Difference between revisions of "Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir"

From OrthodoxWiki
Jump to: navigation, search
m (Director: internal link & spelling)
 
(118 intermediate revisions by 19 users not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
This is the '''OrthodoxWiki Sandbox'''!  Feel free to edit here to your heart's content!
+
The '''Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir''' is a choir composed of Orthodox Christian singers in the New York - New Jersey - Pennsylvania area of the United States. It is committed to singing in the English language the great works of Orthodox music that glorifies God and expresses the Orthodox faith, thus opening the treasury of Orthodox music to the community.  
 
 
The '''Church of San Vitale''' in [[Ravenna (Italy)|Ravenna, Italy]] is a unique Byzantine style octagonal building built in the mid-sixth century under the sponsorship of [[Justinian]] and his wife [[Theodora (wife of Justinian)|Theodora]], who are memorialized in mosaics in the [[church]]. The church is a reminder of the Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Christianity presence in Italy during the time when the Arian Visagoths controlled much of the West. The church is built on the site of St. Vitalis’ [[martyr]]dom.
 
  
 
==History==
 
==History==
The Church of San Vitale dates from the early sixth century. Construction began in 526 when Orthodox Bishop Ecclesius was [[bishop]] of Ravenna. The church was completed in 548. While Giulianus (Julius) Argentarius, who may have been a banker, is believed to have financed construction of San Vitale, it is believed the Emperor Justinian was also deeply involved. The church was built during the era when the emperor controlled much Italy that previously had been conquered by the Visgoths.  
+
The Spirit Of Orthodoxy Choir was established in 1997 under the direction of Aleksei Shipovalnikov. The choir consists of singers from various [[parish]]es and [[jurisdiction]]s who are dedicated to church singing and who desire to be witnesses to the faith through music.
 
 
The church is built on a plan of a double octagonal shell with a domed octagonal core. Byzantine style mosaics cover the interior of the church. The mosaics in the [[apse]] date from 526 to 547 and present an image of a clean-shaven Christ. On each side of the apse are two mosaic presentations of the emperor and empress with their entourages. On the left side is the grouping of Justinian with Abp. Maximian of Ravenna, holding  a jeweled cross, other men holding other liturgical objects, and Justinian holding a large golden [[paten]]. On the right side is the mosaic of Theodora and her court with the empress holding a [[chalice]].
 
[[Image:Theodora.jpg|right|frame|The Empress St. Theodora, Wife of [[Justinian]] the Great; Mosaic, 6th c., Cathedral of San Vitale, Ravenna, Italy]]
 
 
 
Also in the apse is a mosaic on the left side of which St. Vitalis is shown receiving the crown of martyrdom from a beardless Christ. While of the right side of the mosaic Christ is receiving a model of the church from Bp. Ecclesia.
 
  
The construction of San Vitale apparently extended through the episcopates of at least three bishops: Ecclesius (c.522 to c.532), Victor (538 to 545), and Maximian (546 to 556).
+
These music selections represent three schools of Russian Church music and have been sufficiently translated into English. Some of the choir's repertoire has been unheard in the West. The Choir sings chiefly in English but also performs music in [[Church Slavonic]]. Their repertoire witnesses to the range and quality of the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church. Their singing is a capella, without instrumentation. This is typical of the Orthodox Church, where the human voice and soul are invaluable in worship.
  
 +
==Director==
 +
Aleksei V. Shipovalnikov was born in Rostov on the Don and studied composition, polyphony and conducting at the Gnesin Sate Conservatory and the Moscow Institute of Culture. His post-graduate studies included a master class with Leonard Bernstein in 1988. He served as Artistic Director and Manager of the Moscow State University Symphony Orchestra and Academic Choir and has conducted in the Soviet Union, West Germany and Poland. He established a reputation during the Communist era for innovative programming in spite of the political risks involved. In 1990 he moved to the United States, where he has served as Choir Director of [[Christ the Saviour Church (San Francisco, California)|Christ the Saviour Church, San Francisco]] and Music Director of Slavyanka Men's Slavic Chorus. He was Professor of Liturgical Music at [[St. Tikhon's Orthodox Theological Seminary (South Canaan, Pennsylvania)|St. Tikhon's Seminary]], South Canaan, Pennsylvania. He is currently Music Director at [[Ss. Peter and Paul Church (Jersey City, New Jersey)|Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Jersey City, New Jersey]].
  
==External links==
+
==External Link==
*[http://www.greatbuildings.com/buildings/San_Vitale.html Images of San Vitale] 
+
* [http://www.spiritoforthodoxy.com/ Official website]
*[http://employees.oneonta.edu/farberas/arth/arth212/san_vitale.html  San Vitale in Ravenna]
 
*[http://www.bluffton.edu/~sullivanm/italy/ravenna/sanvitale/sanvitale.html  Images of San Vitale]
 
  
  
[[Category: Churches]]
+
[[Category:Church Music]]
 +
[[Category:Organizations]]

Latest revision as of 16:04, April 13, 2016

The Spirit of Orthodoxy Choir is a choir composed of Orthodox Christian singers in the New York - New Jersey - Pennsylvania area of the United States. It is committed to singing in the English language the great works of Orthodox music that glorifies God and expresses the Orthodox faith, thus opening the treasury of Orthodox music to the community.

History

The Spirit Of Orthodoxy Choir was established in 1997 under the direction of Aleksei Shipovalnikov. The choir consists of singers from various parishes and jurisdictions who are dedicated to church singing and who desire to be witnesses to the faith through music.

These music selections represent three schools of Russian Church music and have been sufficiently translated into English. Some of the choir's repertoire has been unheard in the West. The Choir sings chiefly in English but also performs music in Church Slavonic. Their repertoire witnesses to the range and quality of the liturgical life of the Orthodox Church. Their singing is a capella, without instrumentation. This is typical of the Orthodox Church, where the human voice and soul are invaluable in worship.

Director

Aleksei V. Shipovalnikov was born in Rostov on the Don and studied composition, polyphony and conducting at the Gnesin Sate Conservatory and the Moscow Institute of Culture. His post-graduate studies included a master class with Leonard Bernstein in 1988. He served as Artistic Director and Manager of the Moscow State University Symphony Orchestra and Academic Choir and has conducted in the Soviet Union, West Germany and Poland. He established a reputation during the Communist era for innovative programming in spite of the political risks involved. In 1990 he moved to the United States, where he has served as Choir Director of Christ the Saviour Church, San Francisco and Music Director of Slavyanka Men's Slavic Chorus. He was Professor of Liturgical Music at St. Tikhon's Seminary, South Canaan, Pennsylvania. He is currently Music Director at Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Jersey City, New Jersey.

External Link