Advent Concert 2015
12 videos • 2,501 views • by St. Mary's OCA Minneapolis Make Ready to Receive Christ: An Orthodox Advent Concert. Presented by the Choir of St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral in Minneapolis, Minnesota on Sunday, December 5, 2015. An Advent Concert This even's concert tells the story of the birth of Christ using hymns and melodies from the Orthodox Church's liturgical tradition. The concert will take its audience on a journey though the liturgical year, beginning first with the words of the Angel Gabriel when he said to Mary "Make ready to receive Christ!" all the way to the song of the angels in Bethlehem "Glory to God in the highest!" The opening piece of the concert is an ode from the Matins Canon for the Annunciation (March 25) and is sung to an ancient melody from a monastery in the far north of Russia. In this ode we hear the Angel Gabriel speaking to the Theotokos, telling her that through her "He who cannot be contained will dwell among mortals." Next, hymnography taken from the feasts of St. Andrew (November 30) and St. Nicholas (December 6) penetrate our hearts and minds with the words "Make ready, O Cave, for the ewe lamb comes bearing Christ in her womb." These words remind us that it is not only the Cave which has to prepare itself, but also for us, who daily strive to make a place for Christ in our lives and bodies. After this, the concert focuses on hymnography taken from the prefeast services for Christmas, beginning at Vespers on December 19. At the end of the concert the choir will sing carols, some of which might be very familiar, and others which are new. There are many things about this concert that make it unique, but two things standout. First, all of the liturgical hymns in the concert are sung to special melodies (called in Slavonic podobny, or in Greek prosomoia). These melodies are unique to each hymn and exemplify the diverse repertoire of the Orthodox tradition. It is rare to hear many of these melodies in Orthodox churches across North America, and it is even rarer that we can hear them all in one place during the advent season. Another reason that this concert is so unique is because of its dynamic nature. In the concert there are soloists who represent the Angel Gabriel and Mary; there is movement of the singers from the pews to center stage; there is a liturgical progression; there are cantors, small groups singing, sets of hymnography sung responsorially, and cantors chanting from the loft. There is so much happening during the concert that makes it an engaging and joyous event. St. Mary's choir is excited to present this concert to you and hopes you enjoy it.