International Masterclass of Byzantine Chant

16th edition, Iași, July 10–14, 2023

We are pleased to announce that the International Masterclass of Byzantine Chant in Iasi, the largest event in Romania dedicated exclusively to the teaching and performance of the Psaltic Art, now in its 16th edition, will take place between July 10-14, 2023. This edition will be a very special one, especially dedicated to the commemorative year of hymnographers and psaltes. For this festive reason we have invited some of the most important performers and researchers of the Psaltic Art to Iasi. The event is organised by the Byzantion Cultural Association, the “George Enescu” National University of Arts in Iași, the Metropolitanate of Moldavia and Bucovina and the City Hall of Iași, in partnership with the Archdiocese of Suceava and Rădăuților.

This year, too, the renowned performer Panagiotis Neochoritis, Archon Protopsaltes of the Great Church of Christ (Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople), will be present in Iasi, who will give intensive courses in the interpretation of the Psaltic Art, working at an advanced level with a select group of students who have extensive experience of chanting in the analogion. This year’s topic, The Koinonikon – analysis, technical performance and interpretation will be enriched with a new topic, Lenten Idiomela of Jakobos Protopsaltis. These two courses represent a high point in terms of complexity, following up on the series of topics covered in previous years by the renowned Master.

Following the tradition of previous editions, the event combines practical lectures with theoretical presentations, so that students will benefit from interdisciplinary lectures, debates and discussions in Greek and Romanian, with consecutive oral translation.

This year’s edition brings back the well-known researcher Prof. Dr. Georgios Konstantinou, conductor of the Greek Byzantine Choir (Athens) founded by Master Lykourgos Angelopoulos (†2014). Prof. Konstantinou, perhaps the most representative researcher of intermediate notation and one of the greatest theorists in the field, comes to Iasi with a particularly complex and appealing topic: Byzantine Music in its entirety. The interdependent relationship between the written and the oral tradition.

Prof. Maria Alexandru (Aristotelis University of Thessaloniki) will give a series of practical, interactive presentations on the life and work of the Holy Hymnographer Kasia, the most famous Byzantine composer. In addition to the students present, the vocal-instrumental ensemble Floralia (Iasi), the children’s psaltic choir Mini Byzantion (Iasi) and the academic choir Byzantion (Iasi) will participate in these presentations.

Practical courses on vocal technique could not be absent from our program. This year’s special guest is Marilyn Accaoui Leignel (Lebanon) who introduces us to the mysteries of Arabic psaltic chanting through the female voice. As a completely new aspect, we will have the opportunity to listen to the Lebanese singer performing chants in Romanian.
Singing technique in Byzantine music remains an area to which the organizers pay special attention, inviting this year, alongside Marilyn Accaoui Leignel, Ms Mihaela Grăjdeanu, soprano at the Romanian National Opera in Iasi.

The researcher Evangelia Spirakou (Thessaloniki) will give a particularly interesting presentation on The Offikia and performance practices of the Byzantine chorus. Also, in the year dedicated to the commemoration of psalters and hymnographers, we thought to explore the theme of the female presence in psalmody throughout the ages and to invite the distinguished researcher to speak about Women and professional chanting in Byzantium.

The event will include the Vigil service in honour of the miracle-working Icon of the Theotokos “Prodromitsa” (Tuesday, July 11, 4.00 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iasi), a presentation by Assoc. Prof. Irina Zamfira Bucescu-Dănilă, about Onufrie Bratu, a leading representative of the art of calligraphy in the Holy Mountain, with musical examples given by the Floralia ensemble coordinated by her, which will also perform a concert with pieces composed by Dimitrie Cantemir. The Masterclass will end with the Psaltic Music Concert “He who wants to learn music…”, which will take place on Friday, July 14, at 7.30 pm in the Metropolitan Cathedral of Iasi.

Don’t miss the chance to register for this international event and to uncover the mysteries of psaltic chanting with one of the most renowned Masters of the Psaltic Art! To register, click here:

The 16th Edition of the International Masterclass of Byzantine Chant in Iași (July 10-14, 2023)

International Masterclass of Byzantine Chant
16th edition (10-14 July 2023, Iași)

Commemorative Year of Hymnographers and Chanters
in the Romanian Patriarchate

Guests
Panagiotis Neochoritis, Archon Protopsaltes of the Great Church of Christ (Constantinopolis)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou (Athens)
Prof. Dr. Maria Alexandru (Thessaloniki)
Prof. Dr. Evangelia Spirakou (Thessaloniki)
Interpreter and musicologist Marilyn Accaoui Leignel (Lebanon/France)
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irina Zamfira Bucescu-Dănilă and “Floralia” vocal-instrumental ensamble (Iași)

– Programme –

Day I – Monday, 10 July 2023

“Iustin Moisescu” Hall (Metropolitan Complex)
9:30 – 10:15 (on site și online)
Official opening. Organizers’ and guests’ welcome message.

