AECMC

The topic of the Seventh Conference was «Kliros Singing Today: From Reality to Ideal». The event was dedicated to centenary of the death of Alexandre D. Kastalsky, which is celebrated this year.
All activities took place in London at the Cathedral of the Nativity of the Most Holy Mother of God and the Holy Royal Martyrs. After three days of intense lectures, rehearsals, and practical sessions, the participants joined together in a choir to sing two hierarchical services over the weekend (Vigil and Liturgy), under the direction of highly qualified conductors. This year the ruling bishop Irenei of London and Western Europe led the celebration of the services.

Participants listened to interesting and informative lectures, discussed common problems, and sang some of Kastalsky’s works. In addition to this, in roundtable format and in practical sessions participants discussed problems related to maintaining the tradition of Russian Orthodoxy singing in current circumstances, the education and participation of youth, and the importance of choosing the right repertoire. Preparatory general rehearsals served not only to expand participants' repertoire but also to impart useful practical knowledge. The event was open to all choir directors, singers, readers, and all people interested in Russian Orthodox liturgical music.

Most participants were able to take part in all four days. In addition, several people were able to join for three or two days, or for particular sessions. All total the event drew more than 35 participants. Despite the main working language of the conference being Russian, we offered a synchronous translation into English over the course of four days, so that non-Russian speakers could also benefit from this event. Participants who benefited from the translation expressed their appreciation; their attendance showed that music and church singing education is in high demand across all Orthodox communities in Europe, regardless of language. Participants came from the UK, Germany, France, USA, Switzerland, Spain, Denmark, the Netherlands, and Ireland.

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The following lectures were delivered:

•  «The Art of Reading in the Russian Church Singing Tradition» (Fr. M. Leszczynski);

• «Alexander Kastalsky: The Fate and Creative Legacy of an Outstanding Spiritual Composer» (Dr. S. Zvereva);

• «Church Education of Children Through Liturgical Singing: Experience Working with a Children's and Youth Choir in a Parish» (M. Kobro);

• «The Relationship Between the Altar and the Choir During Worship» (Fr. I. Drobot);

• «Church singing education in the context of emigration today» (Dr. I. du Quenoy).

Several workshops and roundtable discussions were organised:

• Roundtable «Paths of Development of Church Singing in Europe in the 21st Century»;

• Practical session «Kastalsky’s System for Harmonizing the Eight Tones» (M. Malinine);

• Practical session «Variations of the Eight-Tone System» (Dr. I du Quenoy);

• Several workshops on Conducting and Obihod were delivered by V. Kashlyaev and Fr. A. Kedroff.

All these activities raised huge interest and provoked peaceful and fruitful debates about the possibility of further collaboration across Europe to strengthen the Russian Orthodox liturgical music tradition.

Our work remains critical to the flourishing and even survival of church music life in ROCOR’s European parishes, and as such the AECMC is committed to continuing and expanding its work. Importantly, the level of singing at the Conference this year was quite good, much better than the level had been several years ago when the project began.

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The Conference also provided the opportunity for the representatives of different jurisdictions of the Russian tradition (ROCOR, Moscow Patriarchate and Paris Archdiocese) to meet and to celebrate the services together as well as to discuss various practical issues, which was spiritually vital and uplifting.