Nun Juliania (Denisova), the renowned precentor and composer, will be a
honorary guest of the Annual Church Musicians' Conference in Montreal on
October 5-9. Nun Juliania notes that she is genuinely interested in
participating in this event because there are no events like this in Belarus. A
similar conference is planned to happen in Russia in November this year for the
first time.
This is going to be the 25th Annual Church Musicians' Conference in
Canada, held with the blessing of His Eminence Hilarion, the Metropolitan of
Eastern America and New York who is the First Hierarch of the Russian Orthodox
Church Outside Russia. This conference is supported by the Liturgical Music
Commission of the ROCOR Synod of Bishops. All events will be held in St
Nicholas Cathedral (422 Boulevard Saint Joseph O Montréal)
This gathering of church musicians is dedicated to further study of the
liturgical tradition of the Russian Orthodox Church. Singers and precentors
will have the chance to share their experiences, enhance their knowledge and
extend their repertoire of liturgical music.
«Preservation of vocal tradition is very important», Nun Juliania
emphasised. «This is why I will be glad to observe this process with my own
eyes. While we were under Soviet rule, the Russian Orthodox Church Outside
Russia kept the tradition of church singing alive. It might be that they
preserved it for us...» Archpriest Peter Perekrestov, a friend of our Convent,
has done a lot to make sure that it would happen. He took part in the historic
restoration of unity between the Churches together with Metropolitan Lavr.
Sixteen years ago, Father Peter launched a project called «The Songs of
the Russian Exile». He sent us sheet music no one in our country had ever seen
before. We were the choir of SS Peter and Paul Cathedral (Minsk) at that time
and we recorded our first album based on this music. Overall, they released ten
albums with these songs, three of which were recorded by our Festive Choir. We
took part in this creative process, too.
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| Watch video trailer from the DVD The Nun |
«It will be great to talk with the people who have put a lot of effort
into the preservation of the art of church singing in our common Orthodox
space».
The topic of the four-day long conference is The Music of Today’s Russian Orthodox Church:
Perspectives in Creative Artistry and Technique. Nun Juliania will
hold several rehearsals and then perform during the post-communion part of the
Divine Liturgy. Nun Juliania will also read a lecture on harmonization of
chants. A meeting with the honorary guest from St Elisabeth Convent will happen
on one of the conference days. The participants will have the opportunity to
ask her questions.
CONVERSATION