10.30 – 11.30 (on site and online practical course)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou – Byzantine music in its entirety. The interdependence relation between the written and the oral tradition. Approaching the repertoire according to modes and compositional genres (I)

11.30 – 11.45 Coffee break
11.45 – 13.30 (on site and online practical course)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou – Byzantine music in its entirety. The interdependence relation between the written and the oral tradition. Approaching the repertoire according to modes and compositional genres (II)

13.30 – 14:00 Onsite and online presentation

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irina Zamfira Bucescu-Dănilă and “Floralia” vocal ensemble – Onufrie Bratu, outstanding representative of musical calligraphic art from the Holy Mountain
14:00 – 16:00 Break

16.00 – 17.00 (on site and online practical course)
Marilyn Accaoui Leignel – Psaltic voice. Elements of vocal technique (I)
17.00 – 19.00 (on site and online practical course)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou – Byzantine music in its entirety. The interdependence relation between the written and the oral tradition. Approaching the repertoire according to modes and compositional genres (III)
19.00 – 19.30 Mini-recital: Peshrev songs composed by Dimitrie Cantemir
“Floralia” instrumental ensemble, coordinated by Assoc. Prof. Dr. Irina Zamfira Bucescu-Dănilă
19.30 – 21.00 (on site and online practical course)
Lect. Dr. Adrian Sîrbu – Psaltic ensemble (study of the repertoire for the closing concert)
Day II – Tuesday, 11 July 2023

8.30 – 10.00 (on site and online practical course)
Marilyn Accaoui Leignel – Psaltic voice. Elements of vocal technique (II)

10.00 – 11.30 (on site and online practical course)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou – Byzantine music in its entirety. The interdependence relation between the written and the oral tradition. Approaching the repertoire according to modes and compositional genres (IV)

11.30 – 11.45 Coffee break
11.45 – 14.00 (on site and online practical course)
Dr. Georgios Konstantinou – Byzantine music in its entirety. The interdependence relation between the written and the oral tradition. Approaching the repertoire according to modes and compositional genres (V)
14:00 – 16:00 Break

16:00 – 21:00 (on site și online) Metropolitan Cathedral – Iași
Slujba Vecerniei și a Utreniei în cinstea Icoanei nefăcute de mână omenească a Maicii Domnului „Prodromița”. Participă Prof. Georgios Konstantinou, Marilyn Accaoui Leignel, Corul Byzantion și Corul Chivotul.
Day III – Wednesday, 12 July 2023

8.30 – 10.00 (on site and online practical course)
Marilyn Accaoui Leignel – Psaltic voice. Elements of vocal technique (III)

10.30 – 10.45 Coffee break
10.45 – 14.00 (practical course)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (I). Introduction
14:00 – 16:00 Break

16:00 – 17:00 (on site and online practical course)
Prof. Dr. Maria Alexandru. Nun Kasia, composer of Bizantium (I)
17:00 – 20:00 (curs practic)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (II). The ethos of slow chants. Idiomela of Lent, by Iakobos Protopsaltes
Day IV – Thursday, 13 July 2023

08.30 – 10.00 (on site and online practical course)
Marilyn Accaoui Leignel – Psaltic voice. Elements of vocal technique (IV)
10:00 – 11:00 (onsite and online presentation)
Prof. Dr. Evangelia Spirakou – On the offikia and perfromative practices of the Byzantine  choros

11:00 – 11.15 Coffee break

11:15 – 14:00 (practical course)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (III). The ethos of slow chants. Idiomela of Lent, by Iakobos Protopsaltes
14:00 – 16:00 Break

16:00 – 17:00 (on site and online practical course)
Prof. Dr. Maria Alexandru. Nun Kasia, composer of Byzantium (II)

17:00 – 20:00 (practical course)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (IV). The ethos of slow chants. Idiomela of Lent, by Iakobos Protopsaltes

Day V – Friday, 14 July 2023

8.30 – 10.00 (on site and online practical course)
Marilyn Accaoui Leignel – Psaltic voice. Elements of vocal technique (V)
10:00 – 10:30 (on site and online practical course)
Prof. Dr. Maria Alexandru. Nun Kasia, composer of Byzantium (III)
10:30 – 11.00 (on site and online practical course)
Prof. Dr. Evangelia Spirakou – Women and professional chanting in Byzantium
11:00 – 11.15 Coffee break
11.15 – 14.00 (practical course)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (V). The ethos of slow chants. Idiomela of Lent, by Iakobos Protopsaltes
14:00 – 16:00 Break

16:00 – 19:00 (practical course)
Archon Protopsaltes Panagiotis Neochoritis. Psaltic chanting course (VI). The ethos of slow chants. Idiomela of Lent, by Iakobos Protopsaltes

19:30 – 20:30
Concert of psaltic music “He who wishes to learn psaltic music…”

20:30 Official closing of the event