Sunday, May 20, 2007

Ancient Music finds new life in new century

One of the coolest things about being Anglican is that we have access not only to contemporary worship, but to ancient worship as well (at Truro we call it "blended worship). There are days - weeks (and for some perhaps, years) when music of the past - the far past - expresses our hearts in ways that contemporary worship does not. In some ways, the ancient is more contemporary then the music written today for the themes, the poetry, the focus goes straight through the scriptures and is timeless.

Thanks to via orthodoxy who posted at StandFirm here, we've discovered an extraordinary resource from our Orthodox brothers and sisters at Ancient Faith Radio. Currently, as this is written we are listening to the celebration of the Eucharist. We are told that we "post-moderns" are into this (it's confounding some church planters who focus on contemporary worship - which we love here - but there you are). There is something almost "other-worldly" about this music - and our Jewish roots are so clear in the music. This is music for the soul - and so we offer it today at the Cafe.

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Ah, BabyBlue, I had no idea you were unaware of this site!


The music may change from one church to another as there are differences between Greek, Russian, Slavonic, music. But the important thing is that the WORDs stay the same - that's one thing that Orthodox can depend on.

No matter what ethnicity you claim, the beliefs, doctrine, dogma are the same!

You might also want to listen to some of the programs.

Orthodoxie's Fr. Joseph also has a blog by the same name. Check it out.

Faith and Philosophy's
Clark Carlson has written a wonderful series of books: The Way: What Every Protestant Needs to Know About the Orthodox Church, the Truth: What Every Roman Catholic Needs to Know About the Orthodox Church, and The Life.

As for the music. I believe if you check for past programs, you can find funeral music. It is the saddest, most mournful tone I have ever experienced. To hear a Choir singing, "Memory eternal" at a funeral or memorial, particularly of a loved one, is something you can never forget.

You didn't mention to your readers that Orthodox music is all acapella. The only instruments you will find in an Orthodox Church are either a pitch pipe or a tuning fork!

Come visit my church home sometime!!!!

Unknown said...

where is your church, anam cara?

bb

Anonymous said...

St. Mary's Orthodox, 7223 Roosevelt Ave, Falls Church

Divine Liturgy is Sunday at 10 AM. You can go to Truro's early service and then make it to St. Mary - I have several times as my husband is a member of Truro and I sometimes go with him.

Monday nights at 6PM (but not Memorial Day) we pray for victory over our enemies. ("A moblien to the Lord God sung in time of war against adversaries fighting against us") I confess that at times I have thought of TEC while offering those prayers!

While they say they are for victory (and the response is "O Greatly-merciful Lord, crush our enemies under out feet")
they are really about repentance and begging God's mercy that he will turn His righteous wrath from us.
Example:
"Do not bring judgement upon thy servents, O Righteous Judge, for no one is able ot stand before Thee. But, looking down mercifully upon our humility, have mercy on us and grant us consolation."
The prayers are 1/2 hour long so we can go there at 6 and still make it to Truro home church by 7:30 with time to spare.

Also Vespers Wed night 7 PM and Saturday at 5 PM. Best music is Sunday as other services are only chanting.

I'd love to see you!!! I will be there tonight and Wednesday, God willing. I'll be gone Memorial Day weekend, but will be back the next weekend.

If you choose go on May 27th, the service will be longer than the usual 1 1/2 hours as the kneeling vespers will be done immediately after Liturgy since it is Pentecost. We have several members who came to us from Truro or the Falls Church, so you may see some familar faces there.

If you want more info, you can reach me through Jim and Nancy's home church group. They'll know who I am and can give you phone #, e-mail, etc.

Alice C. Linsley said...

Baby Blue, If you go to the Ancient Faith Radio's site and click on The Illumined Heart, you can listen to AFR's recent interview with me. They are terrific people there and the broadcasts and podcasts are very edifying.

Alice C. Linsley said...

Anam Cara, Greetings! The Lord in in our midst. My spiritual name is Jandy. Jandy was Arabic the name of the Hermitess Photini.

Anonymous said...

Jandy, Christ is ascended!

I have communicated with you before - by e-mail from another blog.
My patron saint is Photini also!

Sorry, I didn't recognize your blog name. : )

Anonymous said...

Thanks, BabyBlue! Just what I was looking for and couldn't find in my radio station search.

Alice C. Linsley said...

Photini, the Illumined one. I hope that you are well and prospering spiritually, my dear sister. Pray for me, as I will for you.