Volos Academy for Theological Studies
Department of Psaltic Art and Musicology
3rd International Musicological and Psaltic Conference
«…ἐν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνοῦντας Σε…»
(= chanting consciously in praise to Thee)
Prerequisites and Skills for Sacred Chanting
in Orthodox Worship
Wednesday, May 30 (evening) – Saturday, June 2 (afteroon), 2018
Thessaly Conference Center – Melissiatika, Volos, Greece
Press release
After the successful realization of the first two International Musicological Conferences (2014 and 2016), the Department of Psaltic Art and Musicology of the Volos Academy for Theological Studies plans its 3rd International Musicological and Psaltic Conference in Volos, between May 30th and June 2nd , 2018, entitled
«…ἐν ἐπιγνώσει ὑμνοῦντας Σε…»
(= chanting consciously in praise to Thee)
Prerequisites and Skills for Sacred Chanting in Orthodox Worship
The topic of the Conference was chosen according to Department’s principle that its meetings must have an interdisciplinary approach, open to all possible scientific and artistic approaches to the study of Psaltiki, i.e. the art of Orthodox chanting, in order to give birth to productive reflection, innovative ideas and fruitful collaborations among scientists of the same or differnet disciplines, who are interested to include the chanting art of the Byzantine tradition, of older or newer times, in their research interests.
Given the approach above, the term “prerequisites” can and must be understood in the broadest possible way, thus highlighting the interdisciplinary character of the Conference. In this frame, the “prerequisites” can have a theological orientation (e.g. dogmatic or moral), liturgical (e.g. ceremonial, concerning the Typicon), philological (concerning the language of the hymnography), vocal (in terms of technique), theoretical (regarding the knowledge of the theory, the notation, the rhythm etc), aesthetical and in general artistic, and in the last years, musicological as well.
But beyond the prerequisites for the better performance of the sacred chanting, always there must be a research and examination of broader possible skills, which can contribute to the training of the bearers of the art of Psaltiki, and thus to the more essential interaction of the chanting during the holy worship. In this way, further knowledge of music (folk or traditional, West-European, secular or of any other kind) as well as virtuosity in musical instruments, studies of musicology (e.g. musical palaeography, history of music etc), education in pedagogics, psychology, sociology and social anthropology, history and even in positive sciences (physics, mathematics, medicine, comuter science etc) can as well act as tools for the research and improvement of the art of sacerd chanting, and also can borrow from the art of chanting tools for broadening and supporting of their own activities.
The Conference is supported by the Holy Diochese of Demetrias and Almyros.
The program of the conference will soon be announced in detail, while further information is available through the Secreteriat of the Volos Academy for Theological Studies, by phone (+30) 2421093553 and (+30) 6947774647, or by e-mail at tomeaspsaltikis@gmail.com, on the official webpage of the Department https://www.tomeaspsaltikis.gr/ or on the Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/ tomeaspsaltikisvolos/ .
