Seeger Center for Hellenic Studies

Katerina Ierodiakonou (Oxford University, University of Athens, Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton)
161 East Pyne
Co Sponsored by the Department of Philosophy and the Program in Classical Philosophy

W. Robert Connor (Andrew Fleming West Professor of Classics Emeritus, Princeton University)
101 McCormick Hall

Lucette Valensi (Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales)
1:30 - 4:30 PM
211 Dickinson Hall

Friday, December 5, 2003, 8pm and Sunday, December 7, 2003, 3pm

Hobart Earle, Conductor
Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien
Skalkottas - Greek Dances
Dvorak - Symphony No. 9 in e minor "From the New World"

Katerina Ierodiakonou (University of Athens; University of Oxford)
Michael Frede (University of Oxford)
58 Prospect Ave., Room 107

Alexander Lingas (Arizona State University; Institute for Advanced Study, Princeton)
58 Prospect Ave., Room 107

Despite the localized experiments with polyphonic singing that have occurred since the fifteenth century, unaccompanied Byzantine chant has remained the primary vehicle for worship in most of the world's Greek Orthodox churches. The modern Greek Archdiocese of America thus constitutes a significant exception to this rule, having fostered over the course of the last century the development of a repertory of polyphonic liturgical music for choirs of mixed voices, usually with organ accompaniment. This paper will offer a critical introduction to the life and work of Frank Desby (1922--92), undoubtedly the most influential Greek-American church musician of the 20th century. Educated at the University of Southern California and residing for much of his life in Hollywood, Dr. Desby altered the course of Greek Orthodox sacred music in America through his efforts as a composer, conductor and musicologist.

Alexander Lingas is a Member of the School of Historical Studies of the Institute for Advanced Study. He is also Assistant Professor of Music History at Arizona State University's School of Music and Fellow of the University of Oxford's European Humanities Research Centre. The founder and Artistic Director of the professional vocal ensemble Cappella Romana Dr Lingas has served the Orthodox Church as a cantor, choir director and clinician for twenty years. He has received British Academy, Dumbarton Oaks, Onassis, SSHRC and Fulbright fellowships for his study of the past and present traditions of Byzantine chanting. During the 2003-2004 academic year he is working on a new historical introduction to Byzantine chant for the Yale University Press, a project supported by an NEH/SSRC Area Studies Fellowship from the American Council of Learned Societies and an Elizabeth and J. Richardson Dilworth Fellowship from the Institute for Advanced Study.  [Last Updated 2003]