I know what you mean by the atrophy of piety. Things may improve here and there, but this is the general tendency. 'Tis a sign of the end times creeping up on us.
And yes, I wholeheartedly agree that 19th century polyphonic compositions don't sound well at all when sung by small amateur choirs.
What you point out is what I was thinking yesterday during the Liturgy of the Presanctified Gifts. I used to sing in our parish's choir well over a year and a half ago, and you might know, I attend a Serbian parish. We do all right with a small choir using simple, folk-style singing. To my knowledge, no one knows the Serbian tones.
But when I am out and about during Lent, I attend an OCA parish in Pittsburgh. Last night was agonizing. If I am present for Vespers (which is held daily), then I sing with the subdeacon (he knows the proper tonality). But with him being back in the altar, Presanctified suffered under our bad singing.
That's why we keep the Valaam and Solovets Chant books on our kliros, along with the Sputnik. The melodies are beautiful for Great Lent, and even with 3-4 people on kliros, we will still sing unison. Much more prayerful then trying to sing parts with people who can't sing parts.
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I know what you mean by the atrophy of piety. Things may improve here and there, but this is the general tendency. 'Tis a sign of the end times creeping up on us.
And yes, I wholeheartedly agree that 19th century polyphonic compositions don't sound well at all when sung by small amateur choirs.
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But when I am out and about during Lent, I attend an OCA parish in Pittsburgh. Last night was agonizing. If I am present for Vespers (which is held daily), then I sing with the subdeacon (he knows the proper tonality). But with him being back in the altar, Presanctified suffered under our bad singing.
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