Ray Charles, Elvis Presley, Whitney Houston and many equally famous singers with pleasure sang Negro folk chants.
What is the peculiarity of Orthodox chants?
The essence of church Orthodox chants is prayer. Prayer glorifies the Creator, the joy of communication with Him, speaks of requests, forgiveness of sins. There is nothing better than serving God. Any person who has an ardent desire to sing on the choir will surely achieve his goal with the help of the Lord.
From the history of Ancient Russia, we know that the ambassadors of Prince Vladimir, having visited Constantinople, were delighted with the church service. They heard choral singing, saw the hierarchal service and could not understand whether they were on earth or in heaven, since they had never seen or heard anything like it, could not even find the right words to retell all the beauty and harmony of worship. The peculiarity of Orthodox worship is that God abides with people.
The article examined the question of what church chants are called, but one interpretation is not enough - these works need to be listened to.