"The Cross of Artistic Excellence" — Keynote Lecture at Singcon 2025 by Father Herman Majkrzak

Описание: In this wide-ranging talk entitled "The Cross of Artistic Excellence: Church Musicianship as an Ascetic Path of Salvation," Hieromonk Herman (Majkrzak) reflects on the spiritual vocation of the church musician. Drawing on Scripture, the Byzantine liturgical tradition, and the contrast between Martha and Mary, he explores the relationship between singing and listening, action and contemplation, and why excellence in church music is itself an ascetic path.

Beginning with vivid images of the fireside, the medieval mead hall, and Hagia Sophia, Fr. Herman challenges musicians to recover both musical discipline and spiritual attentiveness in the service of the Church.

The keynote concludes with an extended Q&A on topics including congregational singing, parish music culture, chant in English, cantors vs. choirs, and the place of Church Slavonic today.

Fr Herman Majkrzak is a priest of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church, serving at St Michael Parish in Mishawaka, Indiana. He previously served as Chapel Music Director and Lecturer in Liturgical Music at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, where he received the St Macrina Award for excellence in teaching.

This lecture will be of interest to cantors, choir directors, clergy, and anyone interested in Byzantine chant, Eastern Christian worship, and liturgical music.

The revised text of this talk can be found here: https://sonsofsirach.substack.com/p/t...

#ByzantineChant #ChurchMusic #LiturgicalMusic #UGCC #EasternChristianity #Cantor #Choir #SingCon

Chapters

00:00 Introduction
03:07 Opening reflection and fireside imagery
07:55 The mead hall and communal storytelling
11:12 Hagia Sophia and the liturgy of heaven
15:10 Martha and Mary: active vs contemplative life
18:45 Ascetic discipline and learning to listen
21:20 The contemplative role of liturgical music
24:10 The heart as temple and interior prayer
30:18 Congregational singing: value and limits
35:10 Cantors, choirs, and parish musical culture
38:55 Why musical excellence matters in church
42:10 Church music as art and discipline
45:49 Eight practical tips for church musicians
57:37 End of keynote

Q&A

58:11 Moderator introduction
01:01:31 Prayer rope during services
01:05:49 Cantors, choirs, and congregational singing
01:08:50 Revitalizing parish music traditions
01:12:05 Repetition vs variety in liturgical music
01:14:55 Does singing equal participation?
01:22:14 Cultivating contemplative prayer as musicians
01:25:30 Chant in English and adapting texts
01:28:13 The role of Church Slavonic today
01:29:51 Closing