Topic: Chanting "Lord Have Mercy" very fast..

[sohma_hatori]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2scpPh7yJGM&feature=related

while I agree that this chant is very solemn and beautifull.. Is it really necessary that we chant, Lord Have Mercy this fast? I understand why we repeat it so many times, but why this fast in some cases? Maybe its about saving time, but what about on the internalizing of the things we say in prayer, aren't they lost in this way?

Just curios..

In ICXC,
Wilbur

[Rosehip]

Except for the size of the cathedral, this could almost have been filmed/recorded in my church!!

I've often wondered why it must be sung so fast and so many times (40 times?). So often in general, the slavonic is sung so very quickly there's almost no way to catch all the words or to understand everything. The words often get swallowed up due to the acoustics.

[Basil 320]

Absolutely beautiful; inspiring.  Thanks for the link.

[Rosehip]

I forgot to thank you for the link, sohma. Indeed, it was very beautiful!

[Asteriktos]

I asked about this on OC.net about 5-6 years ago, though I don't remember the response to my question I agree with you that it seems strange to say the words so fast that they are almost a jumble (though I can't tell if that's the case in the video).

[LBK]

The Greeks also have very fast chants of "Kyrie Eleison", which can be just as beautiful in their use of cadences. The singing on the video may have been fast, but the diction was still very clear, as it should be.

[PeterTheAleut]

I've sung this setting of the 100-fold (actually 70-fold in this musical arrangement) "Lord have mercy" (alternating between English and Slavonic) many times for the Vigil of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14).  My take on the experience is that it's really possible to lose sense of the greater liturgical pageantry and spirituality of the rite (i.e., the priest blessing the four directions of creation with the cross) by focusing too much on each individual "Lord have mercy."  Maybe it's better to think of all the little "Lord have mercy"s as one grand, long "Lord have mercy!"

[Rosehip]

I've sung this setting of the 100-fold (actually 70-fold in this musical arrangement) "Lord have mercy" (alternating between English and Slavonic) many times for the Vigil of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross (September 14).  My take on the experience is that it's really possible to lose sense of the greater liturgical pageantry and spirituality of the rite (i.e., the priest blessing the four directions of creation with the cross) by focusing too much on each individual "Lord have mercy."  Maybe it's better to think of all the little "Lord have mercy"s as one grand, long "Lord have mercy!"

Wow. What a beautiful thought!

[Anastasios]

I didn't think that was fast.

[PeterTheAleut]

I didn't think that was fast.

It's right about the tempo at which my choir director likes to take that arrangement.  It does take some rehearsal to get up to speed, but once well rehearsed, it really doesn't feel all that fast.

[ozgeorge]

Every prayer is summarized in the words of the prayer "Lord have mercy!" So when it is chanted like this, to me it sounds like the prayer is resounding around the whole world, as though the whole Cosmos is chanting the prayer at once, which, in fact, it is.

[Asteriktos]

I found the thread that I mentioned earlier--and it was only 3 1/2 years ago    I still wonder if the practice doesn't sometimes approach "vain repetitions," though I didn't think that about this video in particular.

[sohma_hatori]

I forgot to thank you for the link, sohma. Indeed, it was very beautiful!

Your welcome Roseship! 

[sohma_hatori]

Every prayer is summarized in the words of the prayer "Lord have mercy!" So when it is chanted like this, to me it sounds like the prayer is resounding around the whole world, as though the whole Cosmos is chanting the prayer at once, which, in fact, it is.

beautiful thought.. thanks George! chanting it very fast many times, does make it sound like a part of your being..

[sohma_hatori]

I found the thread that I mentioned earlier--and it was only 3 1/2 years ago    I still wonder if the practice doesn't sometimes approach "vain repetitions," though I didn't think that about this video in particular.

Have read the posts in the link.. Thank you so much for them!

[username!]

I didn't think that was fast.

Nor did I

[sohma_hatori]

Nor did I

Your just used to it I guess.

[PeterTheAleut]

I didn't think that was fast.

It's right about the tempo at which my choir director likes to take that arrangement.  It does take some rehearsal to get up to speed, but once well rehearsed, it really doesn't feel all that fast.

The main issue for me (adding to a thought several hours later) is finding places to breathe.  Bad breath control can lead to a panting singer after each repetition of the hymn.