Amy and Richard welcome back John Michael Boyer to talk about his new textbook for Byzantine music aimed specifically at English language readers. They have a conversation about the book's beginnings, John's nearly two decades long writing process, what it offers cantors, and how the chant landscape has changed in North America since he first had t…

Demetrios Katsiklis is the newly-appointed Master Chanter of the newly-reopened St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church and National Shrine at Ground Zero. In this episode he talks to Amy and Richard about his upbringing in Greece, his chanting education, the challenges and opportunities of daily worship at one of the most visible Orthodox churches in t…

Amy and Richard chat with the composers of Heaven and Earth, Cappella Romana's latest CD release, about the influence of Byzantine chant on this unique collaborative work.Heaven and Earth by Cappella Romana, recording release, October 14 2022Heaven and Earth, concerts in Seattle and Portland, October 14-16 2022Heaven and Earth: A Song of Creation p…

In this episode Amy and Richard discuss the 4th Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion. You can find the score and recordings of the hymn on paralaggi and melos in the show notes, as well as a scale chart for reference.4th Mode Resurrection Apolytikion in Byzantine notation, by Papa Ephraim 4th Mode Resurrection Apolytikion in Western notation, by Papa Ep…

Amy and Richard talk to Brown University’s Susan Ashbrook Harvey about her work, including liturgical aesthetics in late antiquity, and how St. Ephraim the Syrian’s choirs of women in fourth century Edessa might be helpful models for us today.Show Notes:Extract from Jacob of Serug’s Homily on St. Ephraim the Syrian [Hyperlink to the pdf which is at…

In this episode Amy and Richard discuss the 3rd Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion. You can find the score and recordings of the hymn on paralaggi and melos in the show notes, as well as a scale chart for reference. 3rd Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion - Looped Recording3rd Mode Resurrection Apolytikion in Byzantine notation, by Papa Ephraim3rd Mode Re…

Richard and Amy discuss some of the spiritual, mental, and physical disciplines that they have found helpful in overcoming chanting related nervousness and anxiety. Amy explains what happens in the voice box during strong emotions, why this can negatively impact our ability to chant, and then models some exercises showing how to identify and learn …

This year, Richard chanted nameday services for his patron, Saint Richard of Wessex (7 February) for the very first time. In this episode, he tells the story of how all of that came to be, what it has to do with Byzantine chant in English, and how it brought together many people who have been on the show over the years.Livestream video of the servi…

Richard and Amy tell us what they have been up to the last few months during their podcasting absence. Both have started new positions, Richard as Director of Publications, Grants, and Operations for Cappella Romana and Amy as the Protopsaltria as St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Pittsburgh.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Richard and Amy focus on the 2nd Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion in this episode, discussing the mode's structural notes and scale. They talk about common pitfalls of the Soft Chromatic scale and give tips on tuning. You can find the score and recordings of the hymn on paralaggi and melos in the show notes.2nd Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion Score …

In these two episodes Richard and Amy work through the 1st Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion, discussing the mode's structural notes, scale, common intervals, and attractions. You can find the score and recordings of the hymn on parallagi and melos (set from Pa equal to both A and D) in the show notes. Part 2 of 21st Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion S…

In these two episodes Richard and Amy work through the 1st Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion, discussing the mode's structural notes, scale, common intervals, and attractions. You can find the score and recordings of the hymn on parallagi and melos (set from Pa equal to both A and D) in the show notes. Part 1 of 21st Mode Resurrectional Apolytikion S…

Amy and Richard conclude their conversation with Chadi Karam. In this segment Chadi discusses more of the chanting context for Orthodox in Lebanon, including the participation of women, the legacy of Mitri El Murr, and the composers and cantors active today. Part 3 of 3.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Richard and Amy continue their conversation with Chadi Karam. In this segment Chadi explains his composition process, shares some projects he is working on, and talks about some of the hurdles involved when composing in English. Part 2 of 3.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy and Richard talk to composer and cantor Chadi Karam about his composition efforts for the Antiochian Archdiocese and his own grounding and education in the Arabic-language chant world. Part 1 of 3.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the second of a two-part conversation, Amy, Richard, and Photini continue to discuss her journey with the tradition of the Psaltic Art, as well as…

