Visiting an Orthodox Church - for Seekers

[The Liturgist]

Sorry, typo, s/Gregorian/Byzantine . At any rate, St Sophia’s and St. Nicholas Tarpon use this for Vespers and Matins. And sometimes during the Liturgy, but also frequently Tikey Zes, Michaelides and others.

There is some overlap with some of these composers and the Antiochians, but the Antiochians do not use the organ as far as I am aware.

 

[Lukaris]

but the Antiochians do not use the organ as far as I am aware.

I believe that is correct since I’ve been Orthodox since 2005, I’ve never heard it in our parish. Our parish liturgy was a cappella when my grandparents were Orthodox through the 1940s and probably later through the 1960s. There are actually a couple of organs in our parish choir loft that look from the 1970s and take up space. I guess in the 1970s & 80s these were used but the practice evidently discontinued. I am glad we are a cappella.

I do like church organ music in western Christianity though. At times when doing janitorial work in our parish, I’ve listened to music like Bach’s St. John Passion ( of our Lord) etc.

 

[notRusskiyMir]

not true, the Slavic tradition has it

He said it was in a Greek church. The choir hymns are very basic. They are melodic, but not elaborately structured. The closest to elaborate would be the Cherubic Hymn. But 4 part?

 

[notRusskiyMir]

Sorry, typo, s/Gregorian/Byzantine . At any rate, St Sophia’s and St. Nicholas Tarpon use this for Vespers and Matins. And sometimes during the Liturgy, but also frequently Tikey Zes, Michaelides and others.

There is some overlap with some of these composers and the Antiochians, but the Antiochians do not use the organ as far as I am aware.

For someone who fronts a knowledge of music, writing Gregorian for 'Byzantine' is not dismissed with a "typo" oopsie.
Start a music thread. And move your comments there.

 

[ArmyMatt]

He said it was in a Greek church. The choir hymns are very basic. They are melodic, but not elaborately structured. The closest to elaborate would be the Cherubic Hymn. But 4 part?

right, and you said 4 part isn’t in the Orthodox tradition. it is. it might not be in the Greek tradition, but it is in the Orthodox tradition.

and I have been to Greek parishes where they will do certain hymns in the Slavic tradition, and that means using 4 part.

 

[notRusskiyMir]

right, and you said 4 part isn’t in the Orthodox tradition. it is. it might not be in the Greek tradition, but it is in the Orthodox tradition.

and I have been to Greek parishes where they will do certain hymns in the Slavic tradition, and that means using 4 part.

I'm sure there is wide borrowing. My larger point is that none of this advances the knowledge of a typical seeker. We got off the track even before the music when Vigils were mentioned. Let's support getting seekers to visit our churches on a Sunday as one would expect them to interested in visiting. They can get their fine arts degree in musicology later, supplemented by Gregorian chant if that rocks their boat.

 

[ArmyMatt]

I'm sure there is wide borrowing. My larger point is that none of this advances the knowledge of a typical seeker. We got off the track even before the music when Vigils were mentioned. Let's support getting seekers to visit our churches on a Sunday as one would expect them to interested in visiting. They can get their fine arts degree in musicology later, supplemented by Gregorian chant if that rocks their boat.

I gotcha, I was just trying to be clear that it is a part of our tradition. but I hear you on your main point.

 

[All4Christ]

We got off the track even before the music when Vigils were mentioned.

Vigil is important to mention since not all Orthodox Churches have Matins in the morning. That is the Greek tradition, but it is not the same for all of Orthodoxy. Many people visit for Vespers rather than Sunday, and they may encounter a vigil there. My first visit was a Vespers service.

 

[notRusskiyMir]

Vigil is important to mention since not all Orthodox Churches have Matins in the morning. That is the Greek tradition, but it is not the same for all of Orthodoxy. Many people visit for Vespers rather than Sunday, and they may encounter a vigil there. My first visit was a Vespers service.

The largest group of Orthodox in America - the Greeks - do not have Vigils (might be exceptions, like everything in Orthodoxy). I find it hard to believe that a typical Catholic or protestant would seek out a Saturday service to first experience Orthodoxy. No harm if they do.
My post is aimed at easing the strangeness of an Orthodox liturgy to the variety of seekers out there. So, vespers and vigils are nice to know, but it isn't essential at that stage to know about these. And even then, they will go to a church on a Sunday, yes? Then let's get them oriented to that experience. Alls I'm sayin'.