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