A Sacrifice of Praise

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the second of a two-part conversation, Amy, Richard, and Photini continue to discuss her journey with the tradition of the Psaltic Art, as well as hear about a number of upcoming efforts. Cappella Romana's Hymn of Kassiani Project: Click here Listen to the panel discussion "Women in Sacred Chant: Past and Present." Click here Photini's Voice Studio: Yphos Voice Studio: Click here

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the second of a two-part conversation, Amy, Richard, and Photini continue to discuss her journey with the tradition of the Psaltic Art, as well as hear about a number of upcoming efforts. Cappella Romana's Hymn of Kassiani Project: Click here Listen to the panel discussion "Women in Sacred Chant: Past and Present." Click here Photini's Voice Studio: Yphos Voice Studio: Click here

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the first of a two-part conversation, Amy and Richard talk to Photini about her experience learning Byzantine music through professional music making, her own discoveries about how chant works in womens' voices, and her reflections on the repertoire as a voice teacher. Cappella Romana's Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia project: Click here Photini's Voice Studio: Yphos Voice Studio: Click here

Photini Downie Robinson is the left cantor on staff at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Cathedral in Portland, OR, a professional singer with Cappella Romana, and the teacher behind the Yphos Voice Studio. In the first of a two-part conversation, Amy and Richard talk to Photini about her experience learning Byzantine music through professional music making, her own discoveries about how chant works in womens' voices, and her reflections on the repertoire as a voice teacher. Cappella Romana's Lost Voices of Hagia Sophia project: Click here Photini's Voice Studio: Yphos Voice Studio: Click here

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the recording can be found here. You can find the Dynamis Ensemble's album "A Journey Through Lent to Holy Week" at https://www.dynamisensemble.org/ Part 2 of 2.

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the recording can be found here. You can find the Dynamis Ensemble's album "A Journey Through Lent to Holy Week" at https://www.dynamisensemble.org/ Part 2 of 2.

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the recording can be found here. Part 1 of 2.

The Hymn of Kassiani is one of the highlights of Holy Week! Amy and Richard take a deep dive into the tradition of long settings of this hymn, with composer and cantor Samuel Herron of Assumption Greek Orthodox Church in Scottsdale, AZ leading an in-depth walkthrough of his 20 minute English-language setting. The score can be found here, and the recording can be found here. Part 1 of 2.

Amy and Richard conclude their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who discusses some of the current efforts of the Antiochian Archdiocese around Byzantine music, reflects on the history of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese, and offers thoughts on practical matters such as tuning.

Amy and Richard continue their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who talks about his contribution to the groundbreaking “All Creation Trembled” recording by the St. Romanos Choir, his time at Hellenic College Holy Cross, his perspective on “free chanting”, and more.

Amy and Richard conclude their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who discusses some of the current efforts of the Antiochian Archdiocese around Byzantine music, reflects on the history of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese, and offers thoughts on practical matters such as tuning.

Amy and Richard continue their conversation with Fr. John El Massih, who talks about his contribution to the groundbreaking “All Creation Trembled” recording by the St. Romanos Choir, his time at Hellenic College Holy Cross, his perspective on “free chanting”, and more.

Fr. John El Massih is a priest, cantor, teacher, composer, and advocate of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese and beyond. Amy and Richard talk to him about his background and education, his contributions to multiple high-level efforts to pass along the chant tradition in America, including recordings like PROTO's "Sun of Justice", and his current work with the Byzantine Chant Committee of the Antiochian Archdiocese's Department of Sacred Music.

Fr. John El Massih is a priest, cantor, teacher, composer, and advocate of Byzantine music in the Antiochian Archdiocese and beyond. Amy and Richard talk to him about his background and education, his contributions to multiple high-level efforts to pass along the chant tradition in America, including recordings like PROTO's "Sun of Justice", and his current work with the Byzantine Chant Committee of the Antiochian Archdiocese's Department of Sacred Music.

Amy and Richard talk with Cappella Romana Musical Director Alexander Lingas and Associate Director John Michael Boyer about the genesis and legacy of The Divine Liturgy in English, Cappella Romana’s groundbreaking recording first released in 2008, and recently re-released on the Naxos label. Alexander and John discuss the intent to represent the core of the Byzantine chant tradition, employing an Anaphora/Leitourgika setting in Kliton (the "reader's mode") and papadic compositions that reflect the styles used in settings by Petros Peloponnesios and ascribed to St. John Koukouzelis. This recording was also the first, and to this point only, recording to include all the parts of the Divine Liturgy. (Part 2 of 2) The Divine Liturgy Recording (CD or digital download): https://cappellaromana.org/product/divine-liturgy-english/ Scores from the project: https://cappellaromana.org/divine-liturgy-music/