St. Vladimir’s Seminary Chorale Presents ‘Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi’ from Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, directed the majority of the pieces, with assistance from Dr. Nicholas Reeves, assistant professor of Liturgical Music, who led the Chorale in a presentation of his Kievan chant arrangement of Psalm 103 ("Bless the Lord, O My Soul").
Warmly introduced by The Very Rev. Nicholas Anctil, rector of Holy Trinity, the Chorale performed selections appropriate to the Paschal season. The beloved hymns "In the Flesh Thou didst Fall Asleep" (Exapostilarion of Pascha) and "The Angel Cried" were interspersed with other liturgical pieces such as Richard Toensing's "O Gladsome Light." A rich silence was maintained between the hymns to facilitate reflection, and Chancellor/CEO The Very Rev. Dr. Chad Hatfield enriched the evening's content with a thoughtful reflection on the Christian's need for continued Paschal proclamation as the answer to the world's—and our own—spiritual need.
While most members of Monday evening's ensemble were St. Vladimir's students, musician Elizabeth A. Ledkovsky also joined the group for the performance, providing a fitting and living link to the past in the Seminary 75th anniversary year. The Ledkovsky family is well known to the St. Vladimir's community; Professor Boris Ledkovsky joined the Seminary faculty in 1953 and served as its choir director in the early years when the Seminary was still located on 121st Street in New York City. Subsequently his son Alexander Ledkovsky, Elizabeth's father, served as a church musician for many years, conducting the choir for the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Sign" (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia) located on Park Avenue.
Read and Listen: Last year's Chorale Concert, "ORIENT," presented at St. Malachy's Chapel in New York City
Coming Soon! Audio of 'Lex Orandi, Lex Credendi'
