A Call to Prayer

The Orthodox Christian Fellowship chapter 

of Ball State University presents a seminar on Byzantine Music

Byzantine Chant: East, West, Universal; Past, Present, and Future  

When: Wed. 7 Nov. 

Where: Cardinal Hall C - Pittenger Student Center, Ball State University

What Time: 7:00 p.m. 

Presented by: Richard Barrett 

Byzantine chant is a living tradition of sacred music with a continuous practice going back to the fourth century AD and roots extending to the earliest years of Christianity. It shares a heritage with Western music, and is the common musical language for Orthodox Christians in Greece, Asia Minor,Lebanon, Syria, Jerusalem, Egypt, Romania, and parts of Russia. As it is introduced as the music of worship for Anglophone Orthodox Christians, the differences between Byzantine chant and what we think of as "Western music" will be considered, as will what they have in common.  In addition, discussion will include how both traditions reflect a common musical inheritance from Greco-Roman antiquity, and what the future holds for this musical tradition as it continues to be employed in Orthodox worship in many languages and around the world.

Mr. Barrett holds a Bachelor of Music in vocal performance and a Master of Arts in Ancient History from Indiana University.  He is currently completing a doctorate under the direction of Edward J. Watts, with a focus on civic devotions to the Mother of God in the Late Antique Roman world. He has been cantor and choir director at All SaintsOrthodox Church in Bloomington, Indiana since 2005