Does anyone recognize this piece of chant?

[Dimitris]

Hallo!

I am aware that this thread is not within the scope of the forum, but I hoped you could help me anyway. As the thread titel says, does anyone recognize this piece of chant: http://www.arvanitis.at/gesang.mp3

It is taken out from a movie. I am not absolutely sure if it is church chanting but I highly suppose it. Since the movie plays in Bulgaria it is probably chanted in the Bulgarian Church. Maybe someone recognizes the language and can thus provide more details.

Thank you,
Dimitris

[Robert Rager]

I could be wrong, and I can't make out any words.. only know them in English, anyway.. But it does sound like the end of "Many Years"

[Olga]

It is indeed the tail end of a standard version of Mnogaya Lyeta (Many Years). There are many melodies for this piece which have arisen over the centuries, and are often sung at the end of Liturgy in Slavic traditions on special occasions. For instance, it can be sung in honour of someone's nameday where the liturgy has commemorated their patron saint or feast, or for a group of people such as the church sisterhood/philoptochos/sestrichestvo on the Sunday of the Myrrh-bearing Women, or the church choir at the feast of the Holy Protection of the Mother of God, as this is also the feast day of St Romanus the Melodist, probably the best-known saint associated with church music and singing.

The most impressive version of Mnogaya Lyeta I've come across is the one sung at the end of a Slavic wedding. The melody is called the Patriarchal, as it is the same one sung in honour of a hierarch of bishop rank or higher. It is a truly magnificent and joyous way to end a wedding ceremony.

Mnogaya Lyeta can also be sung outside of a church setting. It is common for it to be sung at nameday or other celebrations at home or elsewhere, particularly if there are at least a nominal number of half-decent singers present.

[Nicolaj]

If you like to hear this sung by the church choir it will be a good opportunity to visit St. Nicolas cathedral in the 3th District here in Vienna. Would be nice to meet you there!

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[Dimitris]

Really? I was some times there but I didn't notice this chant. I try to find a free Sunday and go there again.

Thank you to all,
Dimitris

[Nicolaj]

As said this actually sung on the high feasts, so if you like you can always join us there! Here is the link to our church and there you will be able to find the services as well.

Here is the link for the St Nicholas Sobor (http://nikolsobor.org/deutsch/html/start_de.htm).

Christos voskrese! Nicolaj

[John Wood]

Dimitris,
They are singing 'God grant you many years'. It think in Greek it is called polychronios, or something like that. The language is Church Slavonic and the music is the same as what we use in our church (OCA). I hope that helps.
- John Wood

[John Wood]

Dimitris,
Sorry, I didn't see all the previous posts before I sent mine. By the way, if you go to the Greek church in Vienna, I was once there a few years ago when my oldest son was studying in Vienna. It was on the Sunday of the Cross. The veneration Cross was on a tray surrounded by yellow tulips and at the end of the Liturgy the priest gave a flower to each person. I wore mine for the rest of the day. A lovely custom. Do all Greek churches do that?
- John Wood

[Dimitris]

Hallo John!

Thank you for your explanation.

Unfortunatelly I can't remember being in church the Sunday of the Cross the last years. But maybe it is interesting that at the Day of the Cross (September 14) bunches of basil are distributed after liturgy. I observed this both in the church in Vienna (Constantinople patriarchate) and in Greece (Church of Greece).

Dimitris