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the first of a two-part conversation, Amy and Richard talk to Photini about her experience learning Byzantine music through professional music mak…

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the re…

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the re…

Amy and Richard conclude their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who discusses some of the current efforts of the Antiochian Archdiocese around Byzantine music, reflects on the history of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese, and offers thoughts on practical matters such as tuning.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy and Richard continue their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who talks about his contribution to the groundbreaking “All Creation Trembled” recording by the St. Romanos Choir, his time at Hellenic College Holy Cross, his perspective on “free chanting”, and more.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Fr. John El Massih is a priest, cantor, teacher, composer, and advocate of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese and beyond. Amy and Richard talk to him about his background and education, his contributions to multiple high-level efforts to pass along the chant tradition in America, including recordings like PROTO's "Sun of Justice", and hi…

Amy and Richard talk with Cappella Romana Musical Director Alexander Lingas and Associate Director John Michael Boyer about the genesis and legacy of The Divine Liturgy in English, Cappella Romana’s groundbreaking recording first released in 2008, and recently re-released on the Naxos label. Alexander and John discuss the intent to represent the co…

Amy and Richard talk with Cappella Romana Musical Director Alexander Lingas and Associate Director John Michael Boyer about the genesis and legacy of The Divine Liturgy in English, Cappella Romana’s groundbreaking recording first released in 2008, and recently re-released on the Naxos label. Alexander and John discuss the intent to represent the co…

Amy, Richard, and guest Peter George finish their conversation about chanting the Sunday Divine Liturgy. Part four of a four-part chat.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy, Richard, and guest Peter George talk about the structure of Sunday Divine Liturgy. Part three of a four-part chat.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy, Richard, and guest Peter George talk about the structure of Sunday Divine Liturgy. Part two of a four-part chat.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy, Richard, and guest Peter George talk about the structure of Sunday Divine Liturgy. Part one of a four-part chat.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

On April 27 2020, A Sacrifice of Praise hosted a live-streamed panel discussion about the teaching and learning of Byzantine music. Our panelists were six teachers, cantors, composers, and students active in the psaltic art: John Michael Boyer, Gabriel Cremeens, Samuel Herron, our co-host Amy Hogg, Ruth Rutledge, and Christina Stavros, the question…

On April 27 2020, A Sacrifice of Praise hosted a live-streamed panel discussion about the teaching and learning of Byzantine music. Our panelists were six teachers, cantors, composers, and students active in the psaltic art: John Michael Boyer, Gabriel Cremeens, Samuel Herron, our co-host Amy Hogg, Ruth Rutledge, and Christina Stavros, the question…

On April 27, 2020, A Sacrifice of Praise hosted a live-streamed panel discussion about the teaching and learning of Byzantine music. Our panelists were six teachers, cantors, composers, and students active in the psaltic art: John Michael Boyer, Gabriel Cremeens, Samuel Herron, our co-host Amy Hogg, Ruth Rutledge, and Christina Stavros, the questio…

Georgios Theodoridis, the Master Chanter of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, is one of the busiest cantors in the United States -- singing services, teaching students, creating scores, making recordings, and putting on concerts. In this interview, he tells Amy and Richard how he came to the psaltic art in Greece, what brought …

Georgios Theodoridis' website: www.georgiostheodoridis.comGeorgios Theodoridis' YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxm0WazN3Ap6JWU9MAYDtzw St Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral: https://saintsophiadc.org/Georgios Theodoridis, the Master Chanter of St. Sophia Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Washington, DC, is one of the busiest cantors in th…

Amy and Richard talk to composer, cantor, and teacher Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. Dr. Suchy-Pilalis reflects on four decades of pioneering musical service and scholarship, including her recent compositions for the Boston Byzantine Choir's Twelve Days recording for Christmastide. Part three of three.The Boston Byzantine Choir’s CD featuring compositi…

