"The Cross of Artistic Excellence" — Keynote Lecture at Singcon 2025 by Father Herman Majkrzak скачать в хорошем качестве

"The Cross of Artistic Excellence" — Keynote Lecture at Singcon 2025 by Father Herman Majkrzak

In this wide-ranging talk entitled "The Cross of Artistic Excellence: Church Musicianship as an Ascetic Path of Salvation," Hieromonk Herman (Majkrzak) reflects on the spiritual vocation of the church musician. Drawing on Scripture, the Byzantine liturgical tradition, and the contrast between Martha and Mary, he explores the relationship between singing and listening, action and contemplation, and why excellence in church music is itself an ascetic path. Beginning with vivid images of the fireside, the medieval mead hall, and Hagia Sophia, Fr. Herman challenges musicians to recover both musical discipline and spiritual attentiveness in the service of the Church. The keynote concludes with an extended Q&A on topics including congregational singing, parish music culture, chant in English, cantors vs. choirs, and the place of Church Slavonic today. Fr Herman Majkrzak is a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, serving at St Michael Parish in Mishawaka, Indiana. He previously served as Chapel Music Director and Lecturer in Liturgical Music at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he received the St Macrina Award for excellence in teaching. This lecture will be of interest to cantors, choir directors, clergy, and anyone interested in Byzantine chant, Eastern Christian worship, and liturgical music. The revised text of this talk can be found here: https://sonsofsirach.substack.com/p/t... #ByzantineChant #ChurchMusic #LiturgicalMusic #UGCC #EasternChristianity #Cantor #Choir #SingCon Chapters 00:00 Introduction 03:07 Opening reflection and fireside imagery 07:55 The mead hall and communal storytelling 11:12 Hagia Sophia and the liturgy of heaven 15:10 Martha and Mary: active vs contemplative life 18:45 Ascetic discipline and learning to listen 21:20 The contemplative role of liturgical music 24:10 The heart as temple and interior prayer 30:18 Congregational singing: value and limits 35:10 Cantors, choirs, and parish musical culture 38:55 Why musical excellence matters in church 42:10 Church music as art and discipline 45:49 Eight practical tips for church musicians 57:37 End of keynote Q&A 58:11 Moderator introduction 01:01:31 Prayer rope during services 01:05:49 Cantors, choirs, and congregational singing 01:08:50 Revitalizing parish music traditions 01:12:05 Repetition vs variety in liturgical music 01:14:55 Does singing equal participation? 01:22:14 Cultivating contemplative prayer as musicians 01:25:30 Chant in English and adapting texts 01:28:13 The role of Church Slavonic today 01:29:51 Closing