The Metropolitan Cantor Institute of the Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Archeparchy of Pittsburgh is announcing the following classes for this Fall.
September 6 - Celebrating the Feasts of the Liturgical YearFeasts in the Byzantine Rite. How the different cycles of the liturgical year fit together, and how the Divine Liturgy changes for feast days, especially when a feast falls on Sunday. Chant to be covered: the music in the Divine Liturgies book for the fixed feast days of the liturgical year.
October 4 - The Office of VespersAll cantors should know the basics of celebrating Vespers, especially since the special services for Lent, Holy Week, Christmas and Theophany make use of parts of this service. This one-day course will cover the layout of Vespers, the core hymns of the service, and the general rules for the use of the Vespers tones.
November 1 - The Eight TonesA one-day course on the melodies for troparia, kontakia, prokeimena, and stichera in all eight tones. The course will teach each of these melodies, along with techniques to memorize them and sing them easily and effectively.
December 6 – Feasts of Christmas and TheophanyMusic for the services of Christmas and Theophany: the vigil service for each feast (and the midnight service for Christmas), the feast-day Divine Liturgies, and the chants for the Sundays before and after each feast.
This fall, all classes will be held at Ss. Cyril and Methodius Byzantine Catholic Seminary, 3605 Perrysville Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15214 from 9 AM to 3 PM.
Tuition for the entire series of four classes is $40.00, which includes lunch and materials. To register, just fill out and return the
registration form [
metropolitancantorinstitute.org] by September 1. If registering after September 1, please contact MCI director Jeffrey Mierzejewski at (412) 735-1676 or mci@archpitt.edu. Cantor Institute tuition can be paid with your registration, or before the start of the first class. Make checks payable to Archeparchy of Pittsburgh.
