"I will sing to the LORD as long as I live; I will sing praise to GOD while I have being."
(Psalm 104:33)
The ministry of music is an essential part of Orthodox worship. It plays a significant role in Orthodox Theology and one's spiritual life. In the Divine services, the chanters and choir are fulfilling the duty of carrying on the traditions of the Orthodox Church through singing hymns in prayer. St. Theophan the Recluse, when commenting on the purpose of church hymns, said, "All of our liturgical hymns are instructive, profound, and sublime. They contain the whole of our theology and moral teaching, give us Christian consolation, and instill in us a fear of the Judgment. He who listens to them attentively has no need of other books on the Faith." The choir's role is not to perform or only be listened to, but to lead the congregation in the worship of the Liturgy through the tradition of hymnography.
The musical tradition in the Orthodox church comes from many rich national roots: Byzantine-Greek, Byzantine-Arab, Russian, Romanian, Georgian, Serbian, Bulgarian, etc. Each musical tradition has unique features and can be easily distinguished, but they all function the same. At St. George, our music predominantly comes from the Byzantine-Arab tradition, but the choir also sings hymns from other traditions, as well as music by contemporary composers. Most of the Divine Liturgy is sung in English, but some hymns are sung or repeated in Arabic as well.
Anyone can be a part of the music ministry at St. George. There are opportunities to chant Byzantine hymns and/or sing with the 4-part choir. Whether you have been singing your whole life or are brand new to it, there is a place for you in the choir. Bishop BASIL has said, "Church singing is not a hobby. It is not something one does for personal fulfillment. It is first and foremost a duty, a duty of those to whom God has given musical talents. Angels were created to serve and to praise, and you have been given voices for that same purpose."
Choir rehearsals take place every Saturday at 6pm, directly following Vespers, and are open for all to join. If you are interested in auditioning, or have any questions about the music at St. George, don't hesitate to reach out to:
Choir Director and Chanter: Rdr. Jonah Charles
Email: musicministries.stgeorge@gmail.com
Resources for Orthodox Musicians:
• Antiochian Department of Sacred Music (DSM)
• St. Anthony's Monastery Divine Music Project
• Orthodox Church in America (OCA) Music Downloads
• Diocese of Los Angeles and the West (DLAW)
• Greek Orthodox Archdiocese (GOA) Music page
One of the Oldest Prayers for Chanters and Church Singers
Through the prayers of St. John the Damascene, St. Romanos the Melodist, St. John Koukouzelis, and all of our Holy Fathers, O Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy upon us! We pray to Thee to open and consecrate our spiritual and physical hearing, and give us the strength to testify with our modest mouth Thy endless perfections in fullness of Truth, Goodness, and Beauty.
Help us to clean ourselves, in body and soul, in clear thoughts and calm spirit, and that through singing that we dress ourselves in light of love and life, in communion with Thee and all the saints.
Help us to praise and glorify Thee through singing in a proper way, fervently praying and endlessly praising Thee for all the undeserved gifts that Thou hast poured upon us, and not to sing in vanity and to judge ourselves, but to join the Angelic choirs who constantly glorify Thee with Thy Eternal Father and Thy Most Holy, Meek, and Life-giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of all ages.
Amen.