Music in an EC Church

[I_Thirst]

As I’m planning to attend a DL at St Sophia’s Ukr Catholic Church in my area in the next few weeks, I’d like to know about the music.

I’ve been to another Eastern Christian churches (St Seraphim in Dallas), and it’s the only experience I’ve had. Everything there was sung a cappella and I believe it was in Greek.

So, what can I expect at an UGCC DL?

Is it different from other Eastern Catholic Churches?

Are there hymnals?

 

[ConstantineTG]

There are probably hymnals. The music is the same. Instruments are not part of the Byzantine tradition, so do not expect any instrument. Even a Pipe Organ.

 

[I_Thirst]

Thanks, ConstantineTG.

In an RC Mass, the Psalm is responsorial – and elsewhere the congregation is expected to sing along. Same thing in an EC?

 

[WetCatechumen]

In my Ruthenian parish we have a small selection of hymns we sing occasionally but usually everything is sung from the liturgical texts.

It used to be this way in Roman Churches but then having a rotating selection of the same songs got popular, so usually the introit and the communion antiphon are replaced by a hymn.

Rarely happens in most Greek Rite churches I’ve been too. In general, EC churches are very traditional and conservative.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Thanks, ConstantineTG.

In an RC Mass, the Psalm is responsorial – and elsewhere the congregation is expected to sing along. Same thing in an EC?

The Psalm is responsorial but you only respond once. Or actually twice. There are two verses. The first verse is chanted by the cantor, the second verse is chanted by everyone else. Then the cantor chants the first half of the first verse again and the rest responds with the second half of the first verse.

 

[ciero]

The Psalm is responsorial but you only respond once. Or actually twice. There are two verses. The first verse is chanted by the cantor, the second verse is chanted by everyone else. Then the cantor chants the first half of the first verse again and the rest responds with the second half of the first verse.

That a bit abbreviated Constantine. When done fully the cantor chants the prokeiminon people respond, cantor chants the verse, people chant the prokiminon, cantor chants verse 2 people respond, cantor chants first half of prokiminon people finish it. That’s the full deal…you may see all types of variations of it…one Ukrainian parish I visited skipped it completely!

 

[ConstantineTG]

That a bit abbreviated Constantine. When done fully the cantor chants the prokeiminon people respond, cantor chants the verse, people chant the prokiminon, cantor chants verse 2 people respond, cantor chants first half of prokiminon people finish it. That’s the full deal…you may see all types of variations of it…one Ukrainian parish I visited skipped it completely!

I’m not sure but it could be the Ukrainian way of doing it. Our previous cantor would never skip on necessary things and he always did it that way. In the absence of a cantor we would just recite it, never skip it. In another parish, they would chant it with the same tone regardless of which tone is called for, again because of a lack of a trained cantor.

 

[I_Thirst]

Interesting info, folks! Thanks!

Is the language used always Greek?

 

[ConstantineTG]

Interesting info, folks! Thanks!

Is the language used always Greek?

In the Ukrainian Church, its either Ukrainian or English. If its a bilingual service, it would depend on the cantor or choir.

 

[I_Thirst]

In the Ukrainian Church, its either Ukrainian or English. If its a bilingual service, it would depend on the cantor or choir.

Ok. In the RC Mass, we use Greek only for the Kyrie and English for everything else. To hear Latin, you have to attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, which isn’t offered in every parish and can be rare even in a diocese.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Ok. In the RC Mass, we use Greek only for the Kyrie and English for everything else. To hear Latin, you have to attend the Extraordinary Form of the Mass, which isn’t offered in every parish and can be rare even in a diocese.

In the East, everything is translated. Also isn’t the Kyrie kept in Greek in the Latin Mass? I can’t remember, its been almost a year since my last Latin Mass.

In bilingual service, we would switch between Ukrainian and English at different parts of the Mass. Sometimes we would pray the Our Father twice, the first one sung in one language, then a second time recited in another language. We also would pray the Prayer Before Communion twice in both languages. Also the Epistle and Gospel are also proclaimed twice in both languages.

For the Cherubic Hymn, we would start with one language and then on repetitions we would switch languages.

 

[I_Thirst]

In the East, everything is translated. Also isn’t the Kyrie kept in Greek in the Latin Mass? I can’t remember, its been almost a year since my last Latin Mass.

Yes, that’s correct.

In bilingual service, we would switch between Ukrainian and English at different parts of the Mass. Sometimes we would pray the Our Father twice, the first one sung in one language, then a second time recited in another language. We also would pray the Prayer Before Communion twice in both languages. Also the Epistle and Gospel are also proclaimed twice in both languages.

For the Cherubic Hymn, we would start with one language and then on repetitions we would switch languages.

Thanks! Great info!

No wonder EC DLs are thought to be long – you have to repeat everything in so many languages.

 

[ConstantineTG]

Yes, that’s correct.

Thanks! Great info!

No wonder EC DLs are thought to be long – you have to repeat everything in so many languages.

Oh, we only do that for bilingual services. Its more of a compromise than anything. Typically the Liturgy is should be in one language.

I’m relieved that Summer is over which means we go back to our usual schedule of two Liturgies on Sundays, one English and one Ukrainian.

 

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[Bitaemo]

I can’t speak for other churches, but I can tell you what we do at St. Sophia’s. Nothing compares to coming and seeing for yourself!

Our Liturgy changes slightly every week depending on who is in attendance. For example, this summer we had a visiting cantor who only spoke Ukrainian, so the movable parts that are usually in English were all in Ukrainian and the Creed, which we usually sing in English, was spoken in English instead. That will change again on Sunday since he’s returned home. Please pray for his safe travels. Situations like that happen occasionally and we do the best with what we have and pray for God to send what we need.

The Creed, movable parts, Epistle, some of the litanies, Gospel, homily, much of the priest’s parts, prayer before communion, and the announcements are usually in English. Whatever isn’t in English is in Ukrainian. It is all sung a cappella except for one prayer that is spoken.

Two guides we have available are a blue booklet with the Ukrainian transliteration beside the English text and a white booklet with the movable parts and readings. Many people take several visits before they notice the patterns and feel comfortable joining in while others are able to pick up on it right away and join right in, especially in the litany responses. There’s no right or wrong way. If you need any help while there, don’t hesitate to ask.

 

[I_Thirst]

I can’t speak for other churches, but I can tell you what we do at St. Sophia’s. Nothing compares to coming and seeing for yourself!

Our Liturgy changes slightly every week depending on who is in attendance. For example, this summer we had a visiting cantor who only spoke Ukrainian, so the movable parts that are usually in English were all in Ukrainian and the Creed, which we usually sing in English, was spoken in English instead. That will change again on Sunday since he’s returned home. Please pray for his safe travels. Situations like that happen occasionally and we do the best with what we have and pray for God to send what we need.

The Creed, movable parts, Epistle, some of the litanies, Gospel, homily, much of the priest’s parts, prayer before communion, and the announcements are usually in English. Whatever isn’t in English is in Ukrainian. It is all sung a cappella except for one prayer that is spoken.

Two guides we have available are a blue booklet with the Ukrainian transliteration beside the English text and a white booklet with the movable parts and readings. Many people take several visits before they notice the patterns and feel comfortable joining in while others are able to pick up on it right away and join right in, especially in the litany responses. There’s no right or wrong way. If you need any help while there, don’t hesitate to ask.

Bitaemo, thank you so much for responding. I can’t wait to visit St. Sophia’s. God willing, I’m planning on Sept 18!!!