Chanters Responsibilities

The chanter is the person(s) who provides the sung/chanted responses and hymns in the church services. The prepresquisites to be a chanter are to:

• Be an Orthodox Christian in good standing and have the blessing of the parish priest.

• Have a basic ability to carry a melody, maintain pitch, and follow the eight modes/tones of Byzantine chant.

• Learn the structure of the services—especially Orthros, Divine Liturgy, Vespers, Holy Week, funerals, memorials, baptisms, and weddings. GOARCH describes the

• Become familiar with the liturgical books, rubrics, and appointed hymns for each day. GOARCH's formal Byzantine Music program specifically trains students in Byzantine notation, modal theory, sight-reading, liturgical books, and rubrics. Ideally, study Byzantine notation and chant under an experienced chanter or through the GOARCH School of Byzantine Music. Formal certification is available, but it is not necessarily required simply to begin assisting at a parish chant stand.