The Professional Ensemble "Chicago a capella" performs the concert "Global Transcendence: World Sacred Harmony and Chant" on October 2014 in Chicago,

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From http://www.chicagoacappella.org/concerts/event/global_transcendence

Global Transcendence: World Sacred Harmony and Chant
Fall 2014

Hear the musical intersections of the world’s faiths, as we explore mystical, harmonically stunning, and contemplative sacred vocal traditions. From Jerusalem to Athens, Tbilisi to Accra, Rome to Mumbai, be awed by music of Jewish, Hindu, Baha'i, and other traditions. Inspiring music by Allegri, Purcell, and Tallis will connect West to East, while our unusual and inventive combinations of varied liturgical threads will create a sonic quilt like no other.

According to today's reporting (Oct. 14, 2014) by Chicago's classical and fine arts music station WFMT 98.7, Byzantine Chant will be included within this far-ranging program. The Alleluiarion for Christmas Day as edited by musicologist Dr. Ioannis Arvanitis (Laosynaktis here on psaltologion) will be chanted. The singers from the ensemble even chanted it during their Impromptu at WFMT which previewed the concert.

Click on the "Global Transcendence" Spotify playlist on this webpage to hear the Alleluiarion for Christmas Day performed by Capella Romana. (Seems like Chicago a capella chanted the entire Alleluiarion during their WFMT Impromptu because it was much longer than what we hear on Spotify by Capella Romana. Chicago a capella also used several more voices, including bass isokrates which gave the Alleluiarion a much richer and textured sound. Pleased to see that Chicago a capella seems to have done their due diligence in regards to this piece.)

Jonathan Miller, Chicago a capella's Founder and Artistic Director, mentioned how they consulted a Greek-American professor from Wheaton, IL to help the ensemble with the Greek pronunciations. He also mentioned Capella Romana and how the manuscript for this Alleluiarion was discovered in (a suburb outside of?) Rome. Finally, he stated that Byzantine Chant is still the chant of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Such a joy to hear Byzantine Chant discussed and performed on the public airwaves in Chicago! Not to mention hearing the name of my friend Ioannis Arvanitis on Chicago radio!

Much success to Chicago a capella on their upcoming concerts!

 

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From the Program Notes by Jonathan Miller for Chicago a capella's concert "Global Transcendence: World Sacred Harmony and Chant":

In the Constantinopolitan Cathedral tradition of the Byzantine Eucharist, this responsorial chant takes place after the Epistle and before the Gospel. At this point in the service, the church would be lavished with incense, and the music helps to cover the transition of the deacon as he walks to the pulpit. We were generously provided with this beautiful chant by our colleagues at Cappella Romana, the distinguished group from the Portland/Seattle area that specializes in Eastern religious chant and musical traditions. Ioannis Arvanitis, the scholar of Byzantine chant, prepared this performing edition from manuscripts at the Abbey of Grottaferrata in the suburban hills of Rome. This is an extraordinarily beautiful chant from a tradition that is only now gaining a wide audience.

The video is live from Chicago a capella's concert at The Music Institute of Chicago, Evanston, IL on October 18, 2014.