Archived Classes

The Metropolitan Cantor Institute has been teaching classes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania since 1997. The following table contains materials from these classes which you are free to use for self-instruction.

Topic Date Web links Materials
Reader's Short Course September 2016 Video 1 (September 18)
Video 2 (September 25)
Lectionary
Handout: Introduction to Books of the Bible
Handout: Tones for Chanting Psalms and Readings
Handout: Tones for the Prokeimenon and Alleluia Verses
Handout: Text of Psalm 50
Handout: Practice readings
Music of the Great Fast February 11, 2016 Presentation (audio)
Discussion
Handout: Music of the Great Fast
Handout: Lenten Hymns
Mini-retreat: Liturgy, Chant, and Spirituality November 14, 2015 Talk by Fr. John Petro (audio) Handout: Hymns for the Feast of the Entrance
Hierarchical Services (services w/a bishop) October 17, 2015 Singing the Episcopal Ordination Service

Handout: Outline of the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Book: Cantor's Supplement for the Hierarchical Divine Liturgy
Handout: Music for the Ordination Services

The Parastas September 19, 2015 Class lectures (video)
Uniontown Parastas (audio)
Handout: The Panachida Service (text)
Handout: A Comparison of Matins and the Funeral Service
Handout: The Funeral Service and the Parastas
Handout: The Funeral Service and the Parastas (Proposal)
Book: The Parastas for the Faithful Departed (from the 2015 Uniontown Pilgrimage)
Review of the Divine Liturgy August 8, 2015 The Divine Liturgy (MCI)
Voice Lesson (audio)
Class lectures (video)

Handout: Review of the Divine Liturgy
Handout: Communion Hymns
Book: The Divine Liturgies of our Holy Fathers John Chrysostom and Basil the Great

Sacramental Mysteries June 13, 2015

Holy Mysteries
Baptism
Chrismation
Singing the Baptismal Services

Handout: Agenda
Handout: The Holy Mysteries
Handout: Chants for Baptism and Christmation
Handout: Propers for the Wedding Service
Handout: Chants for the Mystery of Anointing
Handout: Troparia for the Mystery of Anointing
Book: The Order of Baptism and Confirmation
Book: The Mystery of Crowning
Feasts of the Mother of God May 9, 2015

Lecture by Geoff Mackey (audio)
Marian Hymns (MCI)
Moleben (MCI)

Handout: Agenda
Worksheet: Feasts of the Mother of God
Booklet: Akathist Hymn to the Theotokos
Booklet: Paraklesis - Office of Consolation to the Theotokos
Vocal workshop and Cantor Checkup April 11, 2015   Handout: Review of the Paschal Season
Handout: Cantor Etiquette
Reader Services and Typika February 7, 2015 (MCI website articles being rewritten
based on results from this class)
Handout: Agenda
Handout: Typikon worksheet (to do in class)
Handout: Typikon sample page (to use with worksheet)
Handout: Reader Services
Book: Typika - The Service of Holy Communion Without a Priest
Book: Hours for the Great Fast
Paraliturgical Hymns January 10, 2015 Spiritual Songs (MCI)
Duchovni Pisni (1969)
Handout: Agenda
Handout: Additional sheet music
Book: Byzantine Catholic Hymnal
The Feasts of Christmas and Theophany December 6, 2014 The Feast of the Nativity (MCI)
The Feast of Theophany (MCI)

Book: Vespers with Divine Liturgy for the Feast of the Nativity (Basil B melodies)
Book: Great Compline for the Feast of the Nativity
Handout: Errata for the 2007 Divine Liturgies book (some of which involve Christmas)

The Eight Tones November 1, 2014

The Eight Tones (MCI)
Melodies for Troparia
Melodies for Kontakia
Melodies for Prokeimena

Summary: The Eight Troparion and Kontakion Melodies
Summary: The Eight Prokeimenon and Alleluia Melodies
Summary: The Eight Samohlasen Melodies
The Office of Vespers October 4, 2014 Vespers (MCI)
Letter from Bishop Ivancho
Summary: The Order of Vespers
Book: The Order of Vespers for Sundays after Pentecost
Book: Cantor Verses in the Eight Tones for Vespers and Matins
Handout: Psalmody in the Divine Office (from the Common Typikon)
Handout: Introduction to Books of the Old and New Testament
Handout: Vesper propers for an ordinary Sunday after Pentecost
Handout: Vesper propers for a festal Sunday
Handout: Vesper propers for the feast of Saint Nicholas
Feasts of the Liturgical Year September 6, 2014 The Liturgical Year (MCI)
Handout: Celebrating Feasts in the Byzantine Rite
Handout: Services in the Byzantine Rite for each Rank of Feast
Handout: Major Feasts in the Byzantine Rite
Summary: The Order of the Divine Liturgy
Divine Liturgies book
Reader's Day August 16, 2014   Handout: Introduction to Books of the Old and New Testament
Handout: Tones for Chanting Psalms and Readings
Handout: Text of Psalm 50
Beginning Cantor's Course
June 6-8, 2014 The Role of the Cantor (video)
Voice Class (video)

Schedule for the weekend
Handout: The Role of the Cantor
Handout: Reference Chart (for key signatures)
Handout: Solfege Practice Sheet
Handout: Modern Notation for Plain Chant
Handout: Melodies for Simple Responses
Divine Liturgies book
The Cantor's Companion
2014 Annual Typikon

Chant Harmonization June 8, 2013 Recordings
Handouts
Divine Liturgy in Church Slavonic December 15, 2012 Morning session (audio)
Afternoon session (audio)
Plain Chant (Fr. Andrew Sokol)
Byzantine Catholic Hymnal
2012 Cantor's Retreat April 21, 2012 Morning session (audio)
Afternoon session (audio)
 
Christmas and Theophany
November 12, 2011 Lecture by Fr. David Petras (audio)  

For more information

Contact MCI Director Deacon Jeffrey Mierzejewski at (412) 735-1676, or by e-mail at mci@archpitt.org.