Amy and Richard talk to composer, cantor, and teacher Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. Dr. Suchy-Pilalis reflects on four decades of pioneering musical service and scholarship, including her recent compositions for the Boston Byzantine Choir's Twelve Days recording for Christmastide. Part two of three.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy and Richard talk to composer, cantor, and teacher Dr. Jessica Suchy-Pilalis. Dr. Suchy-Pilalis reflects on four decades of pioneering musical service and scholarship, including her recent compositions for the Boston Byzantine Choir's Twelve Days recording for Christmastide. Part one of three.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Richard and Amy interview Charlie Marge, the founder and director of the Boston Byzantine Choir. The Boston Byzantine Choir recently celebrated their 25th anniversary with a new recording, Twelve Days: Byzantine Chant from Christmas to Epiphany. The just-released CD includes 13 new compositions for the liturgical season of Christmastide composed by…

Amy and Richard wrap up their conversation about the order of Sunday Matins with Boston cantor Peter George. They pick up where they left off last time with the Praises, continue through the end of the Great Doxology, and offer some closing thoughts.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy and Richard continue their conversation about the order of Sunday Matins with cantor Peter George. In part 2 of 3, they pick up where they left off last week with the Evlogitaria and discuss the elements of the service through the Exaposteilaria.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy, Richard, and in-studio guest Peter George of St. Mark’s Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Boston and the ensemble Psaltikon talk about the structure of Sunday Matins. Part one of a three-part chat.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

In this excerpt from a series of lessons developed for Byzantine Beginnings, Amy Hogg teaches the scale degrees in ascending and descending order without pitch. This helps students develop confidence in their own knowledge of the pitch names as they learn to read Byzantine notation and practice with parallage.…

Part 2 of 2. Recorded live at Εὐφράνθην! I Was Glad!, a liturgical symposium held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Southgate, Michigan on February 1, 2019. The Rev. Fr. Dr. Romanos Karanos, Assistant Professor of Byzantine Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, goes into detail about the celebration of an All-…

Part 1 of 2. Recorded live at Εὐφράνθην! I Was Glad!, a liturgical symposium held at St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Southgate, Michigan on February 1, 2019. The Rev. Fr. Dr. Romanos Karanos, Assistant Professor of Byzantine Music at Hellenic College Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology, explains the what, how, and why of the All-Night …

In July of 2018, at the Antiochian Archdiocese’s Sacred Music Institute, Deacon John El Massih, the protopsaltis of the Antiochian Archdiocese, gave a presentation on Vespers. Deacon John used the vespers service of July 21st, 2018, as an example to talk about the parts of the service and the specifics of each hymn. In this episode, you will hear D…

This is the second part of Deacon John El Massih’s talk on Vespers from the 2018 Sacred Music Institute. Deacon John used the vespers service of July 22, 2018, as a model to talk about the parts of the service and the specifics of each hymn. In this episode, Deacon John covers Vespers from O Gladsome Light to just before the Apolytikia at the end. …

This is the third part of Deacon John El Massih’s talk on Vespers from the 2018 Sacred Music Institute. Deacon John used the vespers service of July 22, 2018, as a model to talk about the parts of the service and the specifics of each hymn. This week you’ll hear about the end of vespers and the differences between daily and great vespers.Liturgical…

Amy and Richard continue talking to composer and cantor Gabriel Cremeens about the exceptional musical situation at his parish, his involvement with projects like the Dynamis Byzantine Ensemble, and what he's planning for the future.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett talk with Gabriel Cremeens, one of the more prolific of the current generation of cantors and composers working in English. In this episode he shares his beginnings as a composer at Hellenic College, followed by more intensive training in Greece studying composition with master teachers and chanting in churches there, a…

Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett continue their conversation with Fr. Seraphim Dedes. In part 2, Fr. Seraphim discusses how his work and perspective has evolved, and how parish music ministry has had an impact on his approach.By Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett

Amy Hogg and Richard Barrett speak with Fr. Seraphim Dedes, a translator of liturgical texts and a composer of English-language Byzantine music. He is also an innovator who has used technology to make liturgical materials accessible to everybody with a phone, and his works are used throughout the Greek Orthodox Archdiocese and beyond. In part 1